I’m on a plane flying back to Atlanta from NYC. I was blessed to spend the past four days learning with colleagues at the Hadar Rabbinic Intensive Yeshivah. The learning was deep and incredible. I look forward to telling you about the classes I took and the learning I did, but for now, I want to stay focused on the weekly פרשה/parsha/portion, or more importantly, the special שבת/Shabbat, שבת זכור/Shabbat Zachor.
Each year, we have this special שבת the week before פורים/Purim. We begin our observance of פורים by recalling the people who sought to destroy us, the people of עמלק/Amalek. We’re commanded to remember to never forget to destroy the memory of עמלק. There’s a struggle because we shouldn’t seek to destroy the memory of the pain and suffering. We can’t do that, because to do so would allow us to move on. We know all too well there’s no such thing as moving on. We have a sacred obligation to move forward while also looking back.
As Jews, we’re the eternal protectors of memory. We take it upon ourselves to sanctify the holiness of memory and safeguard the important role it plays. Our ancestors, murdered by Hitler and the Nazis, are kept sacred when we remember them. Remembering the actions of the Nazis help us work to prevent any repeat of the Holocaust. This is the two-part importance of memory when it comes to the Jewish people. We’ve seen time and again the flipping of this sanctity on its head as the Jews of the world, who are working to safeguard against attempted repeated Holocausts, are being accused of being the Nazis we’re preventing. Accusations of this sort remove the sanctity of the memories of our loved ones who were butchered at the hands of bigots and tyrants.
Our focus on memory continues to be a backbone of the modern Jewish experience. Two Jewish actors, Adrien Brody and Kieran Culkin, won Oscars during the Academy Awards last week for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for work in movies about the Holocaust and its memory. Much has been said about Brody and this being his second Oscar for Best Actor from movies about the Holocaust. It’s part of his heritage and part of his story. We should applaud his remarks during his speech where he called out the antisemitism of today.
Each of us has a sacred task to fulfill this year and every year: we need to sanctify our history and maintain our values learned from our history. We must show our people, our ancestors, and the world that we won’t allow the past to be forgotten. Instead, we need to honor the past and continue to learn from it, now and into the future.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Hearshen
This Week - Shabbat Together with Kavanah Minyan & Children's Services at 10:30 am
Candlelighting time on March 7 is 6:21 pm.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
for Building Blocks 2025-2026
BIRTHDAYS
Shabbat Mariya Akbashev
Sunday Abraham Tache Sydney Benator
Monday Esther Nerenbaum Jackie Miklas
Tuesday Dylan Gross
Thursday Adam Meyer Nancy Amato Skip Weiland
Friday Carly Reisman Charlene Galanti
ANNIVERSARIES Shabbat Ryan Schneider and Jennifer Tourial
Monday Steven and Taylor Benatar
Thursday Hal and Lisa Galanti Rabinowitz
Meldados
Shabbat Moreno Benbenisty
Sunday Gail Rubin Gerald Rubin Hershel Cohen Beth Weiner Victor B. Amato Leonard Rothstein
Monday Morris Taranto Morris Wiener Yael Amuyeva
Tuesday Lenore Maslia Richard Kropp Angele Nahmias Mazeltov Sarda
Wednesday Eli Hazan Sam E. Levy Morris Beton Joe Lereah
Thursday Esther Barrocas Notrica
Friday Jack Amato Phillip Goldstein Hilda Goodelman Benjamin Amuyev
Sisterhood Shabbat 2025 Shabbat, Mar 29th 8:45a to 12:00p Volunteers needed for English and Hebrew readings. To participate in the service, contact Sharon Sonenshine at sharon.sonenshine@gmail.com. Services will be followed by Kiddush. RSVP for Kiddush requested.
Chametz Hunt Sunday, Mar 30th 12:00p to 1:30p Make your own Matzah with Model Matzah Bakery at our special program. Hot dogs will be served for lunch.
RSVP by Monday, March 24.
Chesed Team Three B'S Sunday, Mar 30th 3:00p to 4:00p Join the OVS Chesed Team for the THREE B's, Burekas, Biscochos, and Bingo on Sunday, March 30th, at the Breman Jewish Home.
Shabbat Together Shabbat, Apr 12th 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.
Passover Picnic & a Walk in the Park Tuesday, Apr 15th 11:30a to 1:00p Bring your own picnic lunch and catch up your OVS friends. Join us for a walk along the boardwalk after we eat.
Exact location will be emailed prior to the picnic. Free of charge.
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.
