Shabboom! Weekly Announcements

Energize your week with Ohev Sholom                                       September 6, 2018

Shabbat Times and Announcements

Erev Shabbat, September 7 (Elul 27)
6:45p Kabbalat Shabbat
7:11p Candle Lighting

Shabbat, September 8: Nitzavim (Elul 28)
9:15a Shacharit, with a Dvar Torah from Josh Milner
10:30a Shabbat Youth Groups
5:50p Daf Yomi
6:20p Chaim Fruchter's Shiur
6:50p Mincha, followed by Seudah Shlishit with a Shiur from Dr. Yedida Eisenstat
8:11p Havdalah
10:00p Selichot

Upcoming Kiddush Schedule
9/8: No food served
9/15: Kiddush
9/22: No food served
9/29: No food served











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Shabbat Shuva Discourse
Saturday, September 15, 6:45pm

From Rabbi Herzfeld:
Please take and review a packet of sources for my Shabbat Shuva Dvar Torah from the table in the hallway. This Dvar Torah will be offered on Shabbat, September 15 at 6:45pm. This year the Dvar Torah will discuss why I have decided to try to write a sefer torah and how this relates to the concept of teshuva. This process has been one of the most important spiritual undertakings of my life and I invite you to reflect upon it with me as we explore together how to improve ourselves spiritually.
Shannah Tovah, 
Shmuel

Saturday, September 15, 4:45 PM at the Klapper/Netter Home
Aliza Sperling will lead a learning and Devorah Walder will lead a meditation session on: “Teshuva from a Totally Different Perspective: When feeling bad about your shortcomings every year just doesn’t fix them, you need a new approach.” This event is sponsored by Zan Frackelton in memory of the 5th yahrzeit of her mother, Marta Mellinger. Refreshments served.

Shabbat
In Parshat Nitzavim (Dvarim: 29:9-30), Moses continues his last oration to the Jewish people before their entry into the Promised Land. Moses describes the punishment that will befall them if they abandon God: God will "uproot" them from their soil in "anger, fury and great wrath and cast them in another land." But, the Parsha goes on to say that if the Jewish people return, "He will take you back in love." And the Parsha presents God's promise, which has been incorporated into the Prayer for the Government in the Shabbat service: "Even if your outcasts are at the end of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you."

The Haftorah, the last of those of consolation from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah: 61:10-63:9), continues the theme of the unity of the Jewish people with a ringing affirmation of the Prophet: "For the sake of Zion I will not be silent. For the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still, until her justice shall emerge in glory, and her triumph like a flaming torch." Before Shabbat, click here to see the video from Hal Brodsky, Z”L.

Rosh Hashanah - First Day  
A major theme of the Yamim Nora'im is our prayer for God to "remember" us for life. In all the Amidah prayers, we say, "Remember us for life, O God who desires life, and write (or seal) us in the Book of Life, for you are a God of Life." This theme of remembering is reflected in the Torah readings and Haftorahs for the Days of Awe. 

On the First day of Rosh Hashanah, the Torah Reading (Bereshit: 21) tells of the birth of Isaac to Sarah. The Torah says, And God "pakad," or "remembered" or "took note" of Sarah after her being without children for her entire life. 

The Haftorah picks up the same theme and tells of the birth of the Prophet Samuel to Hannah after she, too, had been without children (1 Samuel: 1-2:10). The video from Hal Brodsky, Z”L, is here.

Rosh Hashanah - Second Day
The Reading of the Torah on the Second Day of Rosh Hashanah (Bereshit: 22) is the story of the Akeda (the "Binding" of Isaac): Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son in response to God's command. An angel prevents the deed, and Abraham sacrifices a ram instead. The Midrash Rabba (par.13) comments: "Throughout the year, the Jews become enmeshed in sin and in suffering, but on Rosh Hashanah they blow the ram's horn, and God remembers the Akeda and forgives them."

The Haftorah for the Second Day of Rosh Hashanah includes the well-known story of Rachel calling from her grave and crying for the exiled Jewish people. God tells her to cease her weeping ("min'ei  kolaich mi'bechi"), for her children will return from exile and there is "hope for her future." The Haftorah concludes: "Efraim is a dear son to me; even when I turn against him, my thoughts dwell on him still. That is why my heart yearns for him. I will receive him back in love." (Jeremiah 31)

Upcoming Events and Weekly Schedule

To view and register for upcoming events and weekly schedule, visit our website's online calendar. 

Lifecycles

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Contact Us

Synagogue Office
info@ostns.org
(202) 882-7225
Sarah Shapiro, Executive Director
Sarah.Shapiro@ostns.org
(202) 882-7225, ext. 103
Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld
RabbiShmuel@ostns.org
(202) 812-8900 
Maharat Ruth Balinsky Friedman
MaharatRuth@ostns.org
(202) 882-7225, ext. 107
Stacey Watson, Director of Engagement
Stacey.Watson@ostns.org
(202) 882-7225, ext. 102
Lisa Redisch, Director of Youth & Family Programs
youth@ostns.org
(202) 882-7225, ext. 105
Board of Directors
board@ostns.org
Hospitality & Welcome Committee
BeOurGuest@ostns.org
Mikvah Chaim
mikvahchaim.org
attendant@mikvahchaim.org
Cemetery Information
cemetery@ostns.org
​​​​​​​(202) 882-7225