About Us

ABOUT US

We are a vibrant, warm, and growing community, centrally located 10 minutes from Philadelphia and within commuting distance to NY city and Central NJ.  Cherry Hill is an amazing place to live, and our shul has helped promote every resource an Orthodox family could want: eruv, mikvah, Va'ad HaKashrut, Chevra Kadisha, kosher shopping and dining, and much more.  The Modern Orthodox community is flourishing with excellent Jewish Day Schools and extensive learning opportunities.  Most importantly, our synagogue embraces people of all backgrounds and levels of observance, creating a spirited kehilah that makes our members very proud to be here.  We warmly welcome you to join us for a visit and to consider making Cherry Hill and Congregation Sons of Israel  your home as well.

Our Clergy

                            Rabbi Michael Z. Davies

Rabbi Davies grew up in New Jersey where he attended Yeshiva day school and high school. He spent two years studying in Israel after high school, then went on to receive his Bachelors Degree in accounting from Yeshiva University. He completed his studies for ordination at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary which included an additional two years of study in Israel. As part of his studies, he interned at Ramaz Upper School of Manhattan, East Hill Synagogue in Englewood, NJ and the Riverdale Jewish Center in Bronx, NY.  He spent 5 years as the Associate Rabbi at Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland, California and 9 years at Congregation Dor Tikvah in Charleston.

Rabbi Davies has particular interest in Youth Education and Programming. He pulls from his studies as a member of Yeshiva University’s Experiential Jewish Education Certificate Program. Rabbi Davies hopes to build on the existing  youth programs of SOI.  "The kids are the future of our community. It's so important to help them to be involved and excited about being a part of it." 

Rabbi Davies, Ora, and their children are very excited to be a part of Congregation Sons of Israel.  He grew up in the area and has very fond memories of Cherry Hill and NCSY's Simchaton. 

Rabbi Davies can be contacted at rabbi@soicherryhill.org and can be reached by phone at 856-667-9700 ext. 2.

OUR LAY LEADERSHIP

                            Co-President Ilana Weiss

president@soicherryhill.org

Upon moving to Cherry Hill in 2016, Ilana Weiss brought her passion for Jewish communal life into volunteer work on behalf of Congregation Sons of Israel and other Jewish agencies in Southern New Jersey.  A graduate of the Federation Leadership Institute, Ilana has served on the board of Sons of Israel since 2018 and took on the role of Co-President in 2022.  Professionally, she is the Associate Executive Director at a nonprofit organization dedicated to using theatre to address bullying, abuse and mental health.  She is a wife to Jeffrey Weiss, a Jewish educator, and mother of four daughters who enjoy joining Ilana in the kitchen to create parsha-related foods each week.

                            Co-President Rabbi Heshy Chaitoff

copresident@soicherryhill.org

Rabbi Heshy Chaitoff has been associated with Congregation Sons of Israel and the general Cherry Hill community since 2006.  Together, with his wife, Aliza, and their three children, they moved to Cherry Hill in 2018 and have been members of SOI since then.  Heshy has served on the general board and executive committee of the synagogue.  Heshy is a manager of residences for adults with special needs in New York while pursuing a masters in Marriage and Family Therapy.