A message from OVS President Michael Bouhadana

While our congregation does its best to maintain a regular Monday and Thursday minyan, we're not consistent. 
 
How do other synagogues maintain a regular Minyan? We learned that a conservative/reform shul here in Atlanta, has successfully conducted an Orthodox weekday Minyan for many years. With that in mind, we re-invite everyone to our weekday orthodox minyanim (Mondays/Thursdays): both for the benefit of our members, and...Read more...

During Shabbat services last week, Rabbi Kassorla taught us that ‘honoring our parents’ is one of three mitzvahs, the Talmud...Read more...

While our congregation does its best to maintain a regular Monday and Thursday minyan, we're not consistent. Our members often have to attend other synagogues on weekdays, if they want to say Kaddish, celebrate festivals that land on the weekday (such as Lag Ba Omer this week), or take out the Torah. 
 
How do other synagogues maintain a regular Minyan? We learned that a conservative/reform shul here in Atlanta, has...Read more...

Where could a Sephardi Jew enjoy the most incredible Shabbat kiddush meal of Moroccan fish and Israeli salads? The answer might surprise you. My wife and I visited the Jewish Community of Kansai in Kobe, Japan, and spent Shabbat at Congregation Ohel Shelomoh (www.jcckobe.org), with services led by Rabbi Shmuel Vishedsky. Only a few thousand Jews live in Japan, with a small but thriving Sephardic/Mizrahi community in the coastal city of Kobe. The...Read more...

Do you know that Spain has a passed a law to grant citizenship to descendants of Sephardim expelled in 1492? This is an incredible benefit for many in our community.  If you have roots dating back to Spain, Congregation Or VeShalom is one of a few synagogues in the United States that can guide you through the Spanish citizenship process. Thank you to Dr. Mariana Montiel for all her efforts in bringing Mr. Luis Portero to speak to our...Read more...

We hope everyone enjoyed a fulfilling Passover Seder with family and friends. Congregation Or VeShalom hosted a well-attended community Seder on the second night, led by our Rabbi Kassorla. If you missed it this year, please make plans to attend next year. Rabbi Kassorla always does a wonderful job leading the Seder. According to Rabbi, we had more than 10 countries represented, and at the end of the evening, attendees were singing their...Read more...

We hope everyone enjoys the upcoming Friday night Passover Seder. Please contact the office, if you know someone is alone and looking to join a family for Seder.
 
Anyone can provide me with feedback on your synagogue experience. Your comments will be sent to me directly and will not be made public.
Here's the link.
 
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Michael

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Earlier in the year, I visited the Atlanta Mercedes Benz stadium for a business related event. It's a remarkable structure; but what I found most intriguing was the lack of signs and sponsor banners. Stadium promotions are completely digital. The stadium changes its banners digitally depending on the sporting event of the day. It's safe to say, one could miss out on valuable stadium promotions without a mobile phone or general access to the...Read more...