October Board Meeting Update
With the High Holidays behind us, the goal was moving forward at this month’s Board Meeting. Heshy Chaitoff gave a thought provoking D’var Torah and with that inspiration we were off to work. We have done a little reorganizing, enabling the Committees closer involvement with the Executive Committee. For brevity sake, committees are requested to send in their monthly reports prior to the meeting for discussion and questions. Following is a brief summary of the meeting and volunteer opportunities open to everyone.
MCAT: Marketing, Communication, Advertising, and Technology Committee will be having a meeting this Sunday to address several issues including advertising possibilities and website design with the addition of new committee members Sam Oshlag and Oriel Weinberg. Contact Chemmie Sokolic at chemsok@gmail.com.
Ritual Committee: The Indoor Shabbos minyan moved to a 9am start time. We will reevaluate as needed. If you are interested in Leining Opportunities please reach out to the Ritual Committee or Gabboyim who are compiling lists moving forward. The Outdoor Minyan is planning to continue at an 8am start time. The Hashkama minyan is in need of a couple more committed participants. If you are interested, please get in touch with Heshy Chaitoff at heshychaitoff@gmail.com or Bill Jungreis at wjungreis@gmail.com.
Covid Committee: The Covid Committee met and came up with guidelines for tfillot and kiddush which are presented below.
The Security Committee, with the help of Jenni Jimenez-Fischman is applying for a new grant from the NJ Office of Homeland Security. If approved, the grant will be for up to $50,000. The money will be used to continue upgrading our facilities and video capabilities. Our current Homeland Security Grant is focused on replacing many doorways with new reinforced and impact resistant doors (Succah, front, main office, Rabbi and Presidential Suite). The new doors will make our “safe” rooms safer. We need more people to help with security on Shabbos. To volunteer. Please contact Sam Tilonsky at drsamod@gmail.com.
Welcoming Committee: The bulk of the welcoming committee work takes place as people move in over the summer, but as additional families continue to move in we are sure to keep up our process and make sure that newcomers feel like they are connected to SOI. Rabbi Davies has been great about contacting people who are about to move in and welcome them as well as speaking with prospective Cherry Hill families. If you are comfortable hosting meals in your home, please consider reaching out to newcomers. Contact information for all families can be found in the member directory section of shulcloud when you login. (This is the case even for families who are not members.) If you’d like a list of people who have recently moved in, please contact Ilana Weiss at Weiss.ilana@gmail.com. We are having a Newcomers Welcome Shabbat on October 30. Donations are gratefully accepted at https://www.soicherryhill.org/form/newcomer-shabbat-kiddush.html.
Fundraising Committee: SOI had a successful fundraising campaign during the chagim. Upcoming initiatives are: ● Kiddushes honoring past presidents ● Gala ● meeting to streamline fundraising strategy ● Formalizing a “Thank You” process so people are a) thanked and b) assured that their donation was received.
Youth Committee: The Youth department kicked off the Shabbat Incentive Program (SIP). SIP is a rolling registration and children K - 8th can find ways to earn points with the first Kiddish being on Oct. 30. Timing of groups, with Indoor Minyan starting at 9, is being evaluated with TOT Shabbat starting at 10:30 this week. There will be a family hayride coordinated by Bnei Akiva on Oct. 31 (see the attached flyer). The youth committee met with the Davies and identified opportunities where SOI can strengthen their program, especially with he Middle School students.
The Jubilee & Programming Committees have consolidated their efforts. Keep your eyes pealed for updates on a stimulating Walk-a-Thon. Upcoming activities are a SOI Boutique this Sunday, New Family Kiddush Oct. 30, and our GALA on February 27th. Many ideas were discussed for a Chanukah family friendly-COVID safe event. Volunteers are greatly appreciated. Please reach out to Sabrina Spector at sabrinaspector@gmail.com.
SOI Kitchen Procedures are being re-evaluated by Rabbi Davies, Dan Malamud, Estelle Lerner, Daniel Drabkin, the Shulmans and Miltz’s with hopes of creating a more usable space with high kashrut standards and beautiful kiddush possibilities. Volunteers are needed. Please contact Dan Malamud at daniel@furn1.com.
SCRIP for Shoprite will now be available for purchase starting next week. The shul makes 5% on all purchases.
As Tom Brokaw said, “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference. ” Volunteer today!
As a reminder, you do NOT need to be on the Board to be involved.
Shabbat Shalom,
Donna Moskowitz
