The world is founded on certain principles. Some of them are scientific laws of nature and others are fundamental values all of humanity needs to live by. We expect that, in the end, the good will prevail and the evil will fall. We expect when people do good, the world is made better, and when people do bad, the world is made worse and that those who did the bad will suffer. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t work like a well scripted movie. Things don’t always work out in the end or go as planned. The world is both fair and unfair all at once.
Today’s a day we’ve all feared since October 7, 2023, when we sat in our homes and cried as we watched the news. We were drawn to two beautiful boys who hadn’t even had the chance to live their lives yet. Ariel and Kfir Bibas were two young brothers who stole our hearts and we prayed each day for their safety and return, along with their mother, Shiri. Now we know those prayers did not come true. They were murdered by Hamas in cold blood. How anyone can argue that it’s okay to murder people for national or political gain is beyond me. How one can claim the murder of babies and children fulfills those ambitions is simply immoral and counter to all we hold dear.
The Bibas family was murdered for one reason and one reason only – they were Jews. This had nothing to do with land and nothing to do with nationalist aspirations. Shiri and her recently released husband, Yarden, lived just meters away from Gaza. They were part of a community that didn’t wish ill on their neighbors. They didn’t seek to harm Gazans or to see them denied rights. But none of this mattered to the brutal terrorists. Their innocence did not matter. Their views did not matter. Their age did not matter. Their gender did not matter. All that mattered was that they were living in Israel. All that mattered was they were Jews. And now they are gone.
There are no words to adequately sum up the pain and hurt we feel today. There’s no comfort that can be provided to Yarden Bibas and the rest of their family. The cruelty of Hamas having known they were dead for so long and keeping the world waiting and wondering should never be lost on any of us. This is a group who has not a single moral fiber in their bodies. This is a group that sought the destruction of their own people to assure the destruction of our people. They didn’t care about Palestinian children or women or elderly people. They hid safely in their tunnels and left the civilians above ground to deal with the power of the Israeli Army.
This week we’re reminded of the legal concept of an eye for eye and tooth for a tooth, עין תחת עין שן תחת שן, and while that might feel like what we want right now, it’s not what will make any of this right. The תורה / Torah is not actually talking of retributive justice but of restorative justice. It’s not that we want others to suffer because we have suffered. It’s that we want to bring this to an end and begin to feel safe and hopeful again. As long as Hamas continues to present a risk to us, none of this will happen. There can never be a world where Hamas is allowed to exist because their existence is a direct threat to all of humanity, beginning with us… the Jews. There cannot be a world where terror is rewarded and innocence is ignored. A world like that only brings more Ariel and Kfir Bibas’.
Today is awful. Today is hard and twisted. Today is a day that should not be. And yet it is a day and it is real. We must confront the evil that has brought this day upon us. We must recognize the evil that exists in the world and name it so we can cease to live in fear of it and ultimately defeat it.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Hearshen
Candlelighting time on February 21 is 6:09 pm.
Kiddush Sponsorship
Kiddush this Saturday will be sponsored in memory of Lenore and Victor Maslia by their children:
Elena and Kenny Marks Angie and Skip Weiland Donna Maslia and Matthew Morton Richard and Monica Maslia
Would you like to sponsor kiddush for a lifecycle event or other occasion? Click here to email Adam Kofinas or call 404-633-1737 for dates and pricing.
BIRTHDAYS
Shabbat Audrey Arogeti Harold Joseph (Joey) Galanti Neil Galanti Scott Galanti Sunday Anna Felice Tuck David Falkenstein Madeleine Kaplan Marilyn Mitchell Scott Israel
Monday Rebeca Selber
Tuesday Ezra Cohen Joyce Alhadeff
Wednesday Leah Kaplan Martin Krainin Milani Rico Richard Grosswald
Thursday Yisrael (Izzy) Gutierrez
ANNIVERSARIES There are no annivesaries
this week.
Meldados
Shabbat Boris Badalbayev
Sunday Victor Maslia
Monday Gordon Mitchell Reina Tourial
Tuesday Ben Rabinowitz Jason Eric Greenberg Phyllis Maslia Sylvia Rich
Sisterhood Sandwich and Stretch Sunday, May 4th 10:00a to 12:00p Join OVS Sisterhood to make sandwiches for those in need, enjoy a healthy snack and have a gentle morning stretch led by physical therapist, Julie Gabbai.
Sephardic Dinner to Go Thursday, May 8th 2:00p to 4:00p Dinner To Go includes 1 dozen burekas (potato, spinach or rice, while supplies last), 1 quart Avas (tomato based white bean soup), 1 quart rice, tossed garden salad and 6 biscochos. Pre-orders only by Monday, May 5.
Thank You Shabbat Shabbat, May 10th 8:45a to 12:30p Join us on Shabbat morning as we honor Rabbi Nachum Gutierrez & Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez for their service to OVS. Kiddush lunch will be served following services.
Shabbat Together Shabbat, May 10th 10:30a to 11:30a Join us for our new Kavanagh Minyan & Children's Services the second Saturday each month. Following these services, we'll join the group in the Sanctuary for Rabbi Hearshen's sermon followed by Kiddush lunch.
It’s as easy as:
Inviting your friends and family for Shabbat Dinner, Taking a few photos, Sharing the photos with OVS & One Table And... Receiving a stipend for each person at your dinner.
Boyos Class Sunday, May 25th 1:00p to 3:00p Join Dan Maslia for his famous Boyos Class. One person per household only. First come, first served. Maximum 20 participants. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to make this special Sephardic dish.
Shavuot Day of Water Play Monday, Jun 2nd 3:00p to 5:00p Join us on Shavuot Day 1, Monday, June 2 for a day of water play and ice cream. All ages welcome.
Building Blocks Sunday School 2025-2026 Sunday, Aug 17th 9:00a to 12:00p Building Blocks Sunday School at Congregation Or VeShalom is for children ages 2 - 12. Areas of focus include prayer, Jewish holidays, Jewish values, modern Hebrew, Hebrew reading, Israel, and Sephardic Jewish culture.
