Weekly Newslinks

                                                 Shavuos -Where Are the Mitzvos?           
      The holiday of Shavuos is shrouded in mystery. It is not mentioned in the Torah by name. It is a Pilgrimage Festival that lasts only 1 or 2 days as opposed to the others that are 7 or 8.  The Grain Offerings are leavened, whereas all other holiday Grain Offerings are unleavened. The most interesting detail about Shavuos is that there are no ritual Mitzvos connected to the holiday. There is no Shofar, Lulav, Menorah or Megillah; there is even no Matzoh. And contrary to popular belief it is NOT a Mitzvah to eat cheesecake on Shavuot; although it is a sweet Minhag.
Why are there no Mitzvos?
     Let me explain it with a metaphor: So many of our celebrations are laden with themes. When people make a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, it often has a theme. There are those that decorate their Sukkahs with themes. People even dress up on Purim and match their Mishloach Manos with a theme. However, at a wedding, it is quite unusual to see a theme. This is because it is such a cosmic moment in the life of the couple, no other theme compares or is needed. So too, with each of our festivals Hashem awarded us specific Mitzvos in accordance with the theme of the day e.g. Freedom, Atonement, Providence…. But on Shavuos no theme will do because it is the cosmic moment when the eternal relationship between Hashem and the Jewish nation was born. It was our wedding!
     It is for this reason that at a Jewish wedding so many of the Minhagim reflect the Sinai Experience. The candles held by those walking down the aisle surrounding the Chosson and Kallah, standing under the Chuppah and even the breaking of the glass is all a reflection of our Sinai experience.
     As this is the final Yom Tov Debi and I will be celebrating with you as your synagogue Rabbi and Rebbitzin, we want to express our love and gratitude to so many of you for the love and connections we have forged over the years. Like a wonderful marriage it has been a journey of over a generation – 21 years. We look forward to staying connected to you in the months and years to come.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Somayach,
Rabbi Epstein

     
    “The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude” -Oprah Winfrey

Many changes are taking place at Sons of Israel:  As Rabbi Epstein stated, this is his last holiday celebration as SOI Rabbi.  The Sephardic minyan is starting up this Shabbat.  We will have small group learnings throughout the community on the first night of Shavuot at 11pm. There are indoor and outdoor minyanim, children’s groups and kiddush.   We will be having a Women’s shiur by Devora Delman on May 17th from 4-5 to coincide with a B’Nai Akiva Snif program.  A new Board will be voted on at the Congregational Meeting on May 25 along with a presentation and vote on the new proposed entrance to SOI , generously donated by Sybil Bernstein in memory of her husband Ed. We have a new Trauma Kit, I hope we will never need, with training on its use on May 23 by Eytan Irwin.  Sisterhood is re-starting.  We will be having a graduation kiddush on June 5 and a Welcome New Families Kiddush on June 26. We have an office manager.  There are new committees to be involved in: Historical Society, Jubilee Celebration, Media.  And older committees that need your support: Security, Programming, Youth and Building (to name a few).  The bottle club is being reinstituted (all donations gratefully accepted).  As of August 1, Rabbi Davies will be our new Rabbi.  I think you get the gist. 
 
Change can be difficult, but with everyone’s help and support I feel we can embrace these changes to move forward to an even stronger SOI Community.  Be a part of the change and future at SOI.

I hope you enjoy the following recipe.  It is a favorite for Shavuot and a child friendly activity.
   
(I'm up to 3 random acts of kindness - 47 to go)
  
Shabbat Shalom & Chag Sameach
Donna Moskowitz
SOI President

                     Oreo and Fudge Ice Cream Cake
Ingredients:
½ cup fudge ice cream topping, warmed
1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed
1 pkg. (4 serving size) chocolate flavor instant pudding
¼ cup milk
8 Oreo cookies
12 ice cream sandwiches
Directions:
1.     In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup warmed hot fudge and 1 cup of whipped topping until blended. Add dry pudding mix and stir until blended.
2.     Stir in 1/4 cup of milk and mix until smooth. The consistency of this needs to be spreadable. If it is still too thick, mix a little more milk.
3.     Fold in chopped cookies.
4.     Arrange 4 ice cream sandwiches on a piece of foil measuring approximately 12 x 24.
5.     Spread half of the pudding mixture on top of the four ice cream sandwiches. Then top with four more ice cream sandwiches.
6.     Repeat the process by adding the rest of the pudding mixture and top it with the remaining four ice cream sandwiches.
7.     Frost the top and sides with remaining whipped topping. Bring up the sides of the foil and make a loose pouch. Don't stress if the foil touches the whipped topping. Freeze at least 4-6 hours before serving.
8.     Optional for Serving: Take the cake out of the freezer and put a thin layer of Cool Whip on the outside. Add crushed cookies on top. Place back in the freezer for 30 minutes before slicing.

