alise & ken panitch
Where did you grow up?
Alise grew up in Clark NJ (central Jersey).
Ken grew up in Milwaukee, WI
the spector family
Where did you grow up?
Sabrina - Denver, CO, Aaron - Baltimore, MD
Kids - Cherry Hill
How did you meet?
We met on Passover at Aaron's home in Baltimore. Our mother's were hoping to be
matchmakers but they were trying to set me up with someone else. Aaron swooped in and
asked me out first.
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
New Haven, CT
Tell us about your children?
Leah,17 will be a senior at West. She loves theater and kids. She is one of the Roshim for B'nai Akiva and is looking forward to having the kids come together again.
AJ, 15 will be a sophomore at West. He loves football, softball, animals and is a math wiz.
Danny 11, will be starting 6th grade at Politz Day School. He loves art, football, and puzzles.
Our youngest, Cara is 7, going into 2nd grade at Politz. She loves everything that screams princess, singing, and dancing, If it has glitter or sparkles on it, she's all about it.
Where in Cherry Hill do you live? (ie- Cherry Hill Estates, Knollwood, Windsor Park..)
We live in Knollwood
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Sabrina - I bungee jumped in New Zealand at Nevis Bungy. Aaron - He once wore a wire to help with an Israeli sting operation. He'll be thrilled to tell you the story.
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
The people. We love how intergenerational our shul is and how our kids feel like they have numerous aunts and uncles in shul.
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
So many but we are big fans of the Purim Seudah. We have a very special place in our hearts since we have had so many of our kids simchot in the shul. Leah took her first steps at SOI and it's been our second home since we got here.
Michal & Dan Drabkin
Name: Michal and Daniel Drabkin
Where did you grow up?
Michal grew up in Teaneck NJ
Daniel was born in Pittsburgh PA, moved to Columbus OH until age 12 then lived in Baltimore until he moved to Cherry Hill
How did you meet?
How many hours do you have? A million people suggested and take credit for us getting together, but the short of the long: Daniel went to high school with Jonah Lerner who married Michal’s sister Sarah, we met at their Sheva Brachot, went on 3 dates set up by our friend Deena, stayed friends for 6 years and then Michal asked Daniel out after he found every reason to call but never asked her out!!!
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
Michal was living in Washington Heights NY.
Daniel was living in Cherry Hill and we have been living here since we married
Tell us about your children?
Yosef and Devorah are 4.5 year old twins
Yosef loves: space, turtles, art, building with legos, music, rocks, dirt, climbing, and writing on our walls.
Devorah loves: unicorns, her stuffed monkey, books, singing, dancing, playing on our swingset, jumping on our trampoline and keeping her father wrapped around her finger :)
Where in Cherry Hill do you live? (ie- Cherry Hill Estates, Knollwood, Windsor Park..)
The estates, surrounded by the best neighbors in the world.
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Daniel speaks fluent Russian and is slightly obsessed with airplane and airplane crashes. Check out the TV show Air Disasters if you want to understand why. Daniel works as a financial advisor.
Michal is a social worker, loves setting people up, hates the show Air Disasters, went to Elementary school with Rabbi Davies and is really the funny one in our marriage :)
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
Hands down the people, stepping into SOI feels like coming home every Shabbos after a long week of work.
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
Michal: Losing an NCSYer when I was an NCSY advisor on simchaton, it led to a community wide search until she was found safe and sound under the baseball field bridge where she was hiding. Hmm, not sure that is my favorite but it's my most memorable for sure.
Daniel: Davening with my friend Mel Lerner, of blessed memory, talking about Sons of Israel and knowing how much he really loved his shul and community.
RABBI MICHAEL & ORA DAVIES
Where did you grow up?
Rabbi M: I grew up in Englewood and Fair Lawn, NJ. Ora grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
How did you meet?
Ora: Well...it’s a long story, but in short we were set up by a mutual friend who I knew from school and Michael knew from camp. Many people had thought of setting us up but I never thought I would marry him. My cousin would always say I should marry a guy just like Michael Davies.
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
We lived in Oakland, California for five years and then in Charleston, South Carolina for eight years, and now we’ve made our way back to the Northeast.
Tell us about your children?
