Weekly Newslinks

This week's Newslink is sponsored by Marlene, Scott & Brian Goldhagen  
in memory of our beloved husband and father,
BRUCE GOLDHAGEN, Beryl Dov ben Zalman

You can sponsor a newslink for $36 in honor or in memory of a dear one.

Schedule for this Weekend

Erev Shabbat, October 8 (Cheshvan 2)
6:45am Shacharit
6:13pm Candle Lighting
6:15pm Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv

Shabbat, October 9: Noach (Cheshvan 3)
8:00am Main Minyan - Outdoors (weather permitting)
9:00am Main Minyan - Indoors starting this week and henceforth
8:30am Sephardic Minyan
9:56am Latest Shema
10:00am Tot Shabbat and K-3 Grade Groups
11:00am Kiddush Sponsorship (Ends at 12:00pm)
4:30pm Gemara Shiur
6:00pm Mincha
6:25pm Rabbi's Parsha Shiur
7:00pm Maariv
7:11pm Havdalah

Sunday, October 10 (Cheshvan 4)
7:00am Shacharit
8:00am Reserved (Ends at 10:00pm)
6:05pm Mincha/Maariv

I am very excited for the opportunity to share words of Torah with you. Each week, in this spot, I look to share an idea I've found that speaks to me and that I think will resonate with you as well. This week, I share an excerpt from an article from Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman entitled 'Living Mercifully', which speaks about the personal benefits of being compassionate with others.

When Noah is commanded to gather the animals there are two seemingly contradictory instructions. On the one hand he is told that that he should bring the animals to the ark (“tavi el hateiva – you shall bring to the ark”), and on the other, he is told that the animals will come to him (“yavo-u eilecha – shall come to you”) (6:19-20).

Rabbeinu Bechaye clarifies that the intent is that Noah will not have to go and seek out the animals from their natural habitats as the animals will all approach Noah. Once they arrived near the ark, Noah was tasked to bring them inside. Yet, we are left wondering, if God would provide a miracle that ensured that the animals all came to Noah, why make him responsible for bringing them into the ark? Why not just finish the miracle and have the animals board the ark on their own?

Rabbi Moshe Alshich provides a powerful explanation. If viewed from a perspective of strict judgment (“din”), Noah did not merit being saved either. The only way he would survive is if God dealt with him with mercy (“rachamim”). Yet, in order to earn God’s mercy, Noah needed to demonstrate his own acts of mercy. He needed to commit acts of kindness and generosity in order to warrant being saved. God could have just brought the animals into the ark, but it was imperative that Noah be afforded the opportunity to interact with the animals and demonstrate his ability to be compassionate. Therefore, the animals were just brought to Noah, but he needed to physically escort them into the ark.

The stated purpose in the sentences of this whole enterprise, is in order “lehachyot” – to make live. The verb is intransitive, meaning that it does not explicitly state who is made to live through Noah’s actions. Radak explains that it is referring to the animals. Noah was responsible for the physical health of the animals and needed to provide food for them daily in order that they live. Alshich, building off his thesis that Noah needed to exhibit his ability to act mercifully in order to survive, explains that “lehachyot – to make live” can also be referring to Noah. By becoming the caretaker of the animals, Noah himself would be granted a longer life.

In a world flooded with verbal violence and hostility, we would do well to learn a lesson from Noah. Let us act with compassion, mercy, and generosity to all beings. By doing so, may we merit God’s mercy and be granted with long, happy and healthy lives.

Have a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Davies
Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org

“The past is your lesson. The present is your gift. The future is your motivation.”
         --Anonymous

What a fantastic way to start off our year.  Due to the generosity of so many people, our holidays were inspiring, uplifiting and delicious. Our Simchat Torah Auction, emceed by Chemmie Sokolic and Dan Drabkin and with Yaeli's record keeping, raised $17,100 and is still going strong.  If you did not have the opportunity to participate you can still donate here and help our programs expand and our shul to grow. Seeing family, friends and members, old and new, dancing and waving flags, eating, davening and celebrating the joy of Judaism was refreshing  and awe inspiring.  Getting back to some semblance of normalcy with such enthusiam is a great start to our future at SOI.  Thank you to all who made this possible.

