Over the past number of years, we have been actively looking at our community and engaging in conversations about what our community wants from our synagogue. Part of this deep dive was our strategic planning process and the plan that came from it. One area we have been working on is female participation in our services. We have done our best to strike a balance between our past, our present and our future in addressing this issue for OVS. The goal we have been working towards is that we will begin to offer more female involvement in services over time. As part of this objective, we have decided to offer two approaches on Shabbats that involve additional female participation. On Shabbat mornings throughout the year, we will have an additional concurrent service where women are leading segments of the service they do not currently lead and/or are reading from the Torah.
In making the choices we have made, we are on sound halakhic (Jewish legal) ground. While many think it is forbidden for women to participate in such a fashion, it is not. There are numerous halakhically observant Jewish communities where women participate in services in many different ways. We have chosen to base this service off of the model of the partnership minyan. This innovative approach has laid the ground work for increased female participation in the Orthodox world. Click here to read the Guide for the Halachic Minyan. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to reach out to either of us.
The first Shabbat for which we will have the additional partnership minyan service, with women reading from the Torah, will be on August 28, 2021. We hope those who are interested in such a service will come to participate in the service being offered that morning.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Hearshen Semon Akbashev President
New Member Spotlight Rosie & Gordon Singer
Rosie and Gordon Singer live in Sandy Springs. Rosie, daughter of Marie Saffan, and Dr. Ben Saffan of blessed memory, grew up at OVS. She currently works for Mental Health America of Georgia, a non-profit which trains front line responders for health crises. Gordon, also an Atlanta native, grew up at the AA synagogue and is a general contractor for his company Building Construction Solutions of Ga. They have two children, Stephanie, age 30 and Jacob, age 28 who live in Nashville and Colorado, respectively. Gordon served on the Board of OVS years ago as General Director of Facilities and they are both happy to be back at OVS! Needless to say, we are so happy to have them back home!
Kiddush is Back! We are once again able to share Kiddush with the Keilah following Shabbat Morning Services. At this time, Kiddush will be served prepackaged to be enjoyed at tables set up outside.
An OVS member is seeking to start a Texas Hold'em group. Click hereto email Josh Stolow to learn more.
Sisterhood Chai Tea
The Sisterhood Chai Tea, originally scheduled for September 19, has been postponed due to Covid restrictions. We will let you know when the program has been rescheduled.
BIRTHDAYS Shabbat Lee Silver Reece Nelson
Monday Shon Mekyten
Tuesday Riley Franklin Kropp
Wednesday Albert Tarica Jordan Blair Arogeti
Thursday Alexandra Nelson Louie Shemaria
Friday Marie Babb Mariele Berkowitz
ANNIVERSARIES Shabbat Joshua and Terry Stolow
Sunday Aaron and Jeannine Altmann Michael and Carol Benator
Tuesday Kenny and Sharon Sonenshine
Thursday Leon and Sylvia Capouano
Meldados
Shabbat Denise Solomon for Mother-in-law Alice Solomon Georgette Cohen for Father Pinhas Azoulay Milton Jay Solomon for Grandmother Alice Solomon
Sunday Janet Soriano Seligson for Nephew Joseph M. Soriano Jeffrey Halfon for Aunt Esther L. Halfon Melvyn Halfon for Sister Esther L. Halfon Michael Seligson for Nephew Joseph M. Soriano Morris (Moe) Soriano for Son Joseph M. Soriano Neil Cooper for Nephew Joseph M. Soriano Shelley Cooper for Nephew Joseph M. Soriano Sherri Soriano for Son Joseph M. Soriano
Monday Abo Akbashev for Father Gavriel Akbashev Ben Arogeti for Brother Joe M. Arogeti Svetlana Akbasheva for Father Gavriel Akbashev Yuriy Akbashev for Father Gavriel Akbashev
Wednesday Beverly R. Merlin for Mother Gertrude Merlin Edith Clark for Father Milton Krainin Harold Berger for Father Hugh Berger Jeanette Arogeti for Brother-in-Law Hugh Berger Jeanette Arogeti for Aunt Matilda Capelouto Martin Krainin for Father Milton Krainin Michael Clark for Grandfather Milton Krainin Rachiel Berger for Husband Hugh Berger Stella Firestone for Brother-in-Law Hugh Berger
Thursday Ann Silver for Brother Morris L. Benatar Diane Benatar for Husband Morris L. Benatar Esther Franco Gordon for Mother Katie Franco Larisa Sverdlov for Mother Hacy A. Dabushky Leo Benatar for Son Morris L. Benatar Louise Benatar for Son Morris L. Benatar Mariya Akbashev for Grandmother Sporo Iskhakova Ron Chanin for Father Sam Chanin Ruth Falkenstein for Brother Morris L. Benatar Salvatore L. Franco for Mother Katie Franco Si Sater for Father Stanley J. Sater Steven Benatar for Father Morris L. Benatar