Yehoshua (12) is our team captain, always ready to shoot some hoops, have a baseball catch or discuss the latest in professional sports. Chana (10) is incredibly creative and loves to read and spend time with friends. Moshe (6) loves to build things like magnatiles and marble runs, loves to sing in his Israeli accent, and has a real zest for life. Shmuel (6) also loves to sing and is always looking for tips on how to improve his baseball game - he’s also a big foody. Rena (4) thinks she is 17 (sometimes we think she is too) and loves to write and get involved in whatever her older siblings are doing.
Where in Cherry Hill do you live? (ie- Cherry Hill Estates, Knollwood, Windsor Park..)
We live in Forest Park and are really enjoying getting to know our neighbors.
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Almost every night through COVID, we have taken a walk around the block after dinner. We hope to continue this tradition, although walking around the block becomes a little more difficult when you’ve moved onto a cul de sac.
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
We are excited to meet and get to know the diverse spectrum of people in the Shul community. There is a real excitement in the air and we look forward to building on it together with you.
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
Since we've only been here a week, we'd have to say Sunday's Jubilee Kickoff event. It was such a pleasure to meet so many members of the Cherry Hill Jewish Community and experience the warmth and welcoming of Sons of Israel.
AVITAL & YAACOV ZEFFREN
Where did you grow up?
Avital grew up in Fair Lawn, NJ and Yaakov grew up in St. Louis, MO.
How did you meet?
We met in Camp HASC- Avital was a nurse and Yaakov was a counselor. We became good friends but didn't start dating til 2 years later!
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
We lived in a 2 bedroom apartment in Teaneck before Cherry Hill and Queens before that.
Tell us about your children?
Penny(8.5) wants to be an astronomer when she grows up and is a yellow belt in karate (hopefully soon to be green belt!!). Aaron (4.5) loves Legos and magnatiles and his favorite type of vehicle is a Police SUV. Johnny (turned 1 this month!!) is known for his infectious smile and insanely cute laugh and loves making messes and getting into trouble!
Where in Cherry Hill do you live? (ie- Cherry Hill Estates, Knollwood, Windsor Park..)
We kind of don't fall into any category... we live smack in the middle of everything, right off of Cooper Landing Rd and just 2 blocks from shul.
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Yaakov spent 5 years in Israel after high school in Netiv Aryeh. In his (very little) free time, he enjoys building things and gardening and actually has lots of interesting things growing right now including Swiss chard, corn, and cantaloupe! Avital is 2.5 years older than Yaakov and the reason they started dating was because she asked him out... twice! She was an art minor in college and used to have a personalized kippa design business!
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
We love how everyone works so hard to make it an environment where all types of people can feel comfortable!
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
We loved the Purim parties, and we had a lot of fun "gambling" at the Casino Night! We look forward to the future when Gd willing we can all be together again like the good old days!
LEAH & HERBERT ZARGE
Where did you grow up ?
Leah in Augusta, GA, and Herb in Vineland, NJ.
How did you meet?
We both came to a Jewish Ski club meeting on time. That was October 1959, in Philadelphia. The room could hold 150 people, but there were only five people there. Leah had a question for Herb, and we started to talk. Herb did not know there were Jews with a southern accent.
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
Our first five years were in Nashville, TN. We found the Jewish community very friendly. Rabbi Zalman Posner motivated Herb to start to learn.
Tell us about your children?
We have two boys, and five grand children. Joseph lives in Atlanta, is a surgeon and has two boys. They all love to ski. Jonathan lives in Newton, MA, heads a soft ware development group, and has a daughter and two sons. Except for Livia, they all ski. Jeremy just came back form a school year in Israel. Of the grand children; one finished university, three are in university, and one is in high school.
Where in Cherry Hill do you live?
We live on Isaac lane, just a few steps from SOI.
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Leah has a MS in medical micro -biology from Univ. of Penn. Herb has BS in Chem. Eng. from Drexel Univ. Herb has a commercial pilots license, single engine land and sea. This made visiting the grand parents in Georgia and Florida a lot less stressful than the long drive down there. Herb was in the US Army in Active Duty from 1954-1956.
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
We came to Cherry Hill in 1965. On our first Shabus, I was greeted very warmly by three different men. That stayed with me, and generally continues now.. SOI has authentic Jewish practices that allows me to continue to learn.
