Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
I recall learning this poem for the first time when I was in middle school. We all adored it because the imagery was so vivid and the meaning was rather relatable. I’ve spent my life always paying attention to the opening words and not the entirety of the poem. In the beginning of these words, Frost paints a picture of a person on a journey or a hike who’s looking at two paths before him/her. This person sizes up each path and then chooses one (the less traveled one) to use that day. I love this image of a person standing and pondering a decision in their life. I love this idea of trying to discover what will happen if we go this way or that. Many a movie has been filmed and many a book has been written about different choices we make in the past and how they impact our future. From time to time we’ve all questioned how different things could have been if we’d made this turn rather than that or if we’d stayed on this path rather than getting off. It’s a fascinating set of questions to ponder, but in the end, we need to see there’s seldom an option to go back and change our decisions.
See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: blessing, if you obey the commandments of your God יהוה that I enjoin upon you this day; and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of your God יהוה, but turn away from the path that I enjoin upon you this day and follow other gods, whom you have not experienced. (Deuteronomy 11:26 – 28)
These are the opening words of Parshat Re’eh, this week’s reading. There’s no way to read this other than God overtly told us we have a choice. We live lives of choices. In fact, it’s safe to say our lives are merely a series of decisions. Each one of those decisions leads to another series of options and so forth and so on. We’re blessed to make choices but at the same time this is actually a curse. The blessing is we have a semblance of control over our lives and what happens to us. I say semblance because we don’t have absolute control over forces of nature or the actions of other people. But we do in fact have some control. It’s a curse because often times we become dangerously paralyzed by the number of options we have to contend with on a daily basis. A trip to the grocery store can become a spiral of doom and gloom when we’re forced to decide between five or more varieties of our favorite cereal or ice cream. Just take a look and see how many different kinds of eggs are sold… spoiler alert: they all come from a chicken. The choices we have can be self-affirming or they can be quite alarming.
The paralysis sometimes leads us to create a false narrative claiming we’re helpless and without a choice in this world. That worldview is incorrect and needs to be put aside. Each and every one of us needs to see (ראה/Re’eh) that there are many decisions put before us and we’re in the driver’s seat to decide what the next choice is. Those decisions are indeed effected by others and by natural phenomena but that should never hold us back from choosing. We simply need to find it within ourselves to learn to choose wisely.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Hearshen
Candlelighting time on August 11 is 8:10 pm.
Saturday Night Services
Services on Saturday night will start at 8:10 pm this week.
Sunday Morning Minyan
Join us each week for Sunday Morning Minyan in the Chapel at 8:30 am.
RSVP requested for each service to ensure we have a minyan.
High Holiday materials, including tickets, have been sent to local OVS members in good standing (who have paid all prior year commitments and at least 50% of their 2023 Dues). Out of state members in good standing will receive tickets upon request. Click here to request your out of state ticketsor email office@orveshalom.org.
Please check your mailbox and visit our website for High Holiday updates.
Adult Education
Classes below start on August 16 and are being offered free of charge.
We highly recommend you purchase the book on each registration page to fully participate in class and to practice what you learn. Zoom links will be provided upon registration.
Additional classes are coming soon. Watch you email and visit
FunRaising Trivia Night Motzei Shabbat, Nov 23rd 7:00p to 9:00p Hosted by Michelle Rich, Debbie Cohen Sobel & Leah Kaplan. Featuring NYC Trivia Host Gabe Rich. An Italian vegetarian dinner will be served. All proceeds to benefit Congregation Or VeShalom.
Community Service Projects Thanksgiving 2024 Sunday, Nov 24th 9:00a to 1:00p OVS is partnering with JF&CS to prepare Thanksgiving meals for people living in group housing and care packages for care givers.
Learn to Chant the Torah Wednesday, Dec 4th 7:00p to 9:00p Learn to chant the Torah with Rabbi Gutierrez. This series begins on Tuesday, November 12 through January. There will be no classes Thanksgiving week or during winter break. RSVP requested. Class is offered free of charge.
Town Brookhaven Holiday Kickoff Thursday, Dec 5th 6:00p to 8:30p Join Rabbi Hearshen, friends & family from OVS and the greater community of Brookhaven for this special event. There will be a Giant Hanukkiah, Dance & Musical Performances, Merchant Specials, Character Meet & Greet, and More. No RSVP necessary. Be sure to stop by the OVS table for some goodies!
Cash Raffle 2024 Sunday, Dec 8th 11:00a to 4:00p Enter to win our 50/50 cash raffle. Winner will be drawn at the end of the Sisterhood Bazaar on Sunday, December 8. You do not have to be present to win.
Hanukkah Bazaar and Food Festival Sunday, Dec 8th 11:00a to 4:00p The OVS Sisterhood Hanukkah Bazaar & Food Festival will feature food, shopping and lots of games and activities for children.
Comedy Night FunRaiser Motzei Shabbat, Dec 14th 7:30p to 10:30p Join us for a fun night of comedy featuring our very own Louis Galanti & Lily Maslia providing opening comedy sets for Atlanta legend Jerry Farber. All proceeds to benefit OVS.
Annual General Membership Meeting Sunday, Dec 15th 10:00a to 11:30a The meeting this year is being offered in person and on Zoom. We need a quorum to vote at the Meeting. Please make every effort to attend.
