IMPORTANT COVID UPDATES FOR THIS SHABBAT We are well on the road to recovery from the recent outbreak of COVID in our community. We wish a refuah sheleimah to all those families affected. Let's all keep them in our Tefillot and do what we can to support them.
Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv on Friday night and Mincha/Maariv on Shabbat afternoon will be in the main sanctuary. Due to the cold weather, we have moved the outdoor minyan to 8:30am, indoor and Sephardic minyanim will meet at the usual times.
Anyone davening inside will be required to wear a mask at all times.
If you have been instructed to quarantine or are feeling sick in any way, please stay home.
We encourage anyone at high risk for infection or complications to exercise additional precaution during this local uptick in COVID cases.
Rabbi Michael Davies, Donna Moskowitz, and the Covid Task Force
Announcements & Upcoming Events
The COVID Vaccine & Our Children: Sunday, December 12 8:15pm-9:30pm https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82598784251?pwd=WWxZSFFLWWhVZXNsTDBVdDN3TnJkdz09 Meeting ID: 825 9878 4251 Passcode: 740501 Kugel Making/Kiddush Prep: Wednesday, December 15, 9am
Shabbat, December 11: Vayigash (Tevet 7) 8:30am Main Minyan - Outdoors (weather permitting) 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Minyan - Indoors 9:32am Latest Shema 10:00am Groups K-2nd Jr. Congregation 3rd-5th 10:30am Tot Shabbat 11:30am Kiddush sponsored by the Greenberg Family in honor of Dovid's Bar Mitzvah 4:05pm Mincha 4:30pm Rabbi's Parsha Shiur 5:05pm Maariv 5:20pm Havdalah
Sunday, December 12 (Tevet 8) 7:00am Shacharit 8:00am Shacharit 4:20pm Mincha/Maariv 8:15pm The COVID Vaccine & Our Children
Tuesday, December 14 (Tevet 10) - Asarah B'Tevet/Fast of Tevet 5:47am Fast Begins 6:30am Shacharit 4:05pm Mincha/Maariv 5:13pm Fast Ends
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 by Rabbi Stephen Baars entitled 'Life or Existence?', which speaks about what it means to truly live life.
In this week's Torah portion, Pharaoh meets Joseph's father, Jacob, and asks: "How many are the days of your life?" (Genesis 47:8) Jacob tells him: "...130 years..." (Genesis 47:9) Maybe you don't find Pharaoh's question strange, but consider this: As far as Pharaoh was concerned, Joseph was the wisest man in the world (Genesis 41:39). If you were going to meet the wisest man in the world's father, would you ask him how old he was? […]
Pharaoh asked Jacob how old he was because Jacob didn't look the part. Of course Pharaoh had his meaningful questions prepared, but when he saw Jacob enter with such life, such vitality, he couldn't help himself but ask the question.
Pharaoh is not really interested in Jacob's linear age. Rather, upon seeing Jacob, Pharaoh wonders: Where is the shell of a man that one of your great age typically becomes? Pharaoh can see that Jacob is old, yet he bears none of the marks of a life of mere existence. Instead, Jacob exudes the appearance of a life that was fully lived. So Pharaoh asks: "How many days have you actually experienced living," as opposed to merely existing.
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch astutely explains:
"When one counts by years, one does not reckon any more the days. It is only with a few select people that each day is full of importance and is considered by them as having a special meaning. A really true human being does not live years but days." "Similarly in the great psalm of Moses, in which the whole history of the world passes by as in a dream, it says at the end: 'If even a thousand years of world history mean no more than one minute, then a day means nothing.... Teach us to count our days!'" "Thus Pharaoh, too, says here: 'How many are the days of your life?' In these words, he reveals the deep impression which the whole appearance and dignified behavior of Jacob made on him."
[…] To experience a meaningful life, it must be filled with meaningful days. A great vacation now and again just won't cut it. Smiling for the camera and laughing at the right jokes doesn't make for a life. Don't wait till it's obvious; do something meaningful today. Have a Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Davies Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org
“Pikuach nefesh (פקוח נפש) is Hebrew for “saving a life.” It is the concept that saving a human life is more important than any mitzvot. It is the belief in the sanctity of life. It is the principle in Jewish law that the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious rule.”
Saving and preserving life. When I hear this, two concepts at shul come to mind…COVID Precautions and our Security Committee.
We have had a very committed COVID Task Force consisting of Oze Henig, Paul Berlin, Ken Panitch and Debbie Fineberg. They have had to work and discuss various concerns and have had to make some unpopular suggestions trying to keep our membership as safe as possible without the use of a manual or previous experiences to guide them. Masks or no masks, social distancing, kiddushes inside or out, have been valid concerns. I am very grateful to the committee for taking the responsibility of making these tough decisions for the safety of everyone at SOI.
