Each Simchat Torah, Ohr Kodesh honors three congregants who have rendered exceptional service to our congregation with the Torah honors of Chatan/Kallat (Groom/Bride) Torah, Chatan/Kallat B’reishit, and Chatan/Kallat Maftir.
This year, our focus is honoring those dedicated to our many prayer services through their presence, leadership, and advocacy for greater participation by all. Honorees for 5784/2023 are Rachel Braun as Kallat Torah, Nicole Rosen as Kallat B’reishit, and Eytan Fisch as Chatan Maftir.
Rachel Braun is a daily minyan regular, typically leading Sunday morning davening/prayers and teaching the drash/Torah. Among her other activities are Community Security Service (CSS), Funeral Practices Committee, and HAZAK. Rachel is a Judaic embroidery designer and has exhibited and spoken about her canvases at Ohr Kodesh and other venues. She has contributed to educational life at Ohr Kodesh as the art teacher for the Consolidated Religious School, Board member, and Siddur teacher at the Shoresh High School, TZOHAR sub, Rosh Hodesh group presenter and one-time co-chair, and B’nai Mitzvah tutor. Rachel and Steven joined Ohr Kodesh in 1986. They have four adult children who all attended the Early Childhood Center (ECC) and the Alvin Browdy Religious School (ABRS).
Nicole Rosen first came to Ohr Kodesh in 2017, and she quickly became a Shabbat regular. She loves reading the Torah and participating in Ohr Kodesh’s vast educational programming. In 2019, she launched Ohr Kodesh’s Women’s Parashat Hashavuah Class, and she serves on Ohr Kodesh’s Adult Education Committee, actively participates on Ohr Kodesh’s Tahara team and recently became a member of the Ohr Kodesh Board. Two of Nicole’s three children celebrated their B’nai Mitzvot at Ohr Kodesh, which she calls “two of the most special days of her entire life.” Nicole helps non-profits enhance their media relations efforts, and, in her free time, she loves to be outdoors, whether it’s hiking, running, walking, skiing, traveling, or seeing live music.
Eytan Fisch, his wife Heather, and their three children live in Rock Creek Forest and have been members and regulars of Ohr Kodesh since 2014. Eytan has been co-chair of OKC’s Religious Activities Committee since 2019 and has served as a member of the OKC Board, the Rabbi Search Committee, and the OKC Security Committee. By day, Eytan is an attorney at Skadden, Arps where his practice focuses on economic sanctions and anti-money laundering compliance, investigations, and enforcement. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, skiing, hiking, gardening (which continues to surprise him), and coaching softball. Eytan feels very fortunate to be a part of the OKC community.
Seeing and Hearing Ourselves, Others, and God
וְכָל־הָעָם רֹאִים אֶת־הַקּוֹלֹת
Join OKC this High Holiday season to “See and Hear: Ourselves, Others, and God.” Just as Revelation at Sinai was a moment where “all the people saw the voices,” when each person experienced this Divine moment לפי כחו/l’fi kocho, according to their own ability, so too, we strive to be in relationship with ourselves, God and others as we begin 5784 together.
We look forward to beginning the new year together.
Sacred Connections & Community Celebrations
Join us for the joyous Sukkot season.
Spend time in a sukkah.
Celebrate the harvest with lulav & etrog.
Dance around the Torah!
Sukkot ~ (Festival of Booths) is a joyous holiday. It is customary to hold daily celebrations in a sukkah (booth) and take the Arba Minim, the "Four Kinds": a palm branch (lulav), two willows (aravot), a minimum of three myrtles (haddasim), and one citron (etrog) and shake them in a ritual (except on Shabbat).
Hoshana Rabbah ~ (Great Salvation) is the seventh day of Sukkot and considered the final day of the divine “judgment” in which the fate of the new year is determined. Special communal prayers and rituals mark the day.
Shemini Atzeret ~ (Day of Assembly) features the prayer for rain, commemorating what would be the start of the rainy season in Israel, and the Yizkor (Memorial) Service, connecting us to loved ones and friends who have died.
Simchat Torah ~ (The Joy of the Torah) highlights the hakafot (circles), when we march and dance around with the Torah scrolls. On this joyous day when we conclude the reading of the Torah, it is customary for every person to take part in the celebration by receiving an aliyah ("going up" - the honor accorded to one who is called up to read a blessing over the Torah reading).
Special Celebrations: At Ohr Kodesh on Simchat Torah, we also recognize three OKC members who have given exceptional service and shown great commitment to our congregation with the honors of Chatan/Kallat (Groom/Bride) Torah, Chatan/Kallat B'reishit and Chatan/Kallat Maftir.
This year we honor those who have dedicated themselves to our many prayer services through their presence, leadership, and advocacy for greater participation by all. We are excited to celebrate 5783/2022 Honorees: Katherine Ralston as Kallat Torah, Roger Browdy as Chatan B’reishit, and Helen Sunshine as Kallat Maftir. Please see the OKC Sept/Oct Bulletin, Page 6 for more details about the honorees.
