COVID UPDATES FOR THIS SHABBAT Reminder: Masks are required in the building for Shabbat for everyone at ALL minyanim. Out of concern for fellow Shul attendees, if you are feeling sick we ask that you please refrain from attending. Thank you. Rabbi Michael Davies, Donna Moskowitz, and the Covid Task Force
Announcements & Upcoming EventsA Deep Look at Sefer Bereishit with Rabbi Davies: Mondays, beginning January 10 at 8:00pm In person & on Zoom www.zoom.us/j/88211049415 Meeting ID: 882 1104 9415
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 Etiel Goldwicht entitled 'Questions Worth Asking', which speaks about the importance of inquiry in Jewish tradition.
[T]he entire seder night [on which we recount many of the elements in this week's Torah portion,] is built on the dialogue of questions and answers between parents, grandparents and their children. This way of conducting the seder is not just a cutting-edge didactical approach that stood the test of time, rather it is a fundamental principle as to what freedom is all about.
A slave is not allowed to ask questions. A challenging boss may manipulate his workers, “I don’t pay you to ask questions.” Being free is having the ability to ask questions, to inquire and even to protest. [...]
Israel Issac Rabi was an American physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1944 for his discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance, and I think he put it best. He was once asked, ''Why did you become a scientist, rather than a doctor or lawyer or businessman, similar to the other immigrant kids in your neighborhood?'' Dr. Rabi's answer, as reported by Donald Sheff in the New York Times on January 19, 1988, just a few days after his passing, was profound; ''My mother made me a scientist without ever intending it. Every other Jewish mother in Brooklyn would ask her child after school: 'So? Did you learn anything today?' But not my mother. She always asked me a different question. 'Izzy,' she would say, “did you ask a good question today?' That difference – asking good questions – made me become a scientist!''
Being free is synonymous with the ability to ask questions. In fact, Jewish education is built around asking questions. This is the Jewish way of learning that is encouraged today, and is fundamental to our growth in Judaism. We must encourage children [and ourselves] to ask questions, real questions, about meaning and purpose, about the world and ourselves. In doing so, we are eternally liberated as the Mishna (Pirkei Avot 6,2) teaches “For there is no free man but one that occupies himself with the study of the Torah.” Have a Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Davies Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org
Asking questions is not only critical for the younger members of our community, but it is equally as important for us as adults. Imagine if we settled only for the answers we received for questions we asked when we were in grade school, or worse never had the chance to ask those questions at all. I invite you to have the opportunity to ask your questions on the foundational text of our tradition, the first book of the Torah, in our upcoming educational series 'A Deep Look at Sefer Bereishit', beginning this coming Monday, January 10th, at 8pm. I encourage you to join us either in person in the SOI Kiddush Room (masks required) or virtually on Zoom (Zoom Link Here). I look forward to studying together with you.
We ended our discussion for our first class on the Ten Paths to G-d with the following thought project, which I'd like to share with you (a review for those who attended). In this unit we have explored the concept of the Jewish people having a “destiny and vocation” to be “God’s ambassadors on earth,” and to “build a society like no other” based on the values found in the Torah, and described in the text we studied. As discussed, we all play a role in society, something to think about:
Thought Project: Your job is to create a proposal to improve your society by designing three initiatives that will improve your local community based on the values that Rabbi Sacks says our wider society should be built on. 1. Given the list of the values found in Rabbi Sacks' closing remarks on the unit [(1)the importance of love and loyalty; (2) marriage and the sacred bonds between husband and wife, parent and child; (3) education and the life of the mind; (4) justice, equity and the rule of law; (5) compassion, charity and human dignity; (6) the bonds of belonging and community; (7) memory, history and imperishable hope.], describe where these values are already found in our community. This can be both the local Jewish community and the wider non-Jewish community. 2. Choose three of the values. Write a short proposal based on each value, to create a program in the local community that will improve society. I'd love to hear what you come up with.
Looking forward to continuing our journey with Unit 2 next Wednesday.
Baruch HaShem, we have had so many new families move into our community this year and become a part of the SOI family. Moving here during COVID and COVID restrictions encumbers friendships and inhibits feelings of belonging. When I moved into this community with 2 small children many, many years ago, we would meet people at the playground, through Shabbat meals and school, at Shabbat groups, Spaghetti dinners, at Weight Watchers, Girl Scouts and through other people. Volunteering to run an after-school program and being involved with the PTG put me in touch with many other parents.
Making that one close friendship helps open your world to many more friends and friendships. At shul, by way of my daughter’s new schoolmate, I made my first true friend in Cherry Hill who then guided me on my journey through Cherry Hill and particularly Sons of Israel. Her own children were each one year older than mine, but a beautiful friendship blossomed between our children and with each other. Nowadays, with many activities being on ZOOM, it is more difficult to foster those sorts of relationships and to feel a part of the community.
Joining various committees and participating in shul activities is a great way to build new strong bonds. There is a vast array of activities from programming for all ages, kitchen/kiddush help, special timely events such as the GALA on May 23rd or Mishloach Manot, to name a few. Please check out our website for a full list of committees and their chairperson’s information and for all upcoming events. If you are interested in becoming an active member on the SOI Board of Directors, please let me know.
