THEOVSWEEKLY August 20, 2020 / 30 Av 5780 Be well.Stay safe.Take good care.
HAPPENING TONIGHT!!
Dear {{first_name}},
Time, time, time, see what’s become of me… These famous words from the beginning of Simon and Garfunkel (in all seriousness I think the Bangles version is better) are very telling at times in our lives when we become reflective. As we are wrapping up the year, right now it is time to look back on 5780 while looking forward to 5781. All of this is a long-winded way of saying that we are now in the month of Elul, the last month of the year, and we need to begin to prepare for the High Holidays.
The holidays begin every year with Rosh Chodesh Elul but they do not end after Yom Kippur. The High Holiday season includes four holidays that are each distinct and very important. We begin with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. The next one is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. After that we move onto Sukkot and then Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. The problem is that at this time every year we plan for Rosh Hashana and we get ready for Yom Kippur… but what about the last two? Sukkot is an incredible holiday. It is a time to gather and appreciate all of the numerous gifts that have been given to us by God. It is a time to rejoice and celebrate life and its fragility. As we have just over a month and a half until Sukkot, I would like to begin our conversation at this time rather than waiting.
Had Sukkot been placed further from Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, I believe that it would be a much more observed and appreciated holiday. It shares much with Passover, and yet has little of the appreciation and fandom that Passover has naturally amassed. This year is a great year to reclaim Sukkot’s proper place in our yearly observances and in our hearts. This year, we are looking for ways to be together while being safe. We all recognize that one of the safest ways to do this is to be outdoors. Sukkot is the outdoors holiday. Through the years we have seen fewer people building sukkahs at their houses. We have found that fewer people are observing the holiday by dwelling outside for the days of the holiday. What if this year, more of us choose to reverse this trend and instead build sukkahs at our houses so that we can both celebrate the holiday and also be together in a safer way outside. Of course, this will necessitate that the gathering is still small and also that our sukkahs are larger than they have been in the past so that we can be safe at a distance if we do not live with the people who are gathering at our houses. But there is another reason why this year is such a great year to reclaim our adoration of Sukkot. All of us are doing everything that we can to stay home as much as possible and thus stay safe from others. We are looking for new ways to connect and new things to do. We are looking to break up the monotony of our lives and building a new sukkah could do just that for us.
Judaism is like a muscle. We need to use it in order to keep it going. When we allow it to atrophy that diminishing becomes more and more difficult to reverse. We need our Jewish lives to be active and involved. We need our Jewish lives to be engaged in ritual just as they are involved in ethics. We need our Jewish lives to find a way to make every holiday matter more and more each time. By getting more involved in Sukkot, we can get 5781 off to a good start to make each of our lives holier and safer every day.
If you would like help with purchasing a sukkah or with building one on your own, please contact our office and we will help you with your growth in this mitzvah.
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, August 21st (Elul 1) 6:00 pm Shabbat Dinner Under the Stars Registration includes attending Friday night "drive-in" services. Registration is now closed. 6:00 pm Virtual Friday Night Service via Zoom Join Zoom Meeting Meeting password: Bureka1914 7:57 pmCandlelighting
Shabbat, August 22nd
(Elul 2) Parshat Shoftim 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 22nd.
SATURDAY NIGHT AUGUST 22nd 9:30 pm Join us for a Zoom Havdalah service Please click hereto join everyone. Meeting Password: Bureka1914
Wednesday, August 26th (Elul 6) 7:00 PM - Zoom Hebrew Class with Rabbi Hearshen Join Zoom class Password: Bureka1914
Erev Shabbat, Friday August 28th (Elul 8) 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 7:49 pmCandlelighting
Shabbat, August 29th (Elul 9) SHABBAT IN THE LOTfor Saturday, August 29th.
Registration will open on Sunday, August 23rd. 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 has passed, and the online form will close tomorrow, Friday August 21st.
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 and learning.
Dinner is $10 per adult, and $5 per child (ages 3-12). Zoom info will be sent out upon registration!
Click on the images above or here to download a printable calendar!
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 - SOLD OUT Register now for the next Dinner, Friday September 4th 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Registration includes attending Friday night "drive-in" services. Theme for September 4th: Moroccan cuisine prepared by Chef Alex
Join friends from Or VeShalom for a virtual happy hour and discussion with AIPAC about the latest news from Israel, updates on the political front and how we can work together to keep the US-Israel relationship strong. Come with your questions AND one of the suggested drinks below – or your own favorite concoction. This will be a great opportunity to unwind, reconnect and enjoy lively and informative conversation.
Click here to register. After registering for the program, you will receive a confirmation email and calendar invite with the zoom link details.
For more information, please contact Todd Young at tyoung@aipac.org .
DRINK RECIPES:
Cosmopolitics 2 oz vodka 1 oz cranberry juice ½ oz fresh lime juice
Swing State Spritzer 2 parts Vodka 5 muddled blueberries Dash of grenadine Club soda
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 28th and September 11th
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. 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
Yom Huledet
Sameach Happy Birthday!
Yom Nisuyeem Sameach Happy Anniversary!
English Birthdays
Sunday Shon Mekyten
Monday Michael Galanti Riley Franklin Kropp Sophie Jean Rabinowitz
Tuesday Albert Tarica Jordan Blair Arogeti
Wednesday Alexandra Nelson Benjamin Lebedin Louie Shemaria Sarah Silver
Thursday Elias Josue Clemente Marie Babb Mariele Berkowitz
Friday Albert Barrocas Julia Galanti Luis Perez Cruz
Anniversaries
Shabbat Aaron and Jeannine Altmann Michael and Carol Benator
Monday Kenny and Sharon Sonenshine
Wednesday Leon and Sylvia Capouano
Meldados May their memory be a blessing
Meldados
Shabbat Gary Meyer for Father Martin Meyer
Monday Aaron Altmann for Father Karl Altmann Cynthia Benator for Mother Sylvia Goldstein Witt Margie Franco for Father Samuel Viness
Tuesday Gloria Levine for Father Julius Bayowitz Marianne Tarica for Aunt Celia Levin
Wednesday Ben Arogeti for Nephew Michael Arogeti Jeffrey Arogeti for Brother Michael Arogeti Melvin Resnick for Mother Sylvia Resnick Phyllis Arogeti for Son Michael Arogeti Rick Arogeti for Brother Michael Arogeti Victoria Cadranel for Father Samuel Solomon Beton Vivian Porter for Husband Bill Porter
Thursday Benson Habib for Mother Bertha Habib
Friday Ellen Taranto for Mother Ruby Shefsky Patterson Sarah Duwell for Uncle Joseph Gueron
Community Events
Click hereto find out about the Jewish Community Events in our area.
JF&CS Coping with Loss
If Anyone Needs Help During Covid-19
If anyone is experiencing difficulty or needs help with getting groceries, medicines, transportation, counseling services, etc., please
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.