COVID UPDATES FOR THIS SHABBAT The 9AM Main Sanctuary Minyan and minyanim during the rest of Shabbos and throughout the week will be “mask optional”. For the time being, the 8 AM Minyan will remain “fully masked” for all participants. For the time being, the indoor children’s groups will remain “fully masked”.
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
Kiddush: Sponsored by TL and Sabra Weinberg in celebration of Gila Davis and Mordecai Krumbein's engagement and in loving memory of Esther Breindel Bat Yoseph and Hertzl Ben Meir Eliyahu (great grandmother and great grandfather to Gabe, Liana and Ariella Weinberg) - Saturday, February 26
Backyard Bonfire Smores and Shmooze: Join your friends for a bonfire and smores with Rabbi Davies in the Provdas Backyard. Open to all 6th-8th Graders - Saturday, February 26 8:00pm-9:30pm
Erev Shabbat, February 25 (Adar I 24) 6:45am Shacharit 5:29pm Candle Lighting 5:30pm Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv
Shabbat, February 26: Shabbat Mevarchim, Parshat Shekalim, Vayakhel (Adar I 25) 8:00am 8AM Minyan 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Minyan 9:26am Latest Shema 10:00am Groups K-2nd Jr. Congregation 3rd-5th 10:30am Tot Shabbat 11:30am Kiddush sponsored by TL and Sabra Weinberg 5:20pm Mincha 5:45pm Rabbi's Parsha Shiur 6:15pm Maariv 6:29pm Havdalah 8:00pm Backyard Bonfire Smores and Shmooze
Sunday, February 27 (Adar I 26) 7:00am Shacharit 8:00am Shacharit 5:35pm Mincha/Maariv 8:00pm Advanced Gemara Shiur 8:00pm CSS Entry Point
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 Shoshanna Dresner entitled 'Sensitivity is Never Superfluous', which speaks of the importance of recognizing people's efforts in any case.
The people respond to Moses' request to donate the materials for the Tabernacle with great enthusiasm. When Moses realized that they were receiving an abundance of material, he puts forward a request. "No man or woman shall do any more work for the offering of the Sanctuary" (Shemos 36:6).
If they had too many materials, why didn’t Moses instruct the people not to bring any more items? Why does he just request that no more work is done?
[Rabbi Ovadia] Sforno explains that this request highlights Moses' sensitivity to the people’s feelings. Some people had already worked on completing something, and had they been told not to bring what they had already prepared, they would have been very disappointed. Moses recognized this and carefully worded his request so that those people would not be caused any anguish.
What a lesson in sensitivity! It would have been so easy for Moses to just see what was and wasn’t needed, and to command the people accordingly. [...] This could apply in work environment when something is completed and then proves to be superfluous, but also can apply to people giving ideas that one has already thought of, or news that one has already heard of.
A story is told of Rabbi Y[itzchak] E[lchonon] Spector when one after the other people came to inform him of good news. Rabbi Spector listened politely and thanked each one as if they were the first, allowing each one the pleasure of informing him! [...]
Elvis had it right, “Thank you, Thank you very much.” Very simple words, but very powerful. People do things for our shul because of their love for SOI and helping out their community. Saying “thank you” and being appreciated is essential to their success and continued participation.
Every week we are blessed to have a group of dedicated volunteers leining, organizing and leading our davening. They fill our sanctuary with increased kavanah. We will be having a special Rosh Chodesh Kiddush in their honor on March 5th. Everyone is encouraged to participate at any level by contributing to this special kiddush and acknowledging these people’s weekly efforts and dedication to our shul. We will have a flyer with everyone’s name who donated at the kiddush. Donate Here
In the era of the Temple, there were special additional sacrifices that were offered on Rosh Chodesh as a means of attaining atonement for the sins of the month. These offerings generated joy across the nation. Today, though we no longer offer sacrifices in the Temple, we still mark Rosh Chodesh as a time of atonement and joy. In the month of Adar, we have an opportunity to connect with simple joy, to rejoice in just being alive. The rule is that we increase joy, never decrease, so being able to celebrate Adar II is considered to be a very happy month and year.
With the celebration of Adar II, we turn to Purim celebrations. There is so much to look forward to. Everyone should have received an email about the SOI Misloach Manot Campaign. We encourage everyone to participate in this project and to make a statement of strength, resilience, and unity in our Jubilee Year. By pushing "Select all" for the flat price of $360 you will be contributing to everyone in the community. You can continue to select individual names as in past years if you would prefer. The hard deadline for all submissions is March 9th.
Although there is no communal Purim Seudah, there is plenty of programming to help celebrate the double joy of the month. There are 3 separate youth programs:
Saturday, March 12th Purim Themed Musical Havdallah
Thursday, March 17th Kids Purim Pirate Show & Treasure Hunt
Sunday, March 20th Bnei Akiva Purim Carnival
See the flyers below for further information. There is also a Purim canned food drive ongoing. A box is in front of the office for all donations. Megillah reading schedule and choices will be sent out shortly.
