עוד לא אבדה תקותנו, we have not lost our hope. The Israeli national anthem is by far one of the most meaningful and beautiful national anthems in the world. It tells the Jewish national story in eight short lines. To sum it all up, we are the people of תקוה… hope. When we look over the course of Jewish history… the Jewish story… we find that the singular thing that kept us together and committed was the singular focus that we sought to return to our homeland. It is embedded in our liturgy and in our rituals. We end our seders with “next year in Jerusalem.” We face Israel when praying and some of our houses have elaborate signs or paintings on the eastern walls to designate it as the direction of Israel.
When we were struggling at the hands of tyrants in Spain or Eastern Europe, the dream and hope of a return to our homeland provided us with the energy and strength to keep going. That hope became entrenched in the Jewish psyche and was expanded well beyond the yearning for Zion. We as a people have claimed the role of the eternal optimists of the world and as people who truly believe in tomorrow. Hopefulness is essential and it is transformative. As Jews in the Diaspora, we are inspired by Israel and her pursuits and accomplishments. At the same time, we are also in awe of the fulfillment of our hopes in her existence.
Hope is something that we all need to be willing to put more effort into on a daily basis. This past year has been difficult for all of us. It has been awful to be isolated and to live in fear. This past year we woke up each morning in a world that looked no different than the previous day and went to bed knowing that the next day would be the same as well. There was one thing that provided us with a path towards feeling restored and being able to cope and that path was called hope.
We hoped every day that things would improve. We hoped for a cure and for solutions. The act of hoping allowed us to endure the pain knowing there would be an end and a time when things would improve. This value can be applied to our lives outside of Israel and our lives outside of COVID. Hope is a transformative way of existing and living on a daily basis. Hope is something that we cannot lose sight of and cannot give up on. Hope is the last thing to die and we have never lost our tight grip on it. Happy 73rd Birthday Israel!
BIRTHDAYS Shabbat Aaron Krisel David Borukhov Stephanie Ladden
Sunday Andrew Ryan Ladden Nadya Ilyayeva
Monday Cynthia Benator
Tuesday Billy Light
Wednesday Andrea Bader Caroline Piha David Cohen Max Maslia Rachel Selber-Kropp Suzanne Dinur
Thursday Alan Franco Dina Akbashev
Friday David Franco Hazel Segall Judy Chyatte Nancy Hearshen
ANNIVERSARIES There are no anniversaries this week.
Meldados
Shabbat Denise Solomon for Mother Rachel Benveniste Levy Elliott Penso for Aunt Esther Hazan Grace Benator for Mother Rachel Benveniste Levy Milton Jay Solomon for Grandmother Rachel Benveniste Levy Michael Benator for Grandmother Rachel Benveniste Levy Michelle Rich for Grandmother Rachel Benveniste Levy Sam Benator for Grandmother Rachel Benveniste Levy
Sunday Cynthia Morgan for Father Meyer Hatten David Sotto for Mother Lucy Sotto David Sotto for Wife Cindy Sotto Julia Roth for Brother Jake Alhadeff Marilyn Bernstein for Father Jake Alhadeff Rochelle Richman for Father Jake Alhadeff
Monday James Wolfe for Father Morton Wolfe Josh Hearshen for Great Grandmother Laika Ruskin Phyllis Arogeti for Father Dave Taratoot Sam Shlimak for Mother Maria Shlimak
Tuesday Alan Taranto for Mother-in-law Jessica Cohen Bensinger Albert Barrocas for sister-in-law Esther Barrocas Betty Roistacher for Grandmother Reina Barocas Irvin Alhadeff for Father Abe Alhadeff Julia Roth for Brother Abe Alhadeff Rebeca Selber for sister-in-law Esther Barrocas Steve Alhadeff for Father Abe Alhadeff
Wednesday Elliott Penso for Grandmother Miriam Hazan Jeanette Arogeti for Grandmother Estreya Alhadeff Jerry Sevy for Grandmother Sharon Gatien Stella Firestone for Grandmother Estreya Alhadeff
Thursday Birdie Benator for Sister Pat Benveniste Levin Jon L. Weinberg for Father Eugene Abraham Weinberg Raymond Schinazi for Father Felix Solomon Schinazi
Friday Maxine S. Barocas for Father Israel Swerdlin Sarah Duwell for Mother-in-law Rose Schwartz
Chesed Team Three B'S April Sunday, Apr 27th 3:00p to 4:00p Join us as we take our Three B's program to Berman Commons. Do a Mitzvah and spend time with the residents. We’ll bring them a taste of OVS and play bingo.
Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult.
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.