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
There are a lot of pleasant memories.. These would include the many presentations of the "JEWS BROTHERS", the NCSY celebrations at holidays, the Sisterhood programs, and the informal meeting with people at the Kiddush on Shabus. As a past president, of SOI, I do not want to "remember" some of those "challenges" of keeping SOI running. Leah was the first adult advisor to NCSY when it first came to SOI. Our sons were NCSY presidents when they came of age. Leah remembers the Tuesday morning women classes with Rabbi Epstein. And many members remember working to run the Monday night BINGO games. It was WORK, but it did make money for SOI. Both the games itself, and the sisterhood sold food that made a significant profit. The food was prepared by 4 to 6 "grandmothers" on Monday morning.
Hannah & Justin Kaufman
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Name: (How would you like your names to appear?
Hannah, Justin, Ethan and Josh Kaufman
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Cincinnati. Ohio followed by 20 years in NYC and Justin grew up in Scarsdale, NY.
Our children are currently growing up in Cherry Hill, NJ.
How did you meet?
We actually met at the wedding of mutual friends. Justin was fraternity brothers with the groom from college and I was friends with the bride from the Upper West Side. Both of us asked them in advance of the wedding if they had friends we would be interested in meeting, and they both answered no. Boy, did we surprise them
when we started dating! ("That's an understatement!" - Justin)
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
We lived on 97th and Columbus in NYC.
Tell us about your children?
Ethan is 6.5 years old and Josh just turned 4. They recently completed a successful year in the 1st grade and 3s at Politz Day School. They LOVE building and playing with Legos, almost as much as their father. Ethan is recently obsessed with Minecraft and Josh has a ridiculous toy fire truck collection.
Where in Cherry Hill do you live?
We live on Knollwood Drive. When we were looking for houses, we were surprised how many people asked us on which side we were planning to live. We told everyone that we would choose the house and that would determine the side. It was nice to have different friends from each side rooting for us to be their neighbors.
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Probably that my Hebrew name is Nechamah, not Chana, or maybe that I entered college as an Interior Design major and switched 3 weeks later to Communication Sciences. As for Justin, he's had a myriad of professional roles over the years from plumbing supplies salesperson to gemologist before his banking career.
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
Catching up with our friends after a busy week and feeling part of a community where we belong. We love connecting with friends and congregants of all ages and appreciate all generations being part of the shul. We love that our kids think of the shul as a home away from home.
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
Being surrounded by family and friends who are family for Josh's bris, the amazing family costumes and fun of the Purim seudot, Kol Ha'nearim aliya with Justin holding the boys under the tallis on which their names are embroidered and the beautiful harmonizing tefillot on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Debbie & Robbie Friedner
Name: 
Debbie and Robbie Friedner
Where did you grow up?
Debbie: Haddon TWP and Cherry Hill
Robbie: Margate, NJ then Cherry Hill in 1962
How did you meet?
We met through the USY Chapter at Beth El (Cherry Hill). We lost contact when Debbie’s family moved to Israel, then we reconnected in November '74, when we both were in college in New York.
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
Debbie: Haddon Twp. 
Robbie: Margate/Atlantic City
Tell us about your children?
Our daughter Sarina was born in ’83 and now lives with her husband Joe outside of Orlando with their 2 children.
Our Son Ari was born in 1986 and received his Semicha from Netiv Arieh (in the old City), He lives with his wife Elissa and their 6 children in University Heights, Ohio .
Our youngest son Ilan was born in 1992, and received has Semicha from the Mir (Jerusalem). He, his wife DL, and their 3 children live outside Toronto in Hamilton, Ont. Canada
Each child was born naturally on Shabbos
Where in Cherry Hill do you live?
Cherry Hill Estate
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Debbie: As temp resident of Israel, learned to throw a grenade; has a brown belt in karate; and was born 3 months premature weighting in at 3lbs.
Robbie: I am an Eagle Scout; have run for State Office: consult internationally; and I’m bald!
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
The feeling of “Community”, the love and support we have for each other when needed!
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
Debbie: walking to SOI with my father, and davening in the small house before the Shul building was finished.
Robbie: the feeling of family, the Simchatons with NCSY , and davening with a loving minyan.
