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 Events
Kiddush sponsored by Duke McCarthy: All glory, honor & praises to Hashem in heaven above!! The only G-d of Israel & the whole world!! Shabbat Shalom!
Kiddush Cake: Sponsored in honor of Devora Delman, Meital Lindenberg, Alise Panitch, Ilana Weiss, and Chani Wiesman upon completing the Nach Yomi cycle.
Donuts & Discussion 6th-8th graders: Meet during haftorah and the Rabbi's speech . Approximately 10:30-11 - Saturday, January 15 10:30am-11:00am
50 Miles for 50 Years Challenge - ongoing through Lag BaOmer. Any questions, email Hildy at hberlin610@gmail.com.
A Deep Look at Sefer Bereishit with Rabbi Michael Davies: Mondays at 8pm, next class on January 17. In kiddush room at SOI or on ZOOM www.zoom.us/j/88211049415 Meeting ID: 882 1104 9415
Shabbat, January 15: Beshalach (Shevat 13) 8:00am 8AM Minyan - Kiddush Room 8:30am Sephardic Minyan - Politz Beit Medrash 9:00am Main Minyan - Sanctuary 9:45am Latest Shema 10:00am Groups K-2nd Jr. Congregation 3rd-5th 10:30am Tot Shabbat Cancelled for this week 10:30am Donuts & Discussion 6th-8th graders 11:30am Kiddush 4:30pm Mincha 4:55pm Rabbi's Parsha Shiur 5:30pm Maariv 5:44pm Havdalah
Sunday, January 16 (Shevat 14) 7:00am Shacharit 8:00am Shacharit 10:00am Youth Tu B'Shevat Mitzvah Day 11:30am Middle School Tu B'Shevat Event 4:50pm 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 by Rabbi Shraga Simmons entitled 'The Narrow Place', which speaks about the significance of taking the next step forward.
Parshat Beshalach tells how the Jewish people have left Egypt and are heading out into the desert, when suddenly they find Pharaoh and his troops chasing after them. The Jews become frightened, and declare: "We'd rather be slaves in Egypt!" This is a shocking statement, given that the Jewish people had endured for 210 years of back-breaking labor and slavery. How could that situation possibly be preferable to the freedom they now enjoyed?
The answer is that slavery has one great advantage: Comfort. In Egypt, the Jews were provided with all their basic needs, like food and shelter, and they didn't have to make any decisions about how to spend their day or what to accomplish.
It's interesting that in Hebrew, the word for Egypt - "Mitzrayim" - is similar to "Maitzar" which means a narrow place. On one level, the Jews preferred a confined environment, rather than the broad responsibility that accompanies freedom. Sometimes it's the smallest box which makes us feel the most secure.
[...] Ultimately, it's that "comfort" that we have to fight against - or we'll never move forward in life. [...] In this parsha, the Sea finally splits, and the Jews walk through to freedom. At which point they break out in joyous celebration - not just because they'd beaten the Egyptians, but even more, because they'd conquered their own paralyzing fear. Have a Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Davies Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org
Being away this past week helped to rejuvenate me on so many levels. I was able to spend quality time with my mother. We held hands, reminisced, and smiled a lot. She savored her chocolates and chopped liver, but not at the same time. We had quality, much needed, mommy-daughter time. I also had quality time with my husband, my sister and my son Meir. We walked and explored the beaches, accumulating over 36 miles of walking. I even ice skated in sunny Florida with my sister with Palm Trees in the background (haven’t done that in 45 years). We took tons of pictures, listened to great music, and some not so great, and achieved great memories. All in one week’s time.
It is amazing what you can accomplish when you want to. It is also great to be able to clear your mind and appreciate all you have.
Coming back to reality was not hard. We have an amazing community. Through our Cherry Hill Cares WhatsApp group, Shabbat meals continue to be provided to cheer people up suffering with various illnesses in our community. Baruch HaShem we have 3 upcoming sponsored kiddushes. I sent out one email and had 2 people immediately volunteer to help cook chulent. We have two nights a week of inspiring Torah learning with Rabbi Davies – “A Deep Look at Sefer Bereishit” on Monday evenings and “Ten Paths to G-d” on Wednesdays. There is the Thursday night D’var Torah given by various volunteers. Youth programming is through the roof with Tu B’Shevat Mitzvah Day, Middle School Ice Skating, SIP trips and programming, and Donuts and Discussions to name a few. A family Musical Glow Havdallah and Moroccan Cooking demonstration are upcoming.
I’d like to take a moment to discuss Kitchen Crews. Our shul runs by volunteers. For many years kiddushes were underwritten by Sisterhood. Recently, people asked for a change, so kiddushes are now run by shul volunteers – some sisterhood members, board members, shul members and everday people. We had a group making kugels that had so much fun, they also requested to prepare some desserts. I think the wine helped. We are looking to form 8 groups of 4 that would rotate and volunteer once every 2 months to set up, serve and clean up kiddush. Please sign up here. If you have a group of 4 you’d like to keep together, please submit them to Flo Shulman, Florence.shulman@gmail.com,or me. We have 4-6 volunteer chulent makers but can always use more, and lots of sponsored kiddushes coming up. Volunteer, meet new people and help SOI be better than it already is.
Being away is great, but so is being a part of this amazing community. Thanks for being SOI.
The Philadelphia Mint's 1st trial strike of Eisenhower dollar happened in January 1971
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.
Welcome New Members Rabbi Hirsh and Talia Hollander Ari and Jillian Daniels Evan Fishman
Mazel tov to Miriam and Rabbi Dr. Shalom Shapiro on the birth of a baby boy and to proud grandparents Marsha & Sol Sadres and Dori Shapiro. Mazel tov to Devora Delman, Meital Lindenberg, Alise Panitch, Ilana Weiss, and Chani Wiesman for completing Nach Yomi.
Thank you to the Littwin family for sponsoring a week of learning - Parnas HaShavua, for a Refuah Sheleimah for the community.
We regret to inform you of the passing of Yevgeniy Zakharin, beloved father of Veniamin Zakharin. Shiva calls will be limited to the phone due to COVID concerns. You can reach Veniamin at 8564827596 (home) or 8564306371 (cell).
Thank you to Bill Jungreis and Debbie Fineberg for manning the doors for the early minyan. Thank you to Baila Silverman, Avi Rynderman, Jeff Liss, Chemmie Sokolic, Mike from OPS and Sam Tilonsky for also providing security this 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 Refael Shimon ben Chanina 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
Please support the JFCS Community Food Drive on January 17
As part of Community Mitzvah Days 2022, Samost Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) will be holding a “Drop & Go” Food Drive on Monday, January 17 from 10am to 1pm. Although the agency’s Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantries are the region’s only Kosher food pantries, they proudly help to nourish individuals of every faith, age, and background. As the pandemic continues, more South Jersey residents are in need of food support. The agency provided food support to 8,093 people last year…and the calls for help continue every day. On Monday, January 17, community members are encouraged to bring kosher, non-perishable food items, household products, and personal care items to the new JFCS Rhona Fischer Family Assistance Building / Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantry, located at 6 East Miami Avenue in Cherry Hill. Most-needed donations include shelf-stable milk, hot and cold cereal, pancake mix, canned tomato products, canned fish, peanut butter, jelly, rice, pasta, soups, snacks, baby food, baby formula, paper towels, toilet paper, diapers, and baby formula. For more information, click HERE or contact Donna Broecker at (856) 818-3604
Thank you to the Littwins for dedicating a week of learning - Parnas HaShavua, for a Refuah Sheleimah for the community.
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