February 17th was Random Acts of Kindness Day. Let’s make every day special by remembering to appreciate people, by saying thank you and being kind every day.
Before the days of cloud storage, thumb drives and even CDs, floppy disks were the best solution for storing electronic data. Unsurprisingly, IBM was at the forefront of this. A team of engineers began developing this early method of data storage in 1967, but it wasn’t until 1971 that IBM put the floppy disks on the market.
You are invited to participated in our 2022 Mishloach Manot Project. We encourage everyone to "Select all" for the flat price of $360 to make a statement of strength and resilience of our community . Of course, you can continue to select individual names as in past years if you would prefer. Click the the link below for a full explanation of options and pricing.
You can also give your Matanot L'Evyonim through this webpage.
If you have questions contact ShalachManot.CherryHill@gmail.com and a member of the committee will be in touch with you shortly.
Do you have a business or service you’d like to advertise to our Cherry Hill community and beyond? Would you like to get more business and benefit SOI at the same time? Now you can! SOI now has a Products and Services page on our website where, for a small donation, people can post a business card advertising their products or services. As more business cards are added, cards will be displayed by category – the more people advertise, the more people will look, and the more business will flow. Check out https://www.soicherryhill.org/local-products-services for more info.
Mazel Tov to Flo & Adam Shulman & their entire family on the birth of a baby boy.
Shalom Zachar will be
at the home of Mayer & Vicki Miltz 417 Cherry Hill Blvd. beginning at 8:30pm on Friday night, February 25th Adults only please
Thank you to all our kitchen help last week: Aliza Sadiky, Sarah Sadiky, Yoni Sadiky, Sandy Crass, Tamara Moskowitz, Brian Kraus
Thank you to Sam Tilonsky for helping to keep our shul safe by updating our equipment through the Homeland Security Grant.
Thank you to Avi Rynderman, Harvey Chaitoff, Jeff Liss, Oriel Weinberg, Debbie Pester, Mike from OPS and Sam Tilonsky for providing security on Shabbos.
Security, It’s Everyone’s Responsibility
On this Sunday night, February 27th, your security committee is sponsoring an important one-hour webinar from CSS (Community Security Service) entitled Entry Point for the ENTIRE congregation. This one-hour virtual training deals with the basics of security and how to help protect your community.
Sign up today for this vital and informative webinar. It’s your shul, help protect it! Security Awareness, Recognizing Suspicious Activity and How to Contribute to Your Commuity. Sunday, February 27 8:00pm-9:00pm Questions: Contact Sam Tilonsky (drsamod@gmail.com)
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 Robert Shapiro - Doniel-Avraham ben Hannah Aaron Moshe ben Ruth Refael Shimon ben Chanina Yosef Simcha Chaim Ben Sarah Chana Gaela bas Pinina Jackie Nussbaum - Eta Ruchmam bas Chaya Golda
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
Introducing the JFCS Disability Services Department
The JFCS Special Needs Department has officially changed its name to the Disability Services Department. This small but significant change is aligned with current best practices and better reflects the myriad of services and programs the agency offers to clients with developmental disabilities. We remain committed to providing support, strategies, and solutions that strengthen our clients and their families, enhance their independence, and help them to build meaningful community connections. Our services are inclusive of people with a wide range of strengths and needs and include Supported Employment, the Soups and Sweets Culinary Training Program, Social and Recreational Programs, an Enrichment Day Program, and the Weinberg Commons Residential Program. To learn more about all we have to offer, visit jfcssnj.org/disability-services..
With the encouraging news of dropping numbers of Covid cases in our area, we are taking small steps to relax our masking requirements. If numbers continue to fall, we hope to further relax these masking requirements.
· The 9AM Main Sanctuary Minyan, as well as the other minyanim throughout Shabbos and the course of the week will be “mask optional”. · For the time being, the 8 AM Shabbos Minyan will remain “fully masked” for all participants. · For the time being, the indoor children’s groups will remain “fully masked”.
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.
It is 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 your fridge. If you have any questions, email Hildy at hberlin610@gmail.com
Plan to join your friends at the Katz JCC on Sunday, February 27, 1 pm, for a TASTE OF ABC, when four authors will speak about their newest books. We will hear about the early days of the Philadelphia Flyers and the Spectrum, a mid-life transition from Public Relations professional to becoming a Rabbi, a deep dive into the Shabbat prayers, and a look back at the last 30 years of Hollywood. For more information, please take a look at the JCC’s website at katzjcc.org/abcfest.
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.
https://www.kosherwine.com/?rfsn=5940204.12e2a2 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.
Shoprite Scrip Now Available SOI Office Monday-Friday 10-2 Yaeli Sokolic at ycsgraphix@gmail.com Flo Shulman at florence.shulman@gmail.com
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
