Shul Spiel: Congregation Ohr Torah

What's Happening in West Orange Synagogues

This week's focus returns to Congregation Ohr Torah, 270 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange.

Friday, May 10 — Sivan 1 5773 Mincha – 7 p.m. Candle lighting – 7:10 p.m. Candle lighting B’Zman – 7:44 p.m. Shkia – 8:02 p.m. Saturday, May 11 — Sivan 2 5773 Shacharit – 9 a.m. Minyanim Sunday Shacharit - 8:15 a.m. Mon./Th. Shacharit - 6 a.m. Tue./Wed. Shacharit - 6:10 a.m. Listserv Update Ohr Torah moved its Listserv to Google Groups. Shul e-mails will now show the actual sender and will be addressed to notices@congregationohrtorah.org. If you are not receiving shul e-mails, please contact Marc Goldberg for assistance. Thanks to Marc Goldberg and Shawn Holt for setting up the new Listserv. Members can sign up for the listserv by going to the shul website: www.congregationohrtorah.org and clicking on “Subscribe Here” at the bottom left …

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Shul Spiel: Congregation Ohr Torah

What's Happening at Local West Orange Synagogues?

This week's focus returns to Congregation Ohr Torah, located at 270 Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange.

Why do we say Yizkor on the last day of Pesach? In the Prayers of "Yizkor," we ask Hashem to "remember" the souls of our loved ones who have passed away. These include all of our primarily family members who have passed on and our extended family including who have perished in the Holocaust or other national tragedy. Being that Hashem never forgets, Yizkor is really an opportunity for us to bring to mind intensely, to re-create, if only for a few brief moments, connections that once existed between ourselves and loved ones, who have passed away. The original custom was to recite Yizkor only on "Yom HaKippurim," correctly translated as the "Day of Atonements (plural)" - meaning Atonement for the Living and Atonement for the Dead. This …

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Shul Spiel: Congregation Ohr Torah

What's Happening in West Orange Synagogues

This week's focus returns to Congregation Ohr Torah

In this weeks, Parsha Vayechi, Yaakov speaks to his sons before his death. The Torah introduces this by saying (Genesis 49:2)  הִקָּבְצוּ וְשִׁמְעוּ, בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב; וְשִׁמְעוּ, אֶל-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲבִיכֶם.  Which can be translated as “Gather together and hearken, sons of Jacob; and hearken to Israel your father.” The repeated term “hearken” implies not only blessing but as Rabbi Avigdor Miller points out it implies admonishment to learn and benefit from the teaching and rebuke. One example of this is Shimon and Levi were severely rebuked here for their wrathfulness. Later on in the Torah we see that Levi “hearkened” to this rebuke. At the time of the Golden Calf when Moshe proclaimed “Who is for Hashem, to me! And all the sons of Levi …

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Shul Spiel: Congregation Ohr Torah

What's Happening in West Orange Synagogues?

This week's focus returns to Congregation Ohr Torah, 270 Pleasant Valley Way.

D'Var Torah: "Yaakov became very frightened and it distressed him..."(32:7) Rashi comments that Yaakov was frightened that he would be killed and he was distressed that he may have to kill Eisav. The Talmud teaches that "haba lehorgecha hashkeim vehorgo" - "If a person comes to kill you it is permissible to kill him in self-defense." Many commentators raise the following question: Why should Yaakov be distressed by the possibility that he may have to kill Eisav? Golda Meir once commented at a press conference in London in1969, “When peace comes we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons.” Yaakov was not only bothered with …

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PHOTOS: Guests Enjoy West Orange Buffet

Three West Orange synagogues provide hot meal at Congregation Ohr Torah for those without power, in need of warm place to relax.

Dear Friends, Lubavitch Center along with Congregations AABJ&D and Ohr Torah invite those without power to a hot dinner buffet at Congregation Ohr Torah, 270 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, this evening (Sunday) beginning at 4:30. We know how stressful it is during this difficult time in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Our goal is to provide a warm and friendly atmosphere to help you through the day. We understand you are not starving and that many of you have gone to stay with family or friends. However, moving out of your home with children or staying home with no lights/heat can be tough. I encourage you to come tonight relax and enjoy a hot meal together. If you plan to join us, please e-mail your name and number of people in your …

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Shul Spiel: Congregation Ohr Torah

What's Happening in West Orange Synagogues?

This week's column focuses on Congregation Ohr Torah on Pleasant Valley Way in the township.

Schedule of Services Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 – Cheshvan 10 Light Candles............. 5:42 p.m. Mincha .......................5:45 p.m. Shkia ..............................6 p.m. Shabbos, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 Cheshvan 11 Parsha…………………Lech L’cha Latest Sh’ma ..............10:01 a.m. Mincha ……................... 5:30 p.m. Maariv……..................... 6:34 p.m. Shabbat Ends ...............6:41 p.m. Daily Minyanim Sunday....................................8:15 a.m. Mon/Thurs...................................6 a.m. Tues/Wed/Fri ......................6:10 a.m. D'Var Torah for Lech L'cha On my list of the top 10 important questions on the Chumash is why was Avraham picked to be the father of Hashem’s people. For the most part we are never told…

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Shul Spiel: Congregation Ohr Torah

What’s Happening at Local West Orange Synagogues

This Week We Focus on Congregation Ohr Torah.

As the end of summer quickly approaches, Congregation Ohr Torah, a modern Orthodox synagogue in the heart of the Pleasantdale-Redwood neighborhoods, is beginning to prepare for the upcoming Yamim No'raim (High Holidays). Reservations for seats for the High Holidays have been sent to our members and the seats are slowly filling up. Seats are also available to non-members who would like to join us for our services.  Please check our website,www.congregationohrtorah.org for the updated seating chart as well as all information pertaining to seats, membership and the weekly minyan schedule.  In addition, our new Social Hall, the finest social hall in town, is available for your upcoming simcha celebrations.  Please see our website for a picture…

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Shul Spiel: Congregation Ohr Torah

Congregation Ohr Torah Honors Congregants

Gala Dinner Celebrating 18th Anniversary of Founding Slated For June 20.

 Congregation Ohr Torah of West Orange will be celebrating the 18th anniversary of its founding at a gala dinner on June 20th at the synagogue located at 270 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange. Located in the Pleasantdale section of West Orange, Congregation Ohr Torah was formed by a handful of families in order to establish an Orthodox synagogue at the northern end of West Orange. Before that time, residents of the area north of Woodland Avenue had to walk almost two miles to one of the area’s other Orthodox synagogues.  With the growth of available housing north of Eagle Rock Avenue, the synagogue that started in a house on Pleasant Valley Way was able to grow into a 130 member synagogue with its own building. The gala dinner will honor …

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