Congregation Ohav Sholom

05/29/2026

Read up - A LOT going on at Ohav in the coming week(s)!
Candlelighting 7:59 pm
Parshat Naso
Shabbat Shalom!

05/25/2026

Memorial Day stories of Jewish servicemen:

Staff Sergeant Isadore Jachman was the son of Jewish immigrants and served in the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment during World War II.

In January 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge, German tanks and infantry nearly overran his company near Flamierge, Belgium. American soldiers were pinned down under devastating fire. Jachman saw that if the tanks broke through, his unit could be wiped out.

He ran through open ground under direct enemy fire, grabbed a bazooka from a fallen soldier, and attacked the tanks alone. Despite being mortally wounded, he managed to damage one tank and disrupt the assault long enough for his fellow soldiers to survive.

He died at age 22.

For years, Belgian villagers maintained a statue honoring an unknown American soldier who saved their town. Eventually, historians confirmed the soldier was Jachman, and his name was added to the memorial.
May his memory be for a blessing.

05/25/2026

Memorial Day stories of Jewish Americans who died in service to thwir country:

Leonard Kravitz grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He enlisted in the Army during the Korean War and served as a machine gunner.

In March 1951, Chinese forces overwhelmed his platoon near Yangpyong. During the attack, Kravitz’s machine gun position became the only thing slowing the enemy advance. He reportedly refused repeated orders to withdraw and instead stayed behind firing while the rest of his unit escaped. By the time reinforcements arrived, Kravitz had been killed at his gun position. His actions saved many of his fellow soldiers. He was 20 years old.

For decades, many believed antisemitism contributed to him not receiving the Medal of Honor at the time. More than 60 years later, the U.S. government reviewed the case and upgraded his award. President Obama posthumously awarded him the Medal of Honor in 2014.

He later became known to many people because his nephew, musician Lenny Kravitz, was named after him.

05/25/2026

SPC Daniel Agami, aka The Hebrew Hammer, served in the Army 1/26 Infantry unit. Daniel was 23 years old when he volunteered to enlist to serve his country. He was killed in action on the front lines in Adhamiyah, Iraq on 6/21/07 as the driver of the tank. Four other soldiers were killed along side him by an IED attack during the Global War on Terror.

Daniel earned the Army Commendation Medal for an incredible act of heroism on one of his missions. His unit also received the Army Meritorious Unit Citation.

He was the only known Jew serving in his unit. His last visit home was over Passover 2007. He was excited to wear to the seders what he coined his “Kombaticah” (Combat + Kippah) military issued kippah. His sister Shaina created a Bat Mitzvah project “The Kombaticah Project” -Military Kippahs dedicated in honor of SPC Daniel Agami, that raised donations for the Aleph Institute.
https://youtu.be/dYvJ6vWGnVo

05/25/2026

Memorial Day stories of Jews who died in service to their country:

Rabbi Alexander Goode grew up in Pennsylvania and became a U.S. Army chaplain during World War II. In January 1943, he boarded the troop ship USAT Dorchester, carrying hundreds of soldiers across the North Atlantic.

Shortly after midnight on February 3, a German U-boat torpedoed the ship. Survivors later described Rabbi Goode and the three other chaplains moving calmly through the panic — praying with the wounded, helping terrified soldiers, and handing out life jackets.

When the supply of life jackets ran out, the four chaplains each removed their own and gave them away to younger soldiers. Witnesses later recalled seeing the chaplains standing arm-in-arm on the sinking deck, praying together as the ship disappeared beneath the water.

The “Four Chaplains” became one of the most famous stories of interfaith heroism in American military history. Congress later created a unique medal — the Four Chaplains’ Medal — specifically to honor them.
May their memories be for a blessing.

05/20/2026

Happy National Rescue Dog Day! Though this cutie, Jethro Ebbin, didn't come from a shelter, Rabbi Ebbin and family did "rescue" him from another family getting him instead 😁.

05/19/2026

A Shavuot (or Shabbat) recipe for non-cheese, non-meat eaters:
Eggplant Meatballs in Pomegranate Sauce

* 1 large eggplant, (approx. 1½-2 pounds total)
* 2 cups breadcrumbs, preferably Panko
* 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
* ½ teaspoon garlic powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
* 2 tablespoon fresh basil, minced
* 2 large eggs, whisked

Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Cube the eggplant and roast it until soft, about 20-25 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, combine the cooled eggplant, breadcrumbs, beaten eggs, seasonings, chopped herbs, salt, and pepper.
4. Mix well until all ingredients are fully combined.
5. Roll the mixture into balls, about 1.5 inches in diameter.
6. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Pomegranate molasses sauce
* 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* 1 medium onion, diced
* 1 ½ cups pomegranate juice
* 6 tbsp pomegranate syrup (sold in major supermarkets or Tavlin)
* ¼ cup honey
* ½ tsp salt

1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan. Add the onions and cook for 7-10minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the pomegranate juice, pomegranate molasses, honey, and salt.  Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until reduced in half, about 15-20 minutes
2. After the meatballs have been baking for 20 minutes, add ¾ of the pomegranate sauce and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes
3. Serve with rice, couscous, or quinoa. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and chopped parsley or cilantro before serving

05/18/2026

Shavuot is coming Thursday night!
How about an elegant recipe for Spinach and Feta stuffed Salmon?

Ingredients

4 6-ounce pieces of salmon
1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves, rinsed, not dried
1 package (8-ounce) Feta Cheese, crumbled
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
granulated garlic, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Using a knife, slice lengthwise down the center of the salmon, cutting through the fish but not through the skin.
3. Spread divided halves apart, making sure they remain attached at the bottom, and lay on a parchment lined baking sheet. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic.
4. Lay rinsed (and not dried) spinach leaves in the pockets of the salmon. Top with feta crumbles.
5. Place in oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes until it’s golden brown on top and salmon is baked through.

05/15/2026

Today is Yom Yerushalayim, celebrating the reunification of Jerusalem, under complete Jewish rule for the 1st time since 70 CE as a result of victory in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Less than 60 years have passed since those extraordinary days, yet sadly, an overwhelming number of Jews — even in Israel — will allow this day to pass without any commemoration at all.

Spend a few minutes watching this remarkable video and remind yourself that miracles are not just stories from biblical times. They can still be witnessed in our own lifetime.

Our Jewish history proves it, time and again.

An exciting and uplifting historic short movie, highlighting the miraculous events of the Six Day War, and emphasizing the Divine hand orchestrating these re...