This past week, two members gave of their talents to start two new classes at SOI.
1. Lainie Fastman is teaching a course in Memoirs.  The goal of the workshop is to introduce the "Memoir" as a means of communication and to start thinking about creating your own memoir through guidance and support from Lainie and the class.  Even thought there was a fire alarm during the first class, it was informative and eye opening to the possibilities of our own memoirs.  This is a six week session and meets Mondays at 10:30am.  Please join us - all are welcome. 
2. Yaffa Fuchs is teaching a guaranteed learn to read hebrew course in 8 weeks time.  The first class was very successful.  Along with support from Yaffa, there is on-line support and written materials.  This is a beginners course on zoom and is open to everyone.   For more information, contact Yaffa at yaffafuchs@gmail.com

Our Youth department is up and running with SIP starting this week - our Shabbos Incentive Program.  There has been tons of information on this program, but if you need more  or have questions, feel free to reach out to our youth committee through youth@soicherryhill.org.  Our youth programming includes our SOI Committee led by Sabrina Spector, Leah Spector as elementary Youth Coordinator, NCSY and Bnei Akiva.  To highlight some of their upcoming events there is a Family Hay Ride on October 31, a Bnei Akiva SNIF on the 23rd and an NCSY Shabbos Oneg and Game night this friday night.  Please check out our Youth Page on our website for more information.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Sisterhood is planning an informative program on October 20th to address this so please save the date.  More information will be forthcoming.  Yoetzet Initiative of Philadelphia and SNJ will be presenting a forum on October 17th from 10:30-noon in our tents.  Yoatzot Halacha are women advisors in Jewish law. They specialize in the intersection between women’s reproductive health and Jewish law. Yoatzot Halacha have become a trusted halachic resource serving tens of thousands of women and families worldwide annually and work closely with shul rabbis to meet community needs.  Please remember to RSVP to Rachael Klein at ray.s.klein@gmail.com.

Be a part of the growth and excitement at SOI.  There are many volunteer opportunites available from being a security greeter on Shabbat, to supervising a youth activity, to sharing your own expertise in a workshop or lecture.  Please contact me and I will be glad to point you in the right direction - president@soicherryhill.org


Shabbat Shalom 
Donna Moskowitz     

New York City Police or New York Police Officer Frank Serpico is shot during a drug bust in Brooklyn and survives to later testify against police corruption. Many believe the incident proves that NYPD officers tried to kill him. 

WAYS TO HELP SOI PAINLESSLY

 Just go to smile.amazon.com, search for Congregation Sons of Israel Synagogue.  Every qualifying purchase will send 0.5% of the total to our Shul. Over time, this will add up.

https://www.kosherwine.com/?rfsn=5940204.12e2a2

SOI  members and affiliates can click the link to go to the JCommerce websites and purchase their products. You can support SOI through the commission we earn. 

Hashkama Minyan Update
Postponed starting until further notice
For questions please contact Bill Jungreis at soiprez2014@gmail.com.

______________________________________________________
                          SOI Committees 2021-2022
MATC                    Chemmie Sokolic  chemsok@aol.com
Chesed                  Karen Cohen        karen.e.cohen@gmail.com
Bikur Cholim          Larry Miller           twinks-3043@msn.com
Fundraising           Yaeli Sokolic         ycsgraphix@gmail.com
                              Ilana Weiss           weiss.ilana@gmail.com
Historical Society                               president@soicherryhill.org
Jubilee                 Helene Raush        raushfamily@comcast.net
                            Sabrina Spector      sabrinaspector@gmail.com
                            Helen Baker            bakera412@comcast.net
Membership        Heshy Chaitoff         heshychaitoff@gmail.com
                            Michael Partnow     mrpmjp@aol.com
Programming      Sabrina Spector      sabrinaspector@gmail.com
                            Suzie Mindel           suziepm@yahoo.com
Ritual                   Heshy Chaitoff        heshychaitoff@gmail.com
                            Chani Wiesman      chaniwiesman@gmail.com
Security               Sam Tilonsky          drsamod@gmail.com
Sisterhood           
Youth                   Sabrina Spector     youth@soicherryhill.org
                            Caryn Hurlock         
Welcome             Aliza Chaitoff           alizachaitoff@gmail.com

Volunteers are needed. You do not need to be a Board member to be involved.

Welcome to Eyal & Aliza Levy

Having recently experienced the excitement and energy of Simchat Torah finishing out a fantastic Yamim Noraim season, we would like to thank all those who helped to make it possible. Our Gabbaim, Baalei Tefillah, Baalei Kriyah, Kiddush preparers and organizers, youth leaders, security team, and more. A full list of names went out last week*.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
We could not have done it without you. 
*Special thanks to Chazzan Moshe Moskowitz who was inadvertently left off the earlier list. We apologize if we missed anyone else.

