Shabboom! Weekly Announcements

Energize your week with Ohev Sholom                                     September 19, 2019

Shabbat Times and Announcements

Erev Shabbat, September 20:
Kabbalat Shabbat: 6:45p
Candle Lighting: 6:50p

Shabbat, September 21: Shabbat Ki Tavo
Shacharit: 8:15a 
Women's Tefillah Bat Mitzvah Celebration: 9:15a
Shabbat Youth Groups: 10:30a
Kiddush Luncheon sponsored by the Hochstein Family: 11:45a
Daf Yomi: 5:30p
Mincha: 6:30p, followed by Seudah Shlishit with a shiur from David Balto
Havdalah: 7:50p
Pre-Selichos Tisch with the Ystuds: 10:00p
Tisch: 11:00p

Upcoming Kiddush Schedule: 
9/28: No food served
10/5: Kiddush (sponsorship available)
10/12: No food served

Please note updated time.
Join us in preparing for the High Holidays with our annual Elul lecture. This year's speaker is Malka Popper, Upper School Principal at Berman Hebrew Academy. She will speak on: "The Ten Days of Repentance: Deception or Devotion?"

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

This week's Parsha, Ki Tavo, opens with a recitation of the obligation of the individual Jew to bring "First Fruits," Bikurim, to the Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem, an obligation that takes effect when the Jews have settled in the Promised Land. The Parsha presents word-for-word the statement that the person bringing the Bikurim must make in giving the fruits to the Priest.That Statement (Dvorim 26:5-10). is a summary of the history of the Jewish People, from the "forefathers," through the sojourn and slavery in Egypt, and climaxing with the Exodus and the bringing of the Jews to the "Land of Milk and Honey."

The statement that the Jew makes in bringing the Bikurim has particular importance, because it forms the nucleus of a large portion of the Passover Haggadah, since the Festival of Passover celebrates the delivery of the Jews from Egyptian slavery. This section of the Hagada begins the story with the words of this parsha: "Arami oved avi." One of the interesting controversies in Biblical interpretation is the meaning of this phrase. Does it mean that "my father," Jacob, was a wandering Aramean (contemporary Syria), with the reference to Jacob's service to his uncle Laban in Aram, and his traveling to Egypt? Or is the subject of the phrase Laban himself, and does it mean that Laban tried to exterminate my father? We have different commentators and different interpretations., Ultimately, the issue is: How did Jewish history begin? Was it with "wandering" or with "persecution." In any event, the portion ends by saying that "you shall enjoy, together with the Levite and stranger in your midst, all the bounty that the Lord God has bestowed upon you and your household."


HAFTORAH
The Haftorahs of consolation from the Book of Isaiah continue (60:1-22). "And nations shall walk by your light, kings by your shining radiance."
Pirke Avot, Ethics of the Fathers:Chapter 4, Mishna 24: Shmuel Hakattan says, When your enemy falls, be not glad, and when he stumbles let your heart not be joyous. Lest God see and be displeased, and then turn his wrath from your enemy to you.

Haftorah Video, by Hal Brodsky z"l

A video about this week's Haftorah can be viewed here: Isaiah 60: 1-22

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
Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld
RabbiShmuel@ostns.org
(202) 812-8900 
Maharat Ruth Balinsky Friedman
MaharatRuth@ostns.org
(202) 882-7225, ext. 107
Monica Wolfe, Interim Executive Director
Monica.Wolfe@ostns.org
(202) 882-7225, etx. 103
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
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