                    
                          SOI Committees 2020-2021
Advertising          Chemmie Sokolic     chemsok@aol.com
Bikur Cholim        Larry Miller              twinks-3043@msn.com
Fundraising         Dore Provda            dore_provda@yahoo.com
Jubilee                 Helene Raush         raushfamily@comcast.net
                            Sabrina Spector      sabrinaspector@gmail.com
                             Helen Baker            bakera412@comcast.net
Membership         Ilana Weiss             weiss.ilana@gmail.com
                             Heshy Chaitoff        heshychaitoff@gmail.com
Programming       Chani Berliant         chaniwiesman@gmail.com
                            Sabrina Spector      sabrinaspector@gmail.com
                             Suzie Mindel           suziepm@yahoo.com
Ritual                    Heshy Chaitoff        heshychaitoff@gmail.com
Security                Sam Tilonsky           drsamod@gmail.com
Shalom Bayit        Ken Panitch            ken.panitch@gmail.com
Sisterhood                                         sisterhood@soicherryhill.org
Youth                    Sabrina Spector     sabrinaspector@gmail.com
                             Suzie Mindel          suziepm@yahoo.com
Welcome              Aliza Chaitoff          alizachaitoff@gmail.com

Are you interested in becoming more involved in SOI and sisterhood? Honing your leadership skills? Meeting new people? 
 
Sisterhood is looking for new BOARD MEMBERS and Committee Volunteers! Whether you have just an hour a month or a few hours a week of time to donate, Sisterhood needs you!  All board positions and committee positions are available! 
 
Is there a program you've always wished Sisterhood would sponsor? Get involved with our programming committee! Love to be in the kitchen or want to pick up a few things while you're already grocery shopping anyway? Join the Kiddush Committee! Interested in Leadership? Join our board!  If you aren't sure what you'd like to do, but you'd like to become involved, reach out! We have the right fit for you!
 
Contact Karen Cohen: 301.502.8038 or karen.e.cohen@gmail.com

Dina and Charlie Kivolowitz 
 
Where did you grow up?
Dina grew up on Long Island, NY and Charlie grew up in Madison, WI
 
How did you meet?
We met through a mutual friend in Boston. 
 
Where did you live before Cherry Hill?
We lived in Center City, Philadelphia 
 
Tell us about your children (if you have children)?
We have an almost 3 year old daughter who is a ball of energy! 
 
Where in Cherry Hill do you live?  Knollwood 
 
What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?
Dina used to be a competitive figure skater and one summer she spent training along side Olympian Sasha Cohen (she’s super nice and down to earth!). 
Charlie is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. 
 
What's your favorite thing about Sons of Israel?
To be honest, we haven’t been to shul yet because of Covid but everyone who we’ve met in the community has been so warm and welcoming. We can’t wait to finally go to shul hopefully one day soon! 

Thanks to Jeff Liss, Debbie Fineberg, Jon Bender and Sam Tilonsky for providing security on  Shabbat.

Karen Cohen and the Sisterhood for a beautiful Kiddush this past Shabbat and for the sweet Shavuot gift packages.

To our tent builders:
Shari Weg, Ken Panitch, Yoni Berliant & Nimi Gal

To everyone who took the time to attend our Focus Groups this week.  Your feedback and input is important to our growth as a community.  We will present the info from these focus groups next week along with times for future groups.

​​​​​​​SEEKING VOLUNTEERS!!!!
 
Please contact Karen Cohen (karen.e.cohen@gmail.com) ASAP if you are available to help deliver Shavuous packages to local SOI members SUNDAY MORNING!!! We have approximately 140 packages to deliver, so if we can get enough volunteers, we will only have a few each to deliver! 

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". If you would like to be featured here, please contact Chani Wiesman.  In this feature, you will get to meet new families as well as become reacquainted with familiar faces.  
Get to know Helen & Alan Baker.
Click here  to learn more about this long-time SOI couple and find out how you can be featured in future emails.

Florence Axelrod – Fruma bas Sarah
Estelle Lerner- Esther Ethel bas Rochel
Shari Goldberg - Sarah Chasha bas Raisie Hinda
Andy Rauer – Avigayal bas Peshe Ella
Bruce Goldhagen - Berel Dov Ben Chia
Sheryl Malamud 
Yoni Yares
Gavriel Yehuda ben Chaya Sarah 
Binyamin Yedidya Nachshon ben Shira Ruth
​​​​​​​Maleya Ridley
Robbie Friedner
 Since the tehillim group is not meeting again until after COVID, following is a link to the prayers for good health and healing that you can recite for our ailing members

There are many ways to support our Shul:
Yartzeit Plaque ($400)
Shabbat Security ($180)
Chumash for the sanctuary ($75)
Newslink ($72)
Siddur for the sanctuary ($50)
Welcome Basket ($18)
https://www.soicherryhill.org/sponsor ​​​​​​​

Reminder:  If your mailing information has been changed, please update it on our website by logging on at  soicherryhill.org 
If you know someone who is not receving our weekly email, please let the office know

Office Hours Next Week for Jean Klein:
Monday to Friday 10:00am - 2:00pm