On Kal Nidre I spoke about the choices each of us make in our lives. I reflected on the Yom Kippur war and how Golda Meir and others made choices good and bad. All too often people let humans off the hook by claiming all is in God’s hands, but the reality is people are always making choices that impact the world at all levels.
On Friday Israelis chose to have Shabbat and Yom Tov dinners and to celebrate the Torah. Other Israelis took advantage of the holiday weekend and spent time with families and friends and others went to a music festival with friends. On Friday a group of Palestinians chose to be a part of Hamas and to prepare themselves to invade a country by land, sea and air. They chose to load their guns and to prepare their methods of infiltration. Some grabbed handcuffs and some chose to obscure their faces with masks.
On Shabbat/Saturday morning the Israelis chose life and joy. Those Palestinians chose to murder people who had done nothing to them. I wonder at how many junctures those people could have made other choices. I wonder how many times this could’ve been avoided, and yet, they didn’t choose to sanctify life. They chose to be murderers and pure unadulterated evil. They chose to shoot people at close range. They chose to kidnap infants, children, teens, women, men and seniors. They chose to celebrate the murders and proclaim God is great. They chose to fire rockets, not at military targets, but everywhere and anywhere to destroy lives.
Israelis chose to not commit blasphemy and to truly state God is great not merely with words but with actions. Israelis ran to save lives. Israelis ran to donate blood. Israelis ran to be in harm’s way to try and sanctify God’s name and creation by safeguarding life.
I choose now to stand proudly as a Jew and as an unabashed Zionist and supporter of Israel. I stand on the right side of history. I stand on the side that understands nobody wants to see innocent Palestinians die, but at the same time, I refuse to accept any statements of equivalency. I’m sorry Hamas uses fellow Palestinians as shields. I’m sorry they’ve started a war. I’m sorry they were cowardly and sent others to fight and protect them while they stay safe. I’m sorry that in order for safety to be achieved, our soldiers need to put them down because they started a war with us. I’m sorry Mahmoud Abbas can’t find the dictionary to learn the word “condemn.” If you want to find the person to blame, perhaps you should look at him as a target as well. I’m not sorry Israel exists… I am proud and filled with joy that it exists. I’m not sorry the Jewish people have a sliver of land they’ve always lived in. I’m just sorry immoral terrorists cannot learn to accept we’re there and will never leave.
Last year, I was horrified when Ukraine was attacked. I marched against police brutality when George Floyd was viciously murdered. I donated money to the relief work of the tsunami in the pacific. I flew to Puerto Rico after the hurricane to help with relief work. I’ve slept outside to raise money and awareness about homelessness. I’ve stood with people in need my whole life because we are all created in God’s image. The Jewish people will never solve anti-Semitism or hatred of Israel. We need you to stand with us and recognize our humanity and our inherent right to be treated with as much care and dignity as the next person.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Hearshen
As we enter fall and the sun goes down earlier, we'll be adjusting Erev Shabbat and Saturday Evening Service times accordingly starting tomorrow, October 13.
Erev Shabbat Services on Zoom will begin 1 hour before candlelighting. Candlelighting time on October 13 is 6:48 pm.
Support for Israel Shabbat
BIRTHDAYS
Shabbat Robert M. Franco
Sunday Dodik Badalbayev Samuel Kleiman
Monday Hayes Arogeti Ila Galanti Jackie Krainin Jeanie Marx Kamyar Simian
Tuesday Michelle Stribling
Thursday Ernestene Dreyer
Friday Geoffrey Gross Ilan Reisman
ANNIVERSARIES Sunday Russell and Corinne Falkenstein
Monday David and Pearline Franco
Meldados
Shabbat Linda Maslia Regina Tourial Juana Habib
Sunday Rachel Saul Franco
Monday Helen Apsel Maria Sallerson-Joyner Lena Penso Julia Habib Soriano Luisa Cohen Joseph Pieniek
Tuesday Lauren Amato Hyman Auerbach Enid Apseloff Russell Falkenstein Joe B. Arogeti
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.
