THEOVSWEEKLY August 13, 2020 / 23 Av 5780 Be well.Stay safe.Take good care.
Dear {{first_name}},
“See I set before you today a blessing and a curse.” Those are the opening words of this week’s Torah Portion: Re’eh. This basic opening implies a very important lesson. God has given us two ways of living in this world… a choice. We have the power in our hands to choose how we see the world and how we experience reality. All too often, we fall back on our animal instincts and choose to live without intention. We choose to live as if all that we do is merely a response to the circumstances in which we are living. If we live lives of instinct and not lives of intent, we are slaves to our basic animal nature. But we can do better than that; we can step up and make sure that we do more than merely survive.
There is a popular term in Israel: אין ברירה – there is no choice. This term became popularized by the real world in which Israelis live. They feel that there are so many circumstances all around them that force them into their actions. But I think we need to reject this mentality. We cannot throw our hands up and say that we have no choice. Life is the sum total of the choices that we make. Every single minute, every hour, and every day, we are confronted with options. This or that, left or right, up or down. We do not HAVE to be or do any one thing. We have the choice to respond to the world as we each see fit.
As we are embarking on the High Holiday period we have a choice as well. We can choose to mope around and be upset that the holidays are impacted by COVID-19. That would be a choice that we have. But the alternative is to choose to look for ways to embrace the holidays in their altered appearance. It would be a mistake to throw up our hands and say that the holidays will be disappointing because we have no choice. Each of us has before us the two paths that Robert Frost so eloquently wrote about so many years back. We can travel down either one… it is up to us. I look forward to being on these various paths with all of you for years yet to come.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Josh Hearshen
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
We are requesting the following for a project Rabbi Hearshen is working on for this year's High Holidays:
1) Please tell us about your fondest memory of the High Holidays. If you have a picture to go with it that would be great. 2) Please tell us about a family member who changed your life. Again, if you have a picture that would be a great thing as well.
Please email your submissions to us at HHD@orveshalom.org by Friday, September 4th.
The Week Ahead
Erev Shabbat, Friday August 14th (Av 24) 5:00 pm Zoom Into Shabbat: A Program for Young Families Join Zoom Meeting Meeting password: Bureka1914 Meeting ID: 875 8123 3482
6:00 pm Virtual Friday Night Service via Zoom NOTE NEW TIME Join Zoom Meeting Meeting password: Bureka1914 Meeting ID: 678 255 278 8:06 pmCandlelighting
Shabbat, August 15th
(Av 25) Parshat Re'eh 8:46 amShabbat in the Lot at
Or VeShalom
Program lasts about an hour and a half. (Outside in the OVS Parking Lot) PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY. SEATS ARE LIMITED.
Click here for the full reopening plan. Go here to register for this Shabbat August 15th.
SATURDAY NIGHT AUGUST 16th 9:30 pm Join us for a Zoom Havdalah service Please click hereto join everyone. Meeting Password: Bureka1914
SUNDAY AUGUST 16 (AV 26) NEW PROGRAM: SUNDAES ON SUNDAYS 2 PM in the OVS Parking Lot
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED Click here to register.
Wednesday, August 19th (Av 29) 7:00 PM - Zoom Hebrew Class with Rabbi Hearshen Join Zoom class Password: Bureka1914
Thursday, August 20th (Av 30) 7:30 pm "Getting to Know You" with Rabbi Hearshen First Interview in our Monthly Series, featuring Ila Galanti and her Family. Click here on the 20th to Join in.
Erev Shabbat, August 21st (Elul 1) 6:00 pm Shabbat Dinner Under the Stars Registration includes attending Friday night "drive-in" services. More info below.
6:00 pm Virtual Friday Night Service via Zoom Join Zoom Meeting Meeting password: Bureka1914
7:57 pmCandlelighting
Shabbat, August 22nd (Elul 2) SHABBAT IN THE LOTfor Saturday, August 22nd.
Registration will open on Sunday, August 16th. You can go to our webpageto register.
Registration will close either on Friday at noon
or when we reach capacity, whichever happens first.
Yizkor Book Submissions Deadline Coming Up
Now is the time to enter your Yizkor Book information.. Click hereto access the Yizkor Book form. The deadline for submissions is Monday, August 17th.