Thank you to Marilyn Mindel, Avi Rynderman, Baila Silverman, Andy Rauer, and Chemmie Sokolic for manning the security cameras and Debbie Fineberg, Harvey Chaitoff, Jeff Liss, Sam Tilonsky and Mike from OPS as Security Greeters.

Thank you to all the donors from our community who made Sunday's Blood Drive so successful. Special thanks to door volunteers Jeff Liss, Ken Panitch, Sam Tilonsky, and Max Bender. And an extra special thank you to Jonathan Bender for organizing the Blood Drive.

Mr. Finklestein L'Chaim Bottle Club
Thank you to the following people for making donations and enhancing our kiddushes.
Avi Rynderman

Join the NEW SOI Updates Whatsapp group!
For all the news and announcements you don't want to miss.
https://chat.whatsapp.com/J2uWWdEVNogLTdyHvoYEJ4

The death of a spouse is one of the hardest things an individual will ever endure. Everyone journeys through the process of grief, mourning, and adjustment in a unique manner. But no one needs to grieve alone. Jewish Family & Children’s Service is committed to helping bereaved individuals heal. A new session of the agency's Widows & Widowers Support Group will begin on Tuesday, October 12. Participants will have the opportunity to converse openly, connect with peers, share meaningful ideas, and delve into their feelings in a caring and professionally guided space. This group will be facilitated by JFCS geriatric case manager Reva Farenback-Brateman. There is a $36 registration fee for this group, and advance RSVP is required. To learn more or to RSVP, please call (856) 424-1333, ext. 1184 or email rfbrateman@jfedsnj.org.

Florence Axelrod – Fruma bas Sarah
Estelle Lerner- Esther Ethel bas Rochel
Andy Rauer – Avigayal bas Peshe Ella
Sheryl Malamud 
Amy Goldwasser
Gavriel Yehuda ben Chaya Sarah 
Eytan Raphael Shraga Ben Dina Sarah
​​​​​​​Akiva Moshe ben Dina Sarah

David Partnow - David Avram Ben Tilla Razel 
Machla Leah bat Chava
Marvin Korff - Moshe ben Bessie
Devora Tehilah bas Leah
David Raush

 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

SOI Members Get Great Benefits
We are so excited about the many families who have recently joined Sons of Israel. As a member in good standing, you are entitled to a fob which would give you access to the building for minyanim. Please reach out to Heshy Chaitoff for more information at heshychaitoff@gmail.com

There are many ways to support our Shul:
Yartzeit Plaque ($400)
Shabbat Security ($180)
Chumash for the sanctuary ($75)
Newslink ($36)
Siddur for the sanctuary ($50)
Welcome Basket ($18)
Bottle Club ($36)
https://www.soicherryhill.org/sponsor ​​​​​​​

ERUV UPDATE
As a part of creating a new organization for the community eruv, we are making a new email server for the eruv status and other eruv related information.     
Sign up to receive email communications by clicking here and filling out a short form After Sukkos the official announcement of the weekly status of the Eruv will come from the new email server.

                                       COVID UPDATE - Mask Protocols
- All unvaccinated adults and children must wear masks indoors at all times.
- Masks (properly worn) will be required for all indoor attendees whenever social distancing is not possible due to increased synagogue attendance. An announcement will be made when this occurs and we hope to have a sign visible to make it clear.
- All synagogue attendees should have a mask with them for when masking is necessary.
- Everyone on the bima must wear a mask except for vaccinated baalei tfillah and baalei kriya
- It is recommended that high risk individuals remain masked indoors at all times for their protection
- Masks are optional at the outdoor minyan
 
      We will continue to seek guidance from the CDC, the NJ Department of Health, and the rabbinic and medical leadership of the OU to help keep our synagogue safe and we expect that our policies and recommendations may change as the pandemic continues to unfold. Thank you all for helping to keep our synagogue and our community safe.

Boscov Department Store is sponsoring Friends Helping Friends 25th Anniversary on October 20,2021 from 8AM to 11 PM!  Amazingly you will get a 25% discount on most items in the store!  All you have to do is donate $5.00 to SOI’s Bikur Cholim organization!  Get your discount shopping pass now.  Call the shul office or Janet Miller at 856-667-0860 to receive your pass!

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
The office will be open from 10-2 Monday - Friday