Each Simchat Torah, Ohr Kodesh honors three congregants who have rendered exceptional service to our congregation with the Torah honors of Chatan/Kallat Torah, Chatan/Kallat B’reishit, and Chatan/Kallat Maftir.
This year, our focus is honoring those dedicated to our many prayer services through their presence, leadership, and advocacy for greater participation by all. This year, we honor Rachel Braun as Kallat Torah, Nicole Rosen as Kallat B’reishit, and Eytan Fisch as Chatan Maftir.
Rachel Braun is a daily minyan regular, typically leading Sunday morning davening/prayers and teaching the drash/Torah. Among her other activities are Community Security Service (CSS), Funeral Practices Committee, and HAZAK. Rachel is a Judaic embroidery designer and has exhibited and spoken about her canvases at Ohr Kodesh and other venues. She has contributed to educational life at Ohr Kodesh as the art teacher for the Consolidated Religious School, Board member, and Siddur teacher at the Shoresh High School, Tzohar sub, Rosh Hodesh group presenter and one-time co-chair, and B’nai Mitzvah tutor. Rachel and Steven joined Ohr Kodesh in 1986. They have four adult children who all attended the Early Childhood Center and the Alvin Browdy Religious School.
Nicole Rosen first came to Ohr Kodesh in 2017, and she quickly became a Shabbat regular. She loves reading the Torah and participating in Ohr Kodesh’s vast educational programming. In 2019, she launched Ohr Kodesh’s Women’s Parashat Hashavuah Class, and she serves on Ohr Kodesh’s Adult Education Committee, actively participates on Ohr Kodesh’s Tahara team and recently became a member of the Ohr Kodesh Board. Two of Nicole’s three children celebrated their B’nai Mitzvot at Ohr Kodesh, which she calls “two of the most special days of her entire life.” Nicole helps non-profits enhance their media relations efforts, and, in her free time, she loves to be outdoors, whether it’s hiking, running, walking, skiing, traveling, or seeing live music.
Eytan Fisch, his wife Heather, and their three children live in Rock Creek Forest and have been members and regulars of Ohr Kodesh since 2014. Eytan has been co-chair of OKC’s Religious Activities Committee since 2019 and has served as a member of the OKC Board, the Rabbi Search Committee, and the OKC Security Committee. By day, Eytan is an attorney at Skadden, Arps where his practice focuses on economic sanctions and anti-money laundering compliance, investigations, and enforcement. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, skiing, hiking, gardening (which continues to surprise him), and coaching softball. Eytan feels very fortunate to be a part of the OKC community.
Seeing and Hearing Ourselves, Others, and God
וְכָל־הָעָם רֹאִים אֶת־הַקּוֹלֹת
Join OKC this High Holiday season to “See and Hear: Ourselves, Others, and God.” Just as Revelation at Sinai was a moment where “all the people saw the voices,” when each person experienced this Divine moment לפי כחו/l’fi kocho, according to their own ability, so too, we strive to be in relationship with ourselves, God and others as we begin 5784 together.
We look forward to beginning the new year together.
Sacred Connections & Community Celebrations
Join us for the joyous Sukkot season.
Spend time in a sukkah.
Celebrate the harvest with lulav & etrog.
Dance around the Torah!
Sukkot ~ (Festival of Booths) is a joyous holiday. It is customary to hold daily celebrations in a sukkah (booth) and take the Arba Minim, the "Four Kinds": a palm branch (lulav), two willows (aravot), a minimum of three myrtles (haddasim), and one citron (etrog) and shake them in a ritual (except on Shabbat).
Hoshana Rabbah ~ (Great Salvation) is the seventh day of Sukkot and considered the final day of the divine “judgment” in which the fate of the new year is determined. Special communal prayers and rituals mark the day.
Shemini Atzeret ~ (Day of Assembly) features the prayer for rain, commemorating what would be the start of the rainy season in Israel, and the Yizkor (Memorial) Service, connecting us to loved ones and friends who have died.
Simchat Torah ~ (The Joy of the Torah) highlights the hakafot (circles), when we march and dance around with the Torah scrolls. On this joyous day when we conclude the reading of the Torah, it is customary for every person to take part in the celebration by receiving an aliyah ("going up" - the honor accorded to one who is called up to read a blessing over the Torah reading).
Special Celebrations: At Ohr Kodesh on Simchat Torah, we also recognize three OKC members who have given exceptional service and shown great commitment to our congregation with the honors of Chatan/Kallat (Groom/Bride) Torah, Chatan/Kallat B'reishit and Chatan/Kallat Maftir.
This year we honor those who have dedicated themselves to our many prayer services through their presence, leadership, and advocacy for greater participation by all. We are excited to celebrate 5783/2022 Honorees: Katherine Ralston as Kallat Torah, Roger Browdy as Chatan B’reishit, and Helen Sunshine as Kallat Maftir. Please see the OKC Sept/Oct Bulletin, Page 6 for more details about the honorees.