Sundaes on Sunday
THIS Sunday, August 16th
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.
Keftes Dinner and Mitzvot "Auction"
SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY AUGUST 30TH Pick up your Keftes Dinner in the afternoon, and join us on Zoom at 6 PM for a virtual dinner, auction, and learning
ADVANCED RSVP REQUIRED. Registration to open next week.
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.
While the class started a few weeks back, all are welcome to join in anytime! We'll be meeting weekly until September 9th, break for High Holidays, then start up again October 14th.
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)
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!
Starting Tuesday, September 1st at 8 pm
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 into Shabbat at 5:00 PM A Program for Young Families
August 14th, August 28th, September 11
Shabbat DinnerUnder the Stars Featuring Foods from around the Sephardic World at 6:00 PM August 21st and September 4th
Sundaes on Sundayat 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 Youat 7:00 PM Learning more about our congregational families August 20th, September 10th and October 22nd
Meldados May their memory be a blessing
Yahrzeits
Shabbat Birdie Benator for Sister Dorothy Benveniste Novatt Jeffrey Cohen for Grandfather Isaac Benshushan Lisa Galanti Rabinowitz for Grandfather Isaac Benshushan Lyudmila Pinkhasova for Father-in-law Moshe Pinkhasov Mark Pinkhasov for Grandfather Moshe Pinkhasov Rachel Galanti for Father Isaac Benshushan Sidney Levine for Sister Lillian Levine
Sunday Gloria Levine for Mother Sadye Bayowitz Isabelle Maslia for Sister Beatrice Renov Morris Maslia for Aunt Beatrice Renov Yashal Ilyayev for Mother Purim Ilyayeva
Monday William Hatherley for Grandmother Gertrude Ethel Zucker
Wednesday Isidoro Palatchi for Brother-In-Law Rafael Behar James Wolfe for Uncle Larry Deaner
Thursday Alan Franco for Brother Steven R. Franco Cathy S. Franco for Husband Steven R. Franco Joyce Elias for Father Benjamin Elias Margie Franco for Son Steven R. Franco Sylvia Franco Lavine for Brother Steven R. Franco Tilda Finzi Cohen for Father Maurizio Finzi
Friday Miriam Benatar Guest for Mother Rosalind Benatar Salomon Codron for Mother Fortunee Codron Suzanne Goldstein for Mother Rosalind Benatar
Yom Huledet Sameach Happy Birthday!
Yom Nisuyeem Sameach Happy Anniversary!
English Birthdays
Shabbat Matthew Krasner Michael Silver Renee Black
Sunday Grace Benator Manuela Bornstein
Monday Betty Roistacher
Wednesday Bernardo Nieto
Thursday Marilyn Cristal Rachelle Parker
Friday Lee Silver Reece Nelson
Anniversaries
Shabbat Bruce and Deborah Benator
Tuesday Sam and Ann Benator
Wednesday Josiah V. and Birdie Benator
Community Events
Click hereto find out about the Jewish Community Events in our area.
Plant OVS for Tu B'shvat Sunday, Jan 24th 2:00p to 4:00p Celebrate Tu B'Shvat - the birthday of the trees and beautify our Kehila.
Activities for all ages. We'll be gardening, planting, painting flower pots and more.
Advanced registration required.
Masks are required and social distancing will be observed.
Sisterhood Book Club February 4, 2021 Thursday, Feb 4th 8:00p Join us for our next Sisterhood Book Club. The book will be The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner. Discussion on Zoom will be lead by Rubisa Carrie Hearshen. Join Zoom Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83261925390?pwd=eFBKVjQ2ZWVhTVVVcU9XK3NkTmNydz09.
Passcode: bureka1914
Meeting ID: 886 0316 7121
Kosher Super Bowl Sunday Takeout Sunday, Feb 7th (All day) Order Kosher Take Out for Super Bowl Sunday. Prepared by Chef Alex in the Congregation Or VeShalom kitchen.
Orders will be available for pickup at OVS on February 7 from noon - 2:00 pm.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Backpack Buddies, a program to supply economically disadvantaged elementary school children with food for the weekend.
Order deadline is Monday, February 1.