Ohav ya heard?
A Temple Ohav Shalom Blog
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Greetings from the boardroom! First, please accept our apologies for being a bit quiet over the last few months. The Board has been immersed in a mix of exciting new growth initiatives and essential administrative work. We look forward to sharing more detailed updates with the congregation as these projects continue to take shape.  Community Security Update At this past Monday’s meeting, we were honored to welcome Shawn Brokos, Director of Community Security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Shawn shared insights into her vital work with the Federation since joining after the Tree of Life tragedy. She also addressed the sobering reality of the uptick in antisemitic incidents in our region following the October 7, 2023, attacks. While many of us are aware of the headlines, it was enlightening—and deeply reassuring—to learn about the Federation’s extensive behind-the-scenes collaboration with local and federal law enforcement. Though the ideologies Shawn described are concerning, there is a great sense of comfort in knowing such a dedicated organization is looking out for Jewish communities across Pittsburgh and the country. Resources & Incident Reporting Shawn provided a direct link to the Federation’s Security Resource Center, which includes their official Incident Reporting Form. Access Community Security Resources Here Upcoming Event: Cyber Safety for ParentsThe Federation will also host a Cyber Safety for Parents training session:
On a Lighter Note...We still have boxes available in our Super Bowl Pool! With less than two weeks until the big game, now is the time to secure your spot. Use the links below to buy in and support the community. TIME (AND SQUARES) ARE RUNNING OUT! Over 80% of the squares are sold out. Buy your squares today! We have two $10 grids and two $20 grids available. $10 Grid One $10 Grid Two $20 Grid Three $20 Grid Four We pay out on EVERY score change! The more squares you buy, the more chances you have to win. Feel free to pass this email along to your friends, neighbors and co-workers. For questions about the pool or if you are having any trouble signing up, email Jackie. Finally, we can’t wait to celebrate with you at the Purim Royale on February 28th. Keep an eye on your inbox for more details! Register before January 31st to take advantage of our early bird rates! L'Shalom! Sam Jacobs AuthorSam Jacobs, President, Temple Ohav Shalom  Good afternoon! One of the many topics we focus on in Religious School is our shared values and how we, as Jews, live and embody those values every day: g’milut chasadim (acts of loving-kindness), tikkun olam (repairing the world), b’tzelem Elohim (in the image of God), achrayut (responsibility), and many others. Last week, our students did an amazing job packing all of the food donations for our Thanksgiving Food Drive and Packing Party. They filled over 90 bags with everything needed for a Thanksgiving dinner (minus the turkey), which were then delivered to North Hills Community Outreach for distribution. And yesterday, the 5th grade class had their turn participating in Sandwich Sunday, packing 30 lunches for the women and children at Bethlehem Haven, a local women’s shelter. These activities are just two examples of how our classes have been living out our values so far this school year. During our community t’fillah (prayer service) yesterday, I spoke with our students about the value of hakarat hatov, recognizing the good. As we celebrate Thanksgiving later this week, I encourage you to pause during your celebrations and reflect with your children. Ask them what they find meaningful in their lives and what they feel grateful for. I wish you all a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving! I look forward to seeing everyone again at Hebrew School on December 2nd and at Religious School on December 7th. L'Shalom, Andrea Guthrey AuthorAndrea Guthrey, Director of Education, Temple Ohav Shalom  Greetings, fellow members! Last month, we quietly launched our new Temple Ohav Shalom blog, aptly titled Ohav Ya Heard? (Get it? We knew you would!) You might be asking, "Why a blog? Why now?" The answer is simple: Connection. Our staff has a lot to say, our Board is hard at work, and most importantly, we know our congregation has incredible stories to tell. We launched Ohav Ya Heard? to give everyone a platform. What can you expect? If you scroll down the page, you’ll see a few posts we’ve already shared, including:
