Shabboom! Weekly Announcements

Energize your week with Ohev Sholom                                     September 26, 2019

Shabbat Times and Announcements

Erev Shabbat, September 27 (Elul 27)
6:30a Shacharit
12:00p Baked Goods Pick Up from Pastries by Randolph
6:39p Candle Lighting
6:40p Kabbalat Shabbat

Shabbat, September 28: Nitzavim (Elul 28)
7:30a Mashkimin, followed by a Dvar Torah from Jessica Lieberman
9:15a Shacharit, with a Dvar Torah from Zan Alhadeff
10:30a Shabbat Youth Groups
5:15p Daf Yomi
5:45p Chaim Fruchter's Shiur
6:15p Mincha, followed by Seudah Shlishit with a Shiur from Rabbi Herzfeld on "The Halachot of Rosh Hashanah"
7:38p Havdalah
9:30p Selichot

Upcoming Kiddush Schedule
9/28: No food served
10/5: Kiddush (sponsorship available)
10/12: No food served
10/19: No food served

We are saddened to announce the passing of Shmarya Katzen, father of our member, Chani Laufer, father-in-law to Steve Laufer, and grandfather to Shoshana, Ari, and Erez Laufer. The funeral took place Monday, September 23. Chani will finish sitting shiva in Israel.

We are saddened to announce the passing of Robert I. Sann, father of our member, Ron Sann, father-in-law to Debbie Sann, and grandfather to Shayna and Aden Sann. The funeral took place Wednesday, September 25. For shiva details, visit ostns.org/lifecycle (logged-in members only).

LAST CHANCE! Sponsor a leaf on our Kol HaNe'arim Canopy, which will be used when we invite all the children of Ohev Sholom to gather during the Kol HaNe'arim aliyah on Simchat Torah. Deadline: TOMORROW, September 27. Visit ostns.org/canopy.

Ohev needs volunteers to be Greeters during Shabbat and the High Holidays. The Greeters are a vital arm of our security. They help to ensure the safety and security of our synagogue, while maintaining a friendly and open community. The role of the Greeter is simple: be a welcoming face standing at entries and an extra set of eyes and ears to report anything suspicious. The time commitment is one hour every few weeks. You can be a Greeter at the Jonquil Street or stroller entrances, or inside the sanctuary and social hall. For more information and to volunteer, please email security@ostns.org.

Rosh Hashanah Schedule

Sunday, September 29 
Erev Rosh Hashanah
6:36pm Candle lighting
6:40pm Mincha/Maariv
7:30pm Communal dinner (register here)

Monday, September 30
Rosh Hashanah I
8:30am Shacharit, with a Dvar Torah from Rabbi Herzfeld
8:30am Babysitting*
10:30am High Holiday Experience (for children ages 5 & up)
11:00am Shofar blowing
5:45pm Mincha
6:15pm Tashlikh
7:00pm Maariv
7:30pm Communal dinner (register here)
7:35pm Candle lighting

Tuesday, October 1
Rosh Hashanah II
8:30am Shacharit, with a Dvar Torah from Maharat Friedman
8:30am Babysitting*
​​​​​​​10:30am High Holiday Experience (for children ages 5 & up)
11:00am Shofar blowing
6:30pm Mincha, followed by a talk from Professor Jeremy Dauber on "Tevye: From Page to Stage"
7:20pm Maariv
7:34pm Conclusion of Yom Tov

*Registration for Rosh Hashanah babysitting is now closed and we cannot safely accept any more children.

Comments on the Parshiyot & Haftorot for Shabbat & Rosh Hashanah, Contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz

Shabbat  
In Parshat Nitzavim, 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."

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).

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)

Note from Rabbi Mintz: The study of Pirke Avot, Ethics of the Fathers, ends on Rosh Hashanah. In its place, we will present quotations from the daily prayer service for the purpose of weekly study.

Haftorah Videos, by Hal Brodsky z"l

A video about the haftorah for parshat Nitzavim can be viewed here: Isaiah 61:10-63:30
A video about the haftorah for the first day of Rosh Hashanah can be viewed here: 1 Samuel 1-2:10

Upcoming Events and Weekly Schedule

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

Lifecycles

Support our community and its members by making a donation dedicated in honor of (IHO) or in memory of (IMO) a  loved one.

Don't see a birthday listed? Update your lifecycle events and more at ostns.org (login required)

Don't see a yahrzeit listed? Update your lifecycle events and more at ostns.org (login required)

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
​​​​​​​(202) 882-7225