TENTS ARE DOWN Due to the impending inclement weather, the tent coverings have been removed. If you have left anything in the kitchen in the past year please remove it as soon as possible. We are having the kitchen thoroughly cleaned and organized.
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 anarticle by Rabbi Benji Levy entitled 'Blessed with Everything', which speaks about what it truly means to have it all.
One of the most elusive – and perhaps pervasive – of all desires is that of having ‘everything’. People want ‘more’, they wish they could ‘have it all’. But what does it actually mean to have everything in life?
We are told in no uncertain terms that: ‘God blessed Abraham bakol (with everything)’ (Gen. 24:1). Eliezer became responsible for ‘everything’ that was Abraham’s, (24:2) and later, ‘Abraham gave everything that was his to Isaac’ (25:5). Immediately after this, Abraham went on to give gifts to his other children (25:6). This implies that whatever it was that he had received from God and passed onto Isaac could not have been physical, tangible items, for then there would have been nothing left to give to his other children.
[...]
Earlier, God empowers Abraham with the ability to bless others (12:2), and the Midrash explains that when Abraham gives Isaac ‘everything’, he blesses him with the ability to bless others (Gen. Rabba 61:6). Thus, the blessing does not just stay with Isaac, but rather it continues through to Jacob as he declares to his brother: ‘I have everything,’ implying that this was all he needed (Rashi on 33:11).
It seems that all the interpretations point to one clear idea that is passed down from generation to generation. To have ‘everything’ is to have the ability to bless others. The greatest gift that exists is the gift of giving itself.
It seems like Jews and food are synonymous. For every holiday there are special foods such as Challah for Shabbat, Latkes for Chanukah and Hamantashen for Purim, to name a few. Sharing food with family and friends heightens the enjoyment of a delicious meal and holiday and brings people closer together. Each week we choose to take in the sanctity of Shabbat with all the beauty of the davening, the delicious foods and traditions, connecting with people in our community and enjoying a day of rest. This all revolves around foods….challah, kiddush, cholent, l'chaim, gefilte fish, soups, hummus, Seudah Shlishit, etc.
To enhance our kiddushes and increase our schmoozing time, we are trying to revamp our kiddushes at SOI. Estelle Lerner will be helping to clean out and organize the kitchen. Dan Malamud will be our kitchen coordinator and Dan Drabkin will be doing the all-important shopping. We are hoping to steam clean the kitchen and bring it to the highest level of safety and kashrus. There will be a booklet of standard operating procedures (SOP) so we can work more efficiently together. Having Rabbi Davies involvement and input has been enlightening.
Trying to do creative and delicious kiddushes weekly is exhausting. Kudos to the Sisterhood for having taken this on for so many years. As we start fresh, we are looking for at least 4 teams to work independently once a month as a "Kiddush Krew". Each team with have the opportunity to create their own menu by following the suggestions in the SOP. We are looking for four team leaders to help coordinate each week's team who will be taught Kashrut standards and kitchen protocols. We currently have 3 volunteer cholent chefs for sponsored kiddushes: Heshy Chaitoff, Yaffa Fuchs and Yoni Panitch. There are 3 levels of kiddushes presently: $180 Standard Kiddush Assorted pastries, vegetable platters, hummus or other dip, candies and snacks with an abundance of cold water bottles. $360 Intermediate Kiddush A step up from our Basic Kiddush, this kiddush includes all of the elements of a Standard Kiddush plus your choice of either Potato Kugel or Cholent, both served in individual portion sizes, along with your choice of one Salad. $540 Enhanced Kiddush This sponsorship level includes all of the elements of a Standard Kiddush plus Potato Kugel and Cholent and choice of 2 salads.
We are looking for "Kiddush Krew" teams - groups of 4-5 people to prepare and serve kiddush approximately once a month. For example, a crew could be, but not limited to, Sisterhood, NCSY, Men’s Softball Team, Executive Committee, Youth, Jamaica Drive families, Hashkama or Sephardic Minyan, Middle Schoolers, Fundraising Committee, Knollwood, Estates, Forrest Park, apartments. Explore your inner chef and sign up as part of the Kiddush Krew as an individual or gather a team for kiddush prep or sponsor a kiddush. Prep, with a team of 4, takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour either on Shabbat or Thursday night. You can coordinate with your team.
At all of our family simchas, “הִנֵּה מַה טוֹב וּמַה נָּעִים שֶׁבֶת אָחִים גַּם יַחַד” was written and placed prominently at the entrance. Not only did I hate doing seating charts, but I felt very strongly that it is great to come together as a community, meet new friends and re-connect with old. Make new friends or work closely with ones you have to enhance our kiddushes and also our community. As a reminder, you do NOT need to be on the Board to be involved.
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.
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.
Mazel tov to Elyse & Aaron Greenberg, Helen and Herman Greenberg and family on Dovid's Bar Mitzvah Mazel tov to Miriam & David Waldbaum on the birth and Bris of their son
Thank you to Adam and Flo Shulman for sponsoring kiddush this week in memory of Adam's mother's yahrzeit, Linda Shulman, Leah Bat Ephraim. Thanks to Chemmie Sokolic, Bob Moskowitz, Avi Rynderman, Debbie Fineberg, Gavriel Sokolic, and BZ Sokolic for helping to remove and put the schach away.
Thank you to Adam Shulman, Avi Rynderman, Baila Silverman, Seth Cohen, Chemmie Sokolic, Bob Belfer, Debbie Fineberg, Donna Moskowitz, Hector from OPS and Sam Tilonsky for providing security this past Shabbos.
______________________________________________________ SOI Committees 2021-2022 MCAT Chemmie Sokolic chemsok@aol.com Chesed Karen Cohen karen.e.cohen@gmail.com Bikur Cholim Janet 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 Kitchen Dan Malamud daniel@furn1.com 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 Welcome Aliza Chaitoff alizachaitoff@gmail.com
Volunteers are needed. You do not need to be a Board member to be involved.
Why employ individuals with special needs? Why not? The JFCS Special Needs Supported Employment program offers support and training to help clients with developmental disabilities meet the challenges of the workplace as they strive to achieve their fullest potential. JFCS staff members use a hands-on, highly individualized approach to advance the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout the workforce. You can join the ranks of more than 120 employers in South Jersey that provide opportunities for adults with special needs through the JFCS Supported Employment program. You'll be in great company! To find out how your business can bring promise and possibility to potential new employees, please contact Karen Marks, Supported Employment Manager, at 856-424-1333 or kmarks@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 David Partnow - David Avram ben Tilla Razel Marvin Korff - Moshe ben Bessie Elyse Greenberg - Elisheva Miriam bas Dovah
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
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
Kiddush will be outdoors for greater inclusivity. In the event of inclement weather, kiddush is allowed indoors, though all unvaccinated attendees must remain masked - If a sponsor specifically would like an indoor kiddush, weather permitting an outdoor option should be made available so all congregants can partake
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.
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
Congregation Sons of Israel 720 Cooper Landing Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
