Newsletter Archives

Today, the day that I am writing these words, is the 15th of the month of Av. That means that we have 45 days until the holidays arrive. The holidays will arrive no matter what happens. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur cannot be moved to a more convenient time when we are not enduring such difficult times like right now. This is because the one constant that is always true is that the earth will rotate on its axis and it will circle around the sun at the same time. In other words, time goes on no matter what we do. As Jews, we are always aware of time as it is innately Jewish. Remember that Shabbat is truly a celebration of time. So now is the time of the year when we begin to plan and get ready for the holidays. We begin menu planning. We begin reflecting. We begin planning services. We begin looking for ways that we can change and do better. While it is clear that the holidays this year are going to be distinctly different from anything that we have done in the past, it is important that each of us work to make them happen. That we each begin the hard work to get ready for the holidays and to celebrate them in all of their glory regardless of how they look. The basic rule will always be that we will only get out of life that which we put into it. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will be everything that each of us gives to them.
This week we are reading the words of עקב which we translate in this context as being to heed the commandments. But there is much more to all of this. The word should cause all of us to jump back to the first book of the Torah, Bereshit or Genesis, and to one of the main characters: יעקב (Jacob). I hope you see why that is the case. His name, when written in Hebrew, shares that same word. It is the same thing. But Jacob did not die a Jacob, he died known as Israel which name he was given after having struggled with an angel and surviving. I would like us to all internalize that at this moment. We feel beaten down and exhausted. We feel tired of COVID-19 and all that has come with it. But we will get through this together. We will get past this moment. We will move forward and we will be strong. The reality is that this struggle, unlike the struggle of Jacob, is not an individual one. We are all working and we all need to continue to fight together. If we all continue to work at wearing masks and washing our hands, if we all continue to resist the temptations to end social distancing, if we all continue to do everything that we have been asked to do by the experts then we will get through this and we will be stronger. We will have survived the struggle with beings, both human and Divine, and, , like Jacob, we will have come out on the other side. As the congregation of Light and Peace let us work together from a distance to do just that. To be a light and to bring peace to the world. 
Shabbat Shalom,
 
Rabbi Josh Hearshen​​​

If you'd like to meet with
Rabbi Hearshen,
please contact the OVS office.
Face masks covering one's nose and

mouth must be worn at all times at OVS.

Thank You Amy Arnold!

The Week Ahead

Erev Shabbat, Friday August 7th (Av 17)

6:00 pm Virtual Friday Night Service via Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting password:  Bureka1914
Phone Number:  646-876-9923
Meeting ID:  678 255 278

6:00 pm Shabbat Dinner Under the Stars
(see details below)

8:13 pm Candlelighting

Shabbat, August 15th (Av 25)
 SHABBAT IN THE LOT for Saturday, August 15th.

Registration will open on Sunday, August 9th.
You can go to our webpage  to register.

Registration will close either on Friday at noon

or when we reach capacity, whichever happens first.
 

 Hebrew Class with Rabbi Hearshen

Want to read the prayers, but never learned Hebrew? Come join us 7 pm

 on Wednesday nights for an introductory Hebrew class.
No prior knowledge or Hebrew skill necessary.

The class started this past week, but feel free to join in anytime! We'll be meeting weekly until September 9th, break for High Holydays, then start up again October 14th.

Join in the Zoom call here. Passcode is Bureka14.

Sundaes on Sunday

Sundaes on Sunday
Sunday, August 16, 2020 
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM  In the OVS Parking Lot
Let’s all get together and socially distance to see each other,

have some delicious ice cream, and get to know the entire Hearshen family.
All ages are welcome.
ADVANCED RSVP REQUIRED.
Go here to register.
 

Shabbat Under the Stars

Shabbat Dinner Under the Stars
Friday, August 7, 2020 
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Registration now closed, but save the date for:

Shabbat Dinner Under the Stars
Friday, August 21, 2020 
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Registration includes attending Friday night
 "drive-in" services.
​​​​​​​
Deadline to register is Tuesday, August 18.  
Featuring foods from around the Sephardic World
These bi-monthly dinners will pair food from a different part
of the world each Shabbat. 

Theme for August 21: Bukharian cuisine by Chef Alex

Cost: $20 per person / $40 per couple 
OR 
$54 per family (2 adults and up to 3 kids ages 12 & under)

Please go here to RSVP.

Getting to Know You with Rabbi Hearshen

Join Rabbi Hearshen 
in 
“Getting to Know You”
 ... One OVS Family at a Time!
      Each month, Rabbi Hearshen will interview one 
OVS congregant family.
   
Rabbi’s first interview will be with Ila Galanti and family
    Thursday, August 20th, 7:30 PM
     Join live or catch the recorded version later on Facebook.

Links to come soon!

PJ Library Sweet Series Goes Ladino

Join us live on the PJ Library Atlanta Facebook page  August 19 at 5pm with a special guest, Sarah Aroeste for some Buen Shabat!

​​​​​​​Learn about “Magic Jewish Spanish” (also known as Ladino) as Sarah reads from her PJ Library book, Buen Shabat, Shabbat Shalom, and gets hands clapping and feet dancing with some Sephardic song and fun!

Presenting:  The Sisterhood Book Club!

We're starting a Sisterhood Book Club
 and we'd love for you to join!
 
Our first selection will be 
Miriam's Kitchen:  A Memoir
by Elizabeth Ehrlich.
  
Discussion of the book will be led by
our new Rubisa, Carrie Hearshen,
via Zoom on Tuesday, September 1 at 8:00pm
 
Learn more about the book and order your copy via Amazon
(or your favorite bookseller). A link for Amazon can be found here.

Zoom meeting link
 Meeting password:  Bureka1914
 
Get your copy today and start reading!

Upcoming events at OVS

Zoom into Shabbat at 5:00 PM 
A Program for Young Families

    August 14th, August 28th, September 11 
                                                                                                
Shabbat Dinner Under the Stars
Featuring Foods from around the Sephardic World at 6:00 PM
August 21st and September 4th
 
Sundaes on Sunday at 2:00 PM
Let’s all get together and socially distance to see each other, have some delicious ice cream, and get to know the entire Hearshen family. All ages are welcome.
August 16th, October 18th and November 8th
 
Getting to Know You at 7:00 PM
Learning more about our congregational families
August 20th, September 10th and October 22nd
 

Meldados
May their memory be a blessing

Community Events

Register for the Israel Bonds dinner by clicking on the image above or calling Marcus Brodzki at Israel Bonds, 404-831-0845.

If Anyone Needs Help During Covid-19

If anyone is experiencing difficulty or needs help with getting groceries, medicines, transportation, counseling services, etc., please

contact the office and speak with Rabbi Josh Hearshen

or Executive Director Adam Kofinas.

How To Reach Us