We want to hear from you! We invite you to submit your own articles. Whether it’s a reflection on a recent holiday, a thought on Jewish life, or news about a Temple committee, we want to read it. A quick note on guidelines: To keep the blog focused on our shared mission, please ensure submissions relate directly to the TOS community or Judaism at large. We won't be posting regarding personal events, politics, or outside business promotions. Ready to write? Email your submissions to [email protected]. We look forward to making this space a positive, collaborative project for the entire community. Check back often! L'Shalom! Sam Jacobs  Greetings from the boardroom! This month's meeting began with a deeply felt recap of the High Holy Days services and activities. The sense of shared pride in the room was palpable. I want to extend my personal gratitude not only to our Rabbi, Song Leader, the rest of the staff, and the entire board but also to every member of our sacred community who contributed to making the holiday season such a resounding success. It was wonderful to see so many of you at services—from our Shabbat regulars and new families to those we saw for the first time in a long while. Looking Ahead: Keeping the Momentum We all agree we have great momentum, and our focus now turns to the months ahead, particularly our youngest members. Mark your calendars:
L'Shalom! Sam Jacobs AuthorSam Jacobs, President, Temple Ohav Shalom  At our September board meeting, we discussed several subjects, including High Holy Days services and the Endowment Fund. And if you are curious about either of those things, please join us at tonight’s Erev Rosh HaShanah service and ask a board member. In this month’s installment of From the Boardroom, we wanted to direct your attention to committees. Sounds boring, right? The truth is that they’re only boring if you don’t have a vested interest in what the committee is working toward. Here at Temple Ohav Shalom, we are a community. And communities function best when everyone works together. That’s why, in addition to the committees you may already know — membership, fundraising or spiritual enrichment — we are reintroducing the Building and Grounds Committee as an effort to take better care of our building, the parking lot and the surrounding property. If you have ideas or have questions about how you can participate, please speak with a board member. Brian Kline, vice president-operations, will be chairing that committee. Also, Elizabeth Coslov, a member-at-large, will be leading an effort to clean out and make some sense of our kitchen. Community participation is needed and encouraged, and we hope that many of you have the drive and can find the time to assist in this and future building and grounds activities. L’shanah tovah! AuthorSam Jacobs, President, Temple Ohav Shalom  For Temple Ohav Shalom's August board meeting, the board welcomed longtime member Nancy Garber along with Eric Lidji, director of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Heinz History Center. They presented a plan to move several years worth of TOS board meeting minutes and other documents to the digital archives as part of a larger effort to archive Jewish history in Western Pennsylvania. The board agreed unanimously to move forward with this plan. TOS will begin by donating about five boxes of records, all of which will eventually be available to view on the Rauh archival website. We encourage members to reach out with any additional documents or photographs, etc. that they wish to donate to the archives. More information about the process and how to access the archive will be made available soon. If you would like additional information about the Rauh Jewish Archives project or have any other questions about topics discussed at the board meeting, please contact President Sam Jacobs at [email protected]. AuthorSam Jacobs, President, Temple Ohav Shalom  Today, August 25, is the first day of Elul, the final month of the Jewish year. Elul ushers in the High Holy Day season, for it leads directly to Tishrei, the month that begins with Rosh HaShanah — the first day of the new year. This year, Rosh HaShanah will begin on the evening of September 22. The Rabbis teach that the name of this month, Elul (the Hebrew letters aleph, lamed, vav, lamed), is an acronym for a verse from the Song of Songs: "Ani l’dodi v’dodi li." (“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”) This hidden meaning teaches that we are bound to one another. This bond is what we call Jewish peoplehood. And in a world shaken by rising antisemitism and riven by painful divisions within the Jewish community itself, Elul reminds us that our community’s strength is discovered in our solidarity and support for one another. This is what makes Temple Ohav Shalom such an important part of our lives. May this Elul embolden us to treasure and nurture the bonds of Jewish peoplehood that we share at Temple Ohav Shalom. And may the year 5786 bring blessings to us all. Let me be the first to wish you "l’shanah tovah." Rabbi Aaron Bisno AuthorRabbi Aaron Bisno, Senior Rabbi, Temple Ohav Shalom  |