"We’re All In This Together"…High School Musical
A fitting title for a new start for Sons of Israel. The Jewish people have routinely been broken up into groups. As an example, in ancient times we had the twelve tribes. Each was an independent entity with their own banner and attributes. As a collective, they came together as one people. We have Ashkenazi and Sephardic groups, male and female, Hashkama, Outdoor and Indoor minyan people, young and not so young, SOI or YI, Black Hat and Modern Orthodox. I could go on forever, but I think you get the idea.
We are all different. Accepting that, while embracing our differences and individualism, and realizing that we all have a central goal – doing mitzvot in the honor of Hashem and being the best we can be as individuals, as a Congregation, as a community, will make our community a more cohesive place.
This Sunday we welcome Rabbi Davies and his family to Cherry Hill – To Sons of Israel. Rabbi Davies has spent 8 years in Charleston translating a vision of a new synagogue into a reality. His d’var torahs during probahs were inspiring and thought provoking. The creative, Solomon style technique he used in creating a mechitzah for Dor Tikvah, keeping everyone happy without compromising its integrity, was a tremendous and unique accomplishment. Originally from the more northern Jersey area, Rabbi Davies remembers fondly Cherry Hill and our infamous Simchaton and looks forward to working with the youth and NCSY. We look forward to experiencing his innovative and creative programming and embracing him and his family into the tapestry of Sons of Israel. Welcome aboard Rabbi Davies, Ora and family.
We are also kicking-off our Jubilee year – 50 years in Cherry Hill, this Sunday. We will have cotton candy, Tasty Twisters soft pretzels, Primo Water ice, Kosher.com wine tasting, Nothing Bundt Cake samples, and fresh popcorn. Sisterhood will be selling Judaica from the gift shop, Helen Baker has her Incredible hats, Machla Shaffer will have her sewn Judaica. Bikur Cholim, Membership, Advertising, Eruv, Security and Sisterhood, to name a few, will have representatives you can talk to about being a part of SOI. The T-shirts are here and look great. Show your SOI spirit and order your shirt online. There will be raffles for a Trader Joe’s Basket, a Hats Incredible cap, and a special Bundt Cake. Come early to help set-up and stay late. Make new friends, while catching up with old. It will be a tremendous start to an exciting year of learning, mitzvot, great programming and gathering together as friends, as a community.
May we grow from strength to strength under our new leadership and learn to embrace and accept our differences, not as a weakness, but as the beauty of our kehillah.
"Everyone is special in their own way. We make each other strong.
We're not the same; We're different in a good way.
Together's where we belong." - High School Musical
Shabbat Shalom
Donna Moskowitz
*********ANNOUNCEMENT*********
Rabbi Serebrowski has graciously agreed to be on call or available for in-person issues until Rabbi Davies' start date of August 1. His cell phone number is 908-770-8248 and his email is yserebrowski@torahlinks.org.
Rabbi Rothman and Rabbi Shaffer will be glad to answer halachic questions by phone or email.
Rabbi Rothman 856-495-6757 evyk1savta1@gmail.com
Rabbi Shaffer 201 394-7447 rebshaff@aol.com
We greatly appreciate the support and help of our community Rabbis through this transition and moving forward.
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