I look forward to getting to know all of the new families and continue my relationships with the older regime. Restricting Shabbat guests currently puts a severe bump in the road, but as it is said, “Hashem puts bumps in the road to keep us from falling asleep at the wheel.” Meeting people at shul and especially during kiddush is the next best thing. As many people say, the best part of our community, besides lower housing prices, is there are no fences around the building of relationships. Whether you are FFB, new to Orthodoxy, young, older, male, female, converted, divorced, widowed, newly weds and about to be weds, you are welcome at Sons of Israel.
Thank You We are pleased to announce that SOI has ordered 6 large air purifiers with HEPA filters. These portable units will be set up in the social hall and kiddush room in order to add an additional layer of protection against Covid and other airborne pathogens. The units have filters capable of trapping viral particles and when run simultaneously, can filter the air in the rooms roughly 3 times every hour.
Air filtration alone will not prevent the spread of a virus, but we are excited to add this additional layer of protection to help make indoor activities at SOI safer. A tremendous thank you to those who have donated to make this purchase possible and we look forward to putting them to good use as soon as they arrive.
Thank you to Dr. Oze Henig for all your hours spent on reseaching these filtration units and implementing the campaign to order them for SOI.
SPONSORS Gail & Bob Belfer Rivka & Robert Kieserman Brenda & Jon Bender Rachel & Eric Klein Chani Wiesman & Yoni Berliant Marcy & Michael Partnow Sharon & Harvey Chaitoff Debbie & Hillel Pester Devora & Jonathan Delman David & Heelene Raush Neely & Elon Elisha Baila Silverman & Avi Rynderman Evan Fishman Eve Narrows & Sam Tilonsky Maetal & Oze Henig Shari & Charles Weg Lynn & Bill Jungreis Marcia & Bill Heine
If you would like to add your contribution to this effort, please click below.
NASA’s Apollo 14 mission to the Moon was launched on January 31st. This was the third successful manned mission to the Moon and the crew consisted of Commander Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa (Command Module Pilot), and Edgar Mitchell (Lunar Module Pilot). There were some issues with docking the modules, that were overcome after several attempts. Once they arrived on the Moon, Shepard became the fifth person to walk on the Moon and the first to try golfing on the surface after he attached a golf club head onto a lunar tool and attempted a few swings. The crew made it safely back to Earth on February 9th after nine days and brought back over 90 pounds of lunar rocks and samples to be examined.
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 Malka Moskowitz, Alise Panitch, Ora Davies, Chana Davies, and Meira Weiss for helping out with kiddush this past week.
Thank you to Bob Moskowitz for helping to take down the tents before our "snow storm".
Thank you to the Becks for sponsoring the first class in the Ten Paths to G-d Series dedicated li'ilui nishmas Dovid Yosef ben Yaakov, Rivka Sara's father whose first yahrtzeit is this coming shabbos.
Thank you to Bill Jungreis, Steve Herzberg, Jeff Liss, Debbie Fineberg, Mike from OPS and Sam Tilonsky for providing security this past Shabbos. Volunteer for a 30 minute shift helping to protect our congregation. Contact Sam Tilonsky at drsamod@gmail.com to volunteer or more information.
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 Hillel Yochanan ben Bracha Robert Shapiro - Doniel-Avraham ben Hannah Aaron Moshe ben Ruth 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
JFCS to offer Grief Support Group this winter The loss of a spouse or longtime partner is one of the most painful experiences many people will endure. Following the death of a loved one, each individual journeys through grief, mourning, and adjustment in their own way—but no should go through the process alone. Jewish Family & Children’s Service is committed to helping bereaved individuals begin to heal and will be offering a new session of its Grief Support Group, beginning on Tuesday, January 18. Intended for individuals aged 60 and older who are mourning the death of a spouse or partner in the past twelve months, this group provides a safe and supportive space for participants to share a myriad of emotions and discuss ways of integrating the loss as they begin to rebuild their lives. Advance registration is required by contacting Reva Farenback-Brateman at (856) 424-1333, ext. 1184 or rfbrateman@jfedsnj.org.
There are many ways to support our Shul: (check out our website for more oportunities) Yartzeit Plaque ($400) Shabbat Security ($180) Siddur for the sanctuary ($50) Chumash for the sanctuary ($75) Newslink ($36) Welcome Basket ($18) Bottle Club ($36) Kiddush (starting at $180) https://www.soicherryhill.org/sponsor
COVID UPDATE - Mask Protocols - All vaccinated and unvaccinated adults and children must wear masks properly indoors at all times on Shabbat (except while eating at Kiddush). - Everyone on the bima must wear a mask except for vaccinated baalei tfillah and baalei kriya in the main minyan. - It is recommended that high risk individuals remain masked indoors at all times for their protection - Masks and social distancing are required at all times in the 8AM Shabbat 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 SOI EVENTS & PROGRAMS
Now that we’re already into the first week of 2022, time to get moving toward that 50 mile goal! Start the new year off right by adding some exercise to your week. Yes it's cold out, so bundle up and embrace the crisp air ~ you won't regret it and your body will thank you for it! Here are log sheets to record your progress. Feel free to print and stick on you fridge. If you have any questions, email Hildy at hberlin610@gmail.com
85 more needed SOI is collecting 250 tissue packets for the Chemo Comfort Bags. Please bring your donation to the shul office. Thank You
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 to Friday
Congregation Sons of Israel 720 Cooper Landing Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