Yaeli and Chemmie Sokolic
Name:
Chemmie and Yaeli Sokolic
Where did you grow up?
Chemmie was born and raised in London UK (apart from a year in Philadelphia when he was a child), and moved to north Jersey in 2000 with only himself, 2 months’ rent in his back pocket, and a dream to realize all the potential the Land of the Free offers.
Yaeli was born in Jerusalem, Israel, and moved to London when she was 7 years old. Yaeli then moved to north Jersey with her family in 1998. Little did she know she’d end up marrying a fellow Brit only a few short years later.
How did you meet?
We met on-line, on Frumster.com in late 2003. Oddly enough, we lived 10 mins from each other in north Jersey when we connected on-line, and we used to live 10 mins from each other in England when we were younger, and in neither location did we ever meet or even hear of each other or each other’s families. Of course, after we connected, we discovered that Yaeli actually went to the same school and was a year above Chemmie’s sister, and our parents shared many mutual friends, even though they never knew each other directly.
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
We lived in Passaic in north Jersey for the first year of our marriage in 2004. Chemmie was happy in Passaic, but Yaeli wanted to move to Bergenfield north Jersey, so we compromised and moved to Bergenfield where we lived for 10 years before moving to Cherry Hill in 2015, and haven’t looked back since.
Tell us about your children?
Why, do you want them? There happens to be a Sokolic Kid special this month – 3 for the price of 2 – first come first served!
Kidding, after losing the receipt many years ago, we decided to keep them.
Gavriel is 15 years old, is a complete over achiever, and lives on a steady diet of pizza and Wacky Mac, with a side of music.
BZ (Betzalel) is having his bar mitzva in August this year, is the sweetest kid with the brightest smile, and, in contradistinction to his older brother, lives on a well-balanced diet with one of his favorite foods being broccoli (Chemmie questions his lineage…?).
Keren is 8 years old, has a suboptimal definition of “tidy”, comes with an extra helping of personality, and is thinking of trying a protein when she’s older.
Where in Cherry Hill do you live?
Forest Park, next door the Bakers, behind the Littwins, and two doors down from the Kurlansiks. Best location ever!
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Chemmie helped produce, create, and performed in a “kosher” workout DVD in 2013.
Yaeli laughs every time she looks up Fit Yid on YouTube (Chemmie promises he had nothing to do with the marketing of that DVD). Yaeli is also a very slow reader (which drives her husband batty), and never makes it through more than half a paragraph on Friday night before falling asleep.
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
The people. From the moment we entered the doors at SOI, we felt embraced, welcomed, and valued (i.e., added to multiple committees before we even closed on our house). Each person at SOI is deeper, kinder, and more nuanced the more you get to know them. Each come with stories, dreams, and talents that inspire and motivate us to learn more, grow more, and love more.
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
We always think fondly of all the ‘regular’ (pre-COVID) Shabbatot when we’d stay at shul a lot longer than intended, just schmoozing to wonderful friends; every time we tear ourselves away from one great conversation, we end up starting another one with another friend 10 seconds later, and end up getting home two hours after shul ends. Looking forward to getting home late again soon 😊
Judy and Steve Herzberg
Name:
Judy and Steve Herzberg
Where did you grow up?
Judy - In Philadelphia until the age of 10, and then right here in Cherry Hill after that!
Steve - In Philadelphia
How did you meet?
A blind date (this was way back in the day before the internet or dating apps!) arranged by a mutual friend of our parents. I was living in NYC at the time, and Steve was in Philadelphia ...As the story goes, Steve had no interest in making a trip to New York to meet me, but when I decided to move back to this area for other reasons, he concluded it must be beshert and gave me a call.
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
We lived in Philly for almost a year after we got married, and have been in Cherry Hill ever since.
Tell us about your children?
Our oldest daughter, who just got married over Memorial day weekend, is a speech language pathologist at an outpatient rehab setting for a hospital in Manhattan.
Our younger daughter lives in Center City Philadelphia and is a manager for a large Investment firm in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Where in Cherry Hill do you live?
The Isaac Lane cul-de-sac.
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Judy - That I went to Stern College with Sarah (Fastman) Zanger where we were the only two mathematics majors in our class!
