Registration is now closed for ordering dinner, but feel free to join us on Zoom! Click here to log into the Zoom on Sunday night Passcode: Bureka1914
Dear {{first_name}},
Tevye famously said “I know that we are the chosen people… but for once couldn’t You have chosen another people?” This sarcastic but heartfelt cry is something that many of us have felt in our own lives. There are so many times where we feel like the metaphorical camel waiting for that last straw that will break us. We often feel like one more burden is going to be just too much for us to endure. We cry out from that pain and darkness and exclaim why and how. We make arguments about the lack of fairness and justness in the pain that we are enduring. Haven’t we been through enough already?
In normal times, my days and weeks are often spent visiting people in hospitals, rehab facilities and other places. In normal times, I make it a point to sit in rooms with people in pain to help them through all that they are carrying on their own. It is so much weight for everyone to deal with and another person being there often eases that burden. Often, I find myself there for the family members of the hospitalized just as much if not more than I am there for the patient. On numerous occasions I am asked why… why me… why my husband… why my wife… why? When they ask this question I often want to offer the sage words of “why not you?” But I know that those words fall flat every time. The question being asked is rhetorical, of course. But at the same time, it is the invitation that I am being given to have a conversation with the person who is in deep pain. It is at that moment that I do not defend God and the imperfect world that He created. It is at that moment that I do not get into the science as to why this is happening to their body. I do not reassure and I do not play fortune teller. My job and my role at that moment is to be a whipping boy and a receptacle for anger and grief. It is to reassure the person that their pain is real and authentic and that they have every right to feel angry and sad and scared. They are dealing with so much and what they need at that moment is not to hear “it will be okay,” but to hear that it is not okay, that they are suffering, and that I am also angry that they are going through this.
As I am writing this message, a massive storm is amassing in the Gulf of Mexico. Just earlier this week another storm of lesser strength walloped the same location. So many people right now are in harm’s way and it breaks all of our hearts. We will be watching in real time as homes are decimated and lives are torn to shreds. We will watch as lives are lost and hearts are broken. It is awful to know that there is so little that we can do at this time to help. All of this is exasperated by the pandemic that we have been contending with for almost the entire year up until now. As I am writing these words, another unarmed man of color was shot by the people who are sworn to protect all of us and uphold the rule of law. This has sent our country into even greater amounts of pain and suffering. “I know that we are the chosen people… but for once couldn’t you have chosen another people?” We have had enough. We cannot stand another blow to our lives and our image of a world that will see better days. We cannot continue to have our hearts broken. The mistake that many make at moments like these is that we blame God for being the force behind the destruction. God is not in the eye of the hurricane but in the eye of the rescuer putting her life at risk to save others. God is not in the DNA of the COVID-19, but in the DNA of the person putting his life at risk to treat patients and the people researching the cure to this illness. God is not in the heart of the people who murder, but is in the hearts of those who yearn for justice and bettering our world. God is with us crying and telling us that He agrees that we cannot take another piece of adversity and yet… the world will continue to have its lows at the same time. God is there waiting with us and holding us up as we await another rainbow at the end of this storm.
We pray for the safety and well being of all of those in harms way as the storm strikes in the coming days. We pray for all who are fighting COVID19 and those treating those who are fighting. And we pray for peace in our cities and justice as well. We pray that we will find a way to an America where we live up to our founding documents messages of a country made by “we the people” where “all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” May it be so.
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 September 4th (Elul 15) 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 Join Zoom Meeting Meeting password: Bureka1914 Meeting ID: 678 255 278
7:49 pmCandlelighting
Shabbat, August 29th
(Elul 9) Parshat Ki Tetze 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 29th.
SATURDAY NIGHT AUGUST 29th 9 pm Join us for a Zoom Havdalah service Please click hereto join everyone. Meeting Password: Bureka1914
Wednesday, September 2nd (Elul 13) 7:00 pm - Zoom Hebrew Class with Rabbi Hearshen Join Zoom class Password: Bureka1914
Erev Shabbat, Friday September 4th (Elul 15) Shabbat Dinner Under the Stars Friday, September 4, 2020 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
6:00 pm Virtual Friday Night Service via Zoom Join Zoom Meeting Meeting password: Bureka1914 Meeting ID: 678 255 278 7:40 pmCandlelighting
Shabbat, September 5th (Elul 16) SHABBAT IN THE LOTfor Saturday, September 5th.
Registration will open on Sunday, August 30th. You can go to our webpageto register.
Registration will close either on Friday at noon
or when we reach capacity, whichever happens first.
Keftes Dinner and Mitzvot "Auction"
SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY AUGUST 30TH Pick up your Keftes Dinner in the afternoon (between 1 and 4 pm), and join us on Zoom at 6 PM for a virtual dinner and learning.
ADVANCED RSVP REQUIRED FOR PURCHASING DINNER. Registration is now closed. Feel free to join us on Zoom to learn some history of the OVS HHD auction tradition, take part in bidding in our traditional Ladino style on a few select HHD items, and hear some words of torah from Rabbi Hearshen as we gear up for the holidays.
Passcode: Bureka1914
High Holiday Schedule
Click on the images above or here to download a printable calendar! Advanced Registration Required and Limited for all In-Person Services and Events. Registration Links Will Be Shared 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.
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
Friday September 4th 6 - 8 pm
Shabbat Dinner Under the Stars Registration includes attending Friday night "drive-in" services. Theme for September 4th: Moroccan cuisine prepared by Chef Alex
Wednesday Gregory Dinur Jacquelyn Shemaria L. Adam Rabinowitz Mazol Zavulunov
Friday Celerino Clemente Guy Harari Michael Rechtman Molly Grosswald
Anniversaries
Tuesday Keith and Melanie Benator
Laurence and Rochelle Richman
Wednesday Bradley and Stephanie Ladden
Leo and Louise Benatar
Meldados May their memory be a blessing
Meldados
Shabbat Ann Benator for Father Ronald Snyder Caron Gindi for Father Henry Roman Morris (Moe) Soriano for Aunt Esther Benbenisty Rose Beton for Sister Esther Benbenisty
Sunday Fred Katz for Mother-in-law Erna Strauss Pearline Franco for Aunt Jean Lereah
Tuesday Ila Galanti for Brother-in-law Morris R. Galanti Iris Shemaria for Father Maurie K. Smith Irwin Galanti for Father Morris R. Galanti Lisa Galanti Rabinowitz for Father Morris R. Galanti Nancy Galanti for Father-in-law Morris R. Galanti Rachel Galanti for Husband Morris R. Galanti Ronnie Galanti for Father Morris R. Galanti Sam Galanti for Brother Morris R. Galanti
Wednesday Denise Solomon for Mother-in-law Alice Solomon Georgette Cohen for Father Pinhas Azoulay Milton Jay Solomon for Grandmother Alice Solomon
Thursday Janet Soriano Seligson for Nephew Joseph M. Soriano Jeffrey Halfon for Aunt Esther L. Halfon Melvyn Halfon for Sister Esther L. Halfon Michael Seligson for Nephew Joseph M. Soriano Morris (Moe) Soriano for Son Joseph M. Soriano Neil Cooper for Nephew Joseph M. Soriano Shelley Cooper for Nephew Joseph M. Soriano Sherri Soriano for Son Joseph M. Soriano
Friday Abo Akbashev for Father Gavriel Akbashev Ben Arogeti for Brother Joe M. Arogeti Svetlana Akbasheva for Father Gavriel Akbashev Yuriy Akbashev for Father Gavriel Akbashev
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.
