Shabboom! Weekly Announcements

Energize your week with Ohev Sholom                                           October 4, 2018

Shabbat Times and Announcements

Erev Shabbat, October 5 (Tishrei 26)
6:26p Candle Lighting
6:30p Kabbalat Shabbat

Shabbat, October 6: Shabbat Mevarchim, Bereshit (Tishrei 27)
9:15a Shacharit, with a Dvar Torah from Moses Glassman
10:30a Shabbat Youth Groups
​​​​​​​11:45a Kiddush Luncheon
5:05p Daf Yomi
5:35p Chaim Fruchter's Shiur
6:05p Mincha, followed by Seudah Shlishit with a Shiur from Aliza Sperling
7:26p Havdalah
7:30p Musical Havdalah with Kol Chayim Orchestra

Upcoming Kiddush Schedule
10/13: Kiddush Luncheon sponsored by the Netter-Klapper family in honor of Eitan's Bar Mitzvah
10/20: Kiddush
10/27: Kiddush Luncheon sponsored by the Klugman family in honor of Noah's Bar Mitzvah
11/3: Kiddush  Luncheon sponsored by the Herzfeld family in honor of Max's Bar Mitzvah

On the evening of October 3, following Maariv, Rabbi Herzfeld and about 25 friends of Judy Davis gathered in the Rabbi's office to watch as he wrote in the Torah in memory of Judy. The passage he wrote was Genesis 17; 1-6, as Hashem said "walk before Me" and then made the covenant with Abram that he will be the "father of a multitude of nations." Abram was thereafter known as Abraham.

After the writing, brief remarks were offered by several of Judy's friends about her kindness, generosity, and goodness. We sang "You've Got a Friend" from a song sheet prepared by Pesha Rubenstein. The evening ended with a beautiful Torah study session, in Judy's memory, led by Aliza Sperling. It was a very spiritual and emotionally moving experience. I encourage everyone in the community to commemorate a significant event in your life by dedicating a verse of Torah and being present as the Rabbi inscribes it. It is an amazing experience.

Contributed by Avril Weisman

Just because Shabbos is over doesn't mean the fun stops! Keep the conversation (and your tastebuds) going with a delightful Sunday dinner at the Weismans, featuring delicious Sephardi dishes from the Weisman family archives. Dinner will be meat. Spaces for 8 guests, 2-3 kids ok.

Comments on the Portion and Haftorah of the Week, Contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz and Hal Brodsky, Z"L

Once again, we read the Torah from the beginning, Parshat Bereshit. Not surprisingly, there is a dispute as to the meaning of the first word of the first Parsha in the Torah, the word "Bereshit."

Due to the King James version, first published in the early 17th century, we have become familiar with the translation, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth, and the earth was unformed and void," and God said "Let there be light." However, another interpretation would result in this translation, "When God began to create heaven and earth -- the earth being unformed and void -- God said ‘Let there be light...’” This version goes back to the classic commentators Rashi and Ibn Ezra and has currently been adopted in the Jewish Publication Society translation. These two translations, based on two different understandings of the Hebrew grammar, imply different ways that creation took place.

A stimulating start.

The Haftorah comes from the 43rd chapter of the Book of Isaiah, and begins with a statement that God created the heavens and the earth and "gave breath" to the people upon the earth. Of special note is verse 10: "'You are my witnesses,' declares the Lord."  The phrase "You Are My Witnesses" is displayed prominently in the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum at the present time, telling us that we have a special responsibility to testify, on behalf of God, about the horrors that took place during the Holocaust era.

A video by Hal Brodsky, Z”L, for the Haftorah for Parshat Bereshit, is available here.

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