Steve - Though we spend a great deal of time at the beach, Steve never actually learned how to swim! He tried before our honeymoon trip to Bermuda - but did not meet with much success.
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
The fact that it is small enough to allow us to interact with a very diverse group of people and not just those that match us exactly in age or hashkafa.
For Steve, it's also being able to sit in shul and schmooze on Shabbat - admittedly much more than he should ...
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
The annual appearances made by the "Jews Brothers" at the Purim Seudah, as well as the country line dancing program we had a thousand years ago.
Chani Wiesman and Yoni Berliant
Where did you grow up?
Chani grew up in Queens, NY (Kew Garden Hills) and Yoni grew up in Silver Spring, MD (Woodside)
How did you meet?
We met at a seudah shlishit learning program in Washington Heights
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
Riverdale, NY
Tell us about your children?
We have 2 kids, Noam, age 6 and Leora, age 4
Where in Cherry Hill do you live?
We live in a townhouse in Windsor Mews
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Yoni is the better cook in our family.
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
How people from so many different walks of life can work together to create such a special community.
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
Musical havdallahs in person. Our kids are looking forward to having these again!
RAFI AND TOVAH KURLANSIK
Where did you grow up?
Tovah: Moorestown
Rafi: Seattle
How did you meet?
In 2004 on Frumster AND JDate. We didn’t meet in real life until almost a year later and we didn’t start officially dating until September 2005.
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
We lived in Far Rockaway for two years while Rafi was finishing college and to be close to our yeshiva. We’ve been in Cherry Hill for close to 13 years now.
Tell us about your children?
Judah is 11 and will be in 6th grade at Kohelet, Benji is 9 and Hadassah is almost 6, and they will be homeschooled next year!
Where in Cherry Hill do you live? (ie- Cherry Hill Estates, Knollwood, Windsor Park..)
Forrest Park!
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Tovah posed for a painting when she was 8, and Michael Jackson bought it.
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
It’s where we got married 💕
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
Aside from our wedding day; Sukkah hops and Simchat Torah, the old sanctuary and it’s awesome mid century modern design
Helen & Alan baker
We both grew up in Brooklyn and met at Brooklyn College. We got married when I graduated and Alan completed his graduate studies - June 1961.
We moved to Columbus,Mississippi where Alan completed his service in the Air Force as Wing Weather Officer and I worked at a Rehabilitation Center as the first speech therapist in town- newsworthy enough for a special interview on the local TV station! We returned to Brooklyn until 1971 when a professional opportunity for Alan in Philadelphia brought us to Cherry Hill. It was this time of year— everything was in bloom— and we decided this would be our new location.
We live in Forest Park and when we signed the contract to build our new house in 1971 Washington Avenue was a dirt road in the middle of a forest of trees. Our first Shabbos in Cherry Hill was the first Shabbos the shul opened its doors for davening in their new home— our beautiful (then) new building on Cooper Landing Road— September 1971!
We loved Sons of Israel, were warmly welcomed and became involved almost immediately. The warmth and caring of the people we met and the friends we made were the cornerstones of our life here.
Alan and I both served as members of the Board of Directors and in many leadership capacities over the years. In 1980 Alan was shul president and our children were NCSY presidents- Leslie- Senior and Kenny- Junior.
Those simchatons everyone remembers fondly were a happening in our community and many times there was a post party at our home ! Lots of chocolate cake and brownies!
Our children are grown and both live in Chicago area with their families but we are not ready yet to join them and leave our Cherry Hill/ Sons of Israel family.
Profiled 5/6/2021
Jeffrey & Ilana Weiss
Where did you grow up?
Jeffrey: Brookline, MA Ilana: Fair Lawn, NJ
How did you meet?
At a friend's engagement party. But ask us for details some other time because it's a good story. (Actually only ask Ilana; she tells it more accurately.
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
Omaha, Nebraska
Tell us about your children?
Naama 11, Meira 9, Adira 7, Ahuva 5. All with strong but very different personalities!
Where in Cherry Hill do you live? (ie- Cherry Hill Estates, Knollwood, Windsor Park..)
Knollwood next to the playground
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Ilana: I've never seen the movie Titanic
Jeffrey: I started running at the beginning of the pandemic and I'm looking forward to running a marathon when the world opens again.
