Shabboom! Weekly Announcements

Energize your week with Ohev Sholom                                          February 7, 2018

Shabbat Times and Announcements

Erev Shabbat, February 8 (Adar I 3)
6:30a Shacharit
5:00p Dinner and Drash (pre-registration required)
5:19p Candle Lighting
5:20p Kabbalat Shabbat

Shabbat, February 9: Terumah (Adar I 4)
9:15a Shacharit, with a Dvar Torah from Maharat Friedman
10:30a Shabbat Youth Groups
11:45a Kiddush, followed by Q&A Session with Dr. Eliana Lipsky
12:05p Daf Yomi
4:30p Chaim Fruchter's Shiur
5:00p Mincha, followed by Seudah Shlishit with a Shiur from Dr. Lipsky
6:21p Havdalah

Upcoming Kiddush Schedule
2/16: Kiddush
2/23: Kiddush sponsored by Tova & Walter Reich and Carl & Laurie Gershman in honor of the late Walter Laqueur
​​​​​​​3/2: Kiddush
​​​​​​​3/9: Kiddush

​​​​​​​Community Meeting on Child Safety - Wednesday, February 13 8:00pm
The Child Safety Task Force invites members of the community to discuss and give input on Ohev's policies to protect children. The Task Force will use this input to recommend new polices to the Board.

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

The title of the Parsha this Shabbos is Terumah, which refers to the "gifts" which the community gave, to provide materials and implements  for the construction of the Mishkan. The Mishkan (the Tabernacle) served as the ritual place of worship while the Jews were in the desert. It was replaced in Jerusalem by the Bet Hamikdash, the Sanctuary. God says,“V'asu li mikdash, ve'shachanti be'socham."  "Let them make me a sanctuary so that I may dwell among them" (Shmot, 25:8).  We of Ohev Sholom should be familiar with that verse, which is inscribed on the outside of the synagogue building.

The midrash elaborates on this verse by drawing an analogy. A bridegroom, not yet married, in order to see his beloved, must be a guest at the house of his father-in-law-to-be. Once married, it is the father-in-law who comes to visit him. So, the Midrash says, before the Torah was given on Mount Sinai, it was necessary for Moshe to be a guest of the Lord and to "visit" him on Mount Sinai. But once the Torah was given, and the Jewish people were betrothed to God, it was God who visited them. Thus, God says, "... that I may dwell among them."

In the Mishkan there were a number of holy objects. Among them were the Aron, the ark, containing the Tablets of the Law; the Table, on which the "show-breads" were placed daily; and the Altar. On each of these objects was a "Zeir Zahav", a band of gold, similar to a crown. The rabbinical interpretation associates this with the Mishna in Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 4, Mishna 17: Rabbi Simeon says: There are three crowns which an individual may possess, {representing his or her sphere of activity): the Crown of Torah, the Crown of Kingship and the Crown of Priesthood. So the crown on the Ark represents the Crown of Torah; the Crown on the Table represents the Crown of Kingship; and the Crown on the Altar is the Crown of Priesthood. The Mishna in Pirke Avot goes on to say that the Crown of a Good Name "oleh al gabeihen," or "rises above all the other crowns." Some interpret that to mean that the Crown of a Good Name should accompany each of the other Crowns.

The Haftorah is from the Book of Kings. It discusses the Sanctuary built by King Solomon many years after the Jews were in the desert. Yet, in Psalm 30, which begins the prayer service every day, we say "A Psalm of David. A song for the Dedication of the House." Since the "House" refers to the Sanctuary, the obvious question is: Why is it attributed to David, since it was Solomon who built the Sanctuary? The book of midrash specifically about Tehillim, which is named, appropriately, Midrash Tehillim, offers this explanation:
Even if David didn't build the Sanctuary himself, it was his intention to do so. However, he was unable to. Therefore, God considers David himself as having built the Sanctuary. The midrash gives this analogy: A person intends to place a parapet on the roof of his house (so workers should not fall: "occupational safety"), but he never is able to purchase a house. Nevertheless God says, "I consider it as if he performed the mitzvah of the parapet.” So with King David.

Haftorah Video, by Hal Brodsky z"l

A video about this week's Haftorah can be viewed here: 1 Kings 5:26–6:13

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