Security is another aspect of the shul not everyone is aware of. Each week, along with the volunteer Security Greeters, we hire an armed guard to deter or engage potential threats. Security Greeters monitor our cameras, do walk arounds of the premises, keep an eye on our entrances and exits and greet and vet people coming into our building. They are our first line of defense and eyes around the entire shul inside and out. In addition, the Security Committee has acquired grants from the Office of Homeland Security to upgrade our security systems with new cameras, bullet resistant doors, bollards, monitors, panic buttons, and walkie talkies. There are many ways you can help support the Security of our shul.
1. Become a Security Greeter. There are half hour shifts every Shabbat. Contact Sam Tilonsky, Security Chairperson, at drsamod@gmail.com. Training is provided. 2. See Something, Say Something – be observant of your surroundings and if you see something suspicious or out of the ordinary report it to Sam, our Security Guard, Mike, or anyone on the committee. 3. Become part of the Security Committee 4. Donate a week of Security for $180
In the 1971 Army-Navy game, in front of a crowd of 97,047 at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, Stuvek was named the Chevrolet MVP of the game by ABC television, though Army came away with a 24-23 victory. It was the first one-point game played by the academies in the series’ 72 meetings.
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.
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.
Thank you to Avi Rynderman, Baila Silverman, Debbie Fineberg, Chemmie Sokolic, Jeff Liss and Sam Tilonsky for performing security duty on Shabbos.
Thank you to all the participants of the Annual Chulent Cook-Off: Chulent #1 - Heshy Chaitoff Chulent #2- Jenni Provda Chulent #3- Bob Moskowitz Chulent #4 Tamar Wiener Chulent #5 Ilana Weiss and the Spice Girls Chulent #6 Anna Schwartz Chulent #7 Rabbi Michael and Ora Davies Chulent #8 Yoni Panitch
Thank you to all those who helped set up, clean up and serve the chulents and kiddush!
A special thank you to Machla Shaffer for sewing the Golden Apron, to Nachum Glasser, our mashgiach, to Donna Moskowitz for all of her behind the scenes help and to event organizers Ora Davies and Tamar Wiener.
Thank you to all who donated the canned goods and to Gerald & Ilana Mindel and family for delivering the cans to the Betsy & Peter Fisher Food Bank
Volunteer for a 30 minute shift helping to protect our congregation. Contact Sam Tilonsky at drsamod@gmail.com to volunteer or more information.
______________________________________________________ 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.
Mr. Finklestein L'Chaim Bottle Club Thank you to Adam & Flo Shulman for your donations
JFCS Holding Allergy-Friendly Food Drive on December 16 Access to safe food is crucial in preventing life-threatening allergic reactions for people living with food allergies. For those who rely on food assistance programs, it can be especially challenging to find safe food choices. Many allergy-friendly foods cost much more than their traditional counterparts. For instance, a jar of peanut butter costs around $1.82 while a jar of sunflower seed spread can cost as much as $7.49. JFCS is committed to providing healthy food for individuals in need—including those with food allergies and special dietary needs. The agency will be hosting an Allergy-Friendly Food Drive on Thursday, December 16 from 10am – 12pm at the Rhona Fischer Family Assistance Building / Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantry (6 East Miami Avenue in Cherry Hill). Your donation of allergy-friendly foods such as gluten-free flour, bread, and pasta, nut-free spreads or butters, egg substitutes, and dairy-free milk will help JFCS provide access to safe and healthy foods for community members in need. For more information, please contact Lisa Rosenberg at 856-424-1333 or lrosenberg@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 Elyse Greenberg - Elisheva Miriam bas Dovah Hillel Yochanan ben Bracha Moshe ben Leah Gittel 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) Kiddush (starting at $180) https://www.soicherryhill.org/sponsor
On behalf of the Eruv, we are excited to announce that the Eruv is raising funds to cover costs for repairs, expansions, tree trimming, inviting a Posek to come, and more. This is the first fundraiser for the new communal eruv organization, and everyone should make a contribution. Most of our families use the Eruv every shabbos especially during the pandemic, and this is a way to show our appreciation for the eruv checkers and all who are involved with the Eruv. Eruv Checkers are Sid Goldberg, Avi Lifschitz, Dr. Simcha Moshe Gerzoff, Heshy Chaitoff, and R’ Baruch Gore. If you have any questions about the Eruv, please speak to Moshe Moskowitz, Rabbi Davies, or any of the Eruv checkers. Go to this website to make your contribution: https://thechesedfund.com/chwesteruv/startingcampaign/teams/sonsofisrael
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. - 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.
UPCOMING/ONGOING EVENTS & PROGRAMS
YOUTH & TEENS
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