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
The diversity of members and that people have relationships with others who in other places might be part of different isolated groups
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories?
Simchaton when I was in NCSY! It planted a seed in my young mind that I would some day move to Cherry Hill (Ilana)
Profiled 4/29/2021
FEATURED cOMMUNITY MEMBERS
We are optimistic that we will all soon be able to return to shul together, however, as of yet, things are not quite back to normal. Many of us have not seen our friends from shul for months. Additionally, many new families have moved to the community, but due to the pandemic, we have not had a chance to meet and get to know each other. To help us stay connected, we are bringing a new feature called "Won't you be my neighbor". In this feature, you will get to meet new families as well as become reacquainted with familiar faces.
If you would like to take part in future features, please email Chani Berliant.
sybil bernstein
Where did you grow up? Although born in New York, at age 5 I moved to Trenton.
How did you meet? I met Ed just before I entered high school, although we were in the same junior high at the same time (he was one year ahead of me.) We even belonged to the same synagogue. He was very shy.
Where did you live before Cherry Hill? The first year of married life we lived in Hamilton Township near Trenton. We then lived in Willingboro for 17 years.
Tell us about your children? We have three children: Laurie Ann, living in Israel for over 30 years and teaches English; Louis, lives in Collingswood, NJ; Debra, lives in Voorhees, NJ, is an engineer, and works for U.S government.
Where in Cherry Hill do you live? Ed and I lived in Northwoods for 43 years. Ed walked to minyan every night (five miles round trip) until age 75.
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn? Ed and I were married for 60 years. I was adopted at 7 years old.
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel? The friendliness of the people.
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories? The singing at Shabbat Morning Services and working in the kitchen.
Profiled 4/22/2021
Donna & Bob Moskowitz
Where did you grow up? Donna grew up in Philadelphia/Cheltenham and Bob is Brooklyn-bred.
How did you meet? Bob put an ad in the Jewish Exponent. Donna was living at her parents' home temporarily with her 2 daughters, and answered his ad. Bob called on a Friday afternoon right before Shabbat when everything was very harried with preparations and herding 2 small children. They met the following week. Bob was early and waiting for Donna, and the rest is history.
Where did you live before Cherry Hill? Germantown, Maryland
Tell us about your children?We have 4 children: Hannah lives in Highland Park with her husband, Yacov, and their 2 children – Charlie (2 years old) and Emma (7 years old). Hannah works for the OU and Yacov is an accountant. Davida lives on the Main Line and works as the Marketing Director for MLRT. Tamara lives in Rockaway and is a Customer Service Manager for Tiger. Meir is living in Miami currently. He has worked security and is now working in an Israeli restaurant
Where in Cherry Hill do you live? The Estates
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn? Donna is a Physician’s Assistant.
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel? The welcoming community and the diversity of our members. No matter what level someone is in our community, they are embraced and welcomed. When you need help, there are at least 10 people there immediately with a shoulder to cry on or strong arms to help. For a celebration, we are all there. This community supports you through good and bad.
What are your favorite Sons of Israel memories? We looked forward to Purim every year. There was a huge seudah that you were so grateful for because we spent the entire morning into early afternoon, after a rowdy megillah reading, delivering shaloch manot to the community. We delivered as a family, in costume, our own themed shaloch manot along with the shul’s. The shul’s shaloch manot was always a surprise, had a great poem and new and unique products to try and enjoy. The seudah had the best entertainment from our own members – “The Jews Brothers”. They practiced all year for this event creating amusing parodies personal for our community. It was great being together as a community with friends old and new.
Another great time in our community was Simchas Torah, especially when NCSY was strong in Cherry Hill. Everyone pitched in to house teens. There was so much ruach I thought the police would come to tell us we were disturbing the peace (and a couple of years they did). There was a special chair to wheel the Chazzan and Rabbi for their honors. People were tied up in the Ahron. There was dancing on both the women’s and men’s sides, there was a fantastic kiddush, there was camaraderie, respect, and joy….truly the good old days.
Looking forward, I pray for this community to come together and be able to celebrate many more holidays, simchas and good times Cherry Hill style as we move forward to the 50th anniversary of SOI in Cherry Hill, a new Board of Trustees, and many positive changes.