Shabboom! Weekly Announcements

Energize your week with Ohev Sholom                                         October 17, 2019

Shabbat Times and Announcements

Erev Shabbat, October 18: Chol Hamoed Sukkot (Tishrei 19)
6:30a Shacharit
6:07p Candle Lighting
6:10p Kabbalat Shabbat

Shabbat, October 19: Chol Hamoed Sukkot, (Tishrei 20)
9:00a Shacharit, with a reading of Kohelet by Chaim Fruchter and a Dvar Torah from Rabbi Michael Balinsky
10:30a Shabbat Youth Groups
4:00p Hal Brodsky Memorial Sukkah Hop
4:45p Daf Yomi
5:15p Chaim Fruchter's Shiur
5:45p Mincha, followed by Seudah Shlishit with a Shiur from Hannah Druckman
7:07p Havdalah

Upcoming Kiddush Schedule
10/19: No food served
10/26: Kiddush (sponsorship available)
11/2: Kiddush Luncheon sponsored by the Nadata/Potvin family in honor of Michal's bat mitzvah

Mazel tov to Arielle & Yaakov Roth on the birth of a baby girl!

To read Rabbi Herzfeld's sermon from Sukkot, visit ostns.org/sermon.

AlefBlessed series 3 – Yekardim – has arrived!  Featuring precious objects from our tradition and, for the time ever, a minus card. To order the cards, visit ostns.org/alefblessed3.

We are collecting gently used children's books for a book swap, which will take place as a part of our Sukkah Hop on Saturday, October 19. If you have books that you would like to bring to shul in advance, there is a collection box in the lobby. Any books remaining after the book swap will be donated.

Hoshana Rabah: Sunday at 8:00am, we will hold Shacharit services with a musical hallel and musical hoshanos. People are encouraged to wear their hoshana tees.

Parking Lot Closure: To accommodate setup for our Simchat Torah Hakafot, the shul parking lot will be closed beginning Sunday at 4:00pm.

Youth & Family Programs

Comments on the Portion and Haftorah, Contributed by Rabbi Ben Mintz

The Shabbos between the first and last days of Sukkos is known as Shabbos Chol Hamoed. The Torah reading for this Shabbos is a recitation of the Laws of Festivals (Shmot 33:12). The Haftorah is from the Book of Ezekiel (Ch. 38, 39)  and describes the triumph of God's armies over the armies of Gog and Magog invading Jerusalem. Traditionally, on Shabbos Chol Ha'moed, the Book of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) is read in its entirety. According to the tradition, Kohelet was written by King Solomon in his later years, representing his "sober" evaluation of the meaning of life ("All is Vanity").

The Eighth Day of Sukkos is considered to be the separate festival of Shmini Atzeret. The Torah reading again describes the Festivals of the entire year (Dvorim, Ch. 14) and the Haftorah (Book of Kings, Ch. 8) tells of the celebration by King Solomon of the completion of the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. The celebration continues for fourteen days. As the story is told, on the Eighth Day, paralleling the festival of Shmini Atzeret, King Solomon sent the Jews back to their homes "joyful and glad of heart" (Verse 66).

On Simchas Torah, we celebrate the completion of the yearly reading of the Torah, reading the final portion, V'zos Ha'bracha, which contains Moses's final blessings of the Jewish people and a description of his death, burial, and mourning by the people for their leader. The final words of the Torah include: "Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses" (Verse 10). The Haftorah is the first chapter of the Book of Joshua. Joshua assumes leadership and God tells him to be "strong and resolute," because he will lead the people in the conquest of the Promised Land.

The following Shabbos, B'ezrat Ha'Shem, we will start reading the Torah once again. "In the Beginning..." Shana Tovah to everyone.

Haftorah Video, by Hal Brodsky z"l

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.

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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
​​​​​​​(202) 882-7225