Shabboom! Weekly Announcements

Energize your week with Ohev Sholom                                         January 24, 2018

Shabbat Times and Announcements

Erev Shabbat, January 25 (Shevat 19)
6:30a Shacharit
5:03p Candle Lighting
5:05p Kabbalat Shabbat

Shabbat, January 26: Yitro (Shevat 20)
8:15a Shacharit
9:15a Women's Tefillah Bat Mitzvah Celebration, with a Dvar Torah from Zoe Kaiser-Blueth
10:30a Shabbat Youth Groups
11:45a Kiddush Luncheon
12:05p Daf Yomi
4:15p Chaim Fruchter's Shiur
4:45p Mincha, followed by Seudah Shlishit with a Shiur from Justin Kenny
6:05p Havdalah
6:30p Taste of Ohev - Fireside Family Dinner 

Upcoming Kiddush Schedule
2/2: Kiddush sponsored by the congregation in honor of Anna Yuter's 106th birthday
2/9: Kiddush sponsored by Pastries by Randolph
2/16: Kiddush
2/23: Kiddush sponsored by Tova & Walter Reich and Carl & Laurie Gershman in honor of the late Walter Laqueur

Friday, February 1st
5:15PM - Kabbalat Shabbat led by Shlomo Gaisin
6:15PM - Communal Shabbat Dinner followed by Tisch

Shabbat Dinner: $18/adult (before 1/25; $36 after), $10/youth 12 and under, free under 4, $75 family maximum

Saturday, February 2nd
9:15AM - Shacharit with a D'var Torah from Shlomo Gaisin
7:30-9:00PM - Community-wide Melava Malka at Milton Gottesman Primary Jewish Day School

Melava Malka is free of charge thanks to our generous sponsors. However, RSVP is requested.

Comments on the Torah Portion & Haftorah, Contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz

This Shabbos, the parsha includes the giving of the Ten Commandments (Aseres Hadibros) to Moshe and to the People of Israel. The name of the parsha is Yisro, who was the non-Jewish father-in-law of Moshe. So, the Dibros are central to all nations and peoples in the world. The term "Commandments" is Rabbinical; in the Torah, they are referred to as "Aseres HaDvorim," the "Ten Words." (Dvorim, 4:13) The Rabbinic terminology reflects our understanding of the importance and mandatory nature of the rules given on Mount Sinai. 

A number of different approaches have been offered as to how to divide the verses of the text in order to achieve the desired number of TEN Commandments. The traditional rabbinical view is the following: "I am the Lord thy God" is the First Commandment; "Thou shall have no other gods before me" is the Second Commandment; and the Third Commandment, "Thou shall not take the name of the Lord in vain." 

The Commandments are repeated in the Book of Dvorim, which recounts the events during the Israelites’ travels through the desert. (Chapter 4). However, there are some differences in wording, which the rabbis seek to explain. One of the most well-known is the different term used to describe the obligation of Shabbos. In Shmos, the word is "Zachor:” “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” In Dvorim, the word is "Shamor:” "Observe" the Sabbath.” The well-known Rabbinical explanation is that the two terms were expressed by God "b'dibur echad", simultaneously, which could be done only by God. This idea appears poetically in the "Lecha Dodi" poem which is part of the Friday evening prayers:  "'Shamor' ve'Zachor' b'dibur echad, hishmi’onu El hamiyuchad." God taught us the two words, the two ideas, at the very same time. "Shamor", to observe its prohibitions; "Zachor," to "remember" the holiness of the Day. In the Kiddush over wine on Shabbos morning, we say "Zachor," Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." As the Rabbis say, "Remember it through the blessing on the wine."   

The Commandment in Shmos states that one should honor one's "father and mother." Elsewhere in the Torah, it states: "A person, his mother and his father he should fear." (Vayikra, 19:3) The rabbis explain that the natural tendency would be for a person to honor a mother more, so Shmos places the father first. On the other hand, one fears a father more, so in Vayikra, the emphasis is placed on the mother. 

Much is made in the Torah of the fact that the Commandments were on tablets made of stone. For example, the word specifying that make-up of the tablets (avanim) appears in Devarim (4:13 and 9:9 and 10:1). In the Sabbath Amidah, we say, "Ooshnei luchot avanim horid  b’yado." Moses “brought down two stone tablets in his hand”  to the Jewish people. What's the importance of stone? Rabbi Yaakov Zvi Mecklenberg, in his commentary on the Siddur, explains that a stone comprises grains of sand; the separate grains of sand achieve solidity when they are combined into a stone. So the individual laws of the Torah are combined and achieve solidity in the Aseres Hadibros. 

The Haftorah, from the Book of Isaiah (beginning at 6:1 and including parts of chaps.7 and 9) is the personal vision of the prophet. He beholds the Lord seated on His throne and the attending angels say, "Holy, holy, holy (Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh), the Lord of Hosts, His presence fills all the earth." These words, of course, have become a central part of the prayer service.

Haftorah Video, by Hal Brodsky z"l

A video about this week's Haftorah can be viewed here: Isaiah 6:1–7:6; 9:5-6

Upcoming Events and Weekly Schedule

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

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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
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mikvahchaim.org
attendant@mikvahchaim.org
Cemetery Information
cemetery@ostns.org
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