Sam Tilonsky is sponsoring the Newslink as a thank you to everyone for making his birthday so very special. Sponsoring kiddush in my honor was a huge surprise. I felt really cared about and extremely happy. Thanks for being the special people you are.
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.
Based on the recent lifting of the State Mandate and following the decisions of local schools, children’s groups will now be “mask optional”.
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
Shabbat, March 26: Shabbat Mevarchim, Parshat Parah, Shmini (Adar II 23) 8:00am 8AM Minyan 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Minyan 10:00am Latest Shema 10:00am Groups K-2nd Jr. Congregation 3rd-5th 10:30am Tot Shabbat 5:30pm Advanced Gemara Shiur *Note Date/Time Change* 6:50pm Mincha 7:15pm Rabbi's Parsha Shiur 7:45pm Maariv 7:59pm Havdalah
Sunday, March 27 (Adar II 24) 7:00am Shacharit 8:00am Shacharit 7:05pm 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 article by Rabbi Eli Scheller entitled 'Kind to All Kinds', which speaks to the nuanced Jewish approach to doing kindness with others.
Among the non-kosher birds [mentioned in this week's Parsha] is the chassidah - the stork. It is called chassidah because it displays kindness (chessed) toward others of its species by sharing food with them.
According to the Ramban, the reason why the non-kosher birds are not kosher is because of their cruel nature. If so, the chassidah should have been a kosher bird - after all, it bestows kindness upon its companions!
Man finds it easy to love his fellow man if they are similar. If he learns in my school, if he dresses like I do, then I love him and I'll try to assist him whenever the need arises. If he's not like me, then I have no business with him and have no interest in helping him.
However, the kosher form of chessed is to bestow kindness equally on all people, regardless of how similar they are to us. The chassidah acts kindly toward its companions, but only towards its companions. It does not act kindly towards anyone else. To Jews, that is not an admirable characteristic.
Download the Sale of Chametz Form here, or pick up a copy at the Shul (all forms must be given to Rabbi Davies no later than9:00am on Friday, April 15th)
Ma'ot Chittim Send donations to SOI and indicate "Ma'ot Chittim" or submit donation via shul cloud to the "Rabbi's Discretionary Fund", and indicate "Ma'ot Chittim". You may also give cash or check to Rabbi Davies. Please make your checks out to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund and earmark them for Ma'ot Chittim.
Pesach Seder If you are looking for a place for the Sedarim or are interested in hosting some addtional people at your table, please let Rabbi Davies or Ora know so that we can make sure everyone has a place to go.
QUESTIONS? Feel free to email Rabbi Davies – Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org or text or call 609-301-0131.
"Without our Traditions, our lives would be as shaky as ....as a Fiddler on the Roof" -Fiddle on the Roof :Tradition" Lyrics
According to The Free Dictionary, Traditions are “the handing down from generation to generation of the same customs/beliefs, especially by word of mouth”. Our lives are based on many traditions wherever we go – work, shul, home, school. Traditionally, every year before Pesach, when I was a child, I would go to the fish market on Castor Ave. in Philadelphia with my mom. She had pre-ordered 25 pounds of carp, 7 pounds of whitefish, 7 pounds of mullet and 4 ½ pounds of pike, chopped, along with the roe, fish heads and skins in a separate bag. Traditionally, my brother and sister would run from the chore and smell, even though we lit tons of candles. My grandmother would stand over us in our kitchen as we chopped the combined fish in wooden bowls with a red hand chopper, finally adding matzah meal, onions, eggs and salt, pepper and garlic. She would taste it along the way for consistency and spice – my first sushi experience. Food processors were forbidden. The fish was made into patties and cooked in a special pot with a special green patterned plate in the bottom to avoid sticking. It cooked for hours. Even though the rest of my family ran, I treasured this tradition as the start of Pesach, the bonding of generations and the tradition of my family. One year, I wrote down the recipe for posterity which then morphed into a family cookbook where I watched everyone’s processes for their specific specialty – blintzes, latkes, potato chip chicken, prochus, kugel, chopped liver, etc.
Our shul, Congregation Sons of Israel, is celebrating 50 years in Cherry Hill - Our Yovel or Jubilee. In Israel, the year of Yovel, or Jubilee occurs after seven shmitah years. A shmitah year occurs every seven years and in Israel, farmland must lay fallow and debts are released. After seven cycles of seven years, in the fiftieth year, there is a full agricultural and economic remission, and in addition all land contracts and all indentured servants (and shul presidents) are released.
Having 50 years in Cherry Hill, we have many beautiful traditions; our beautiful Kol Hanearim Tallit and aliyah for all the children, the Simchat Torah Auction, Community Sukkah Hop, Shaloch Manot gifts, Birthdays in the Park, etc. Our yearly dinner has traditionally been our major fundraiser and a time to honor many people in our community and shul. There have been dinner dances in our waaaay past and Chazzan Concerts. This year we are honoring our shul and its past leaders. Please save the date of May 23 for a fun, delicious and special Jubilee GALA.
Stephanie Kwolek (1923-2014) was a Polish-American chemist who is known for inventing Kevlar. Her career at the DuPont company spanned more than 40 years. She discovered the first of a family of synthetic fibers of exceptional strength and stiffness: poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide which was later developed into kevlar in 1971. Kevlar is used as a material in more than 200 applications, including tennis rackets, skis, parachute lines, boats, airplanes, ropes, cables, and bullet-proof vests. It has been used for car tires, fire fighter boots, hockey sticks, cut-resistant gloves and armored cars. It has also been used for protective building materials like bomb-proof materials, hurricane safe rooms, and bridge reinforcements. During the week of Kwolek's death, the one millionth bullet-resistant vest made with Kevlar was sold. For her discovery, Kwolek was awarded the DuPont company's Lavoisier Medal for outstanding technical achievement. As of August 2019, she was the only female employee to have received that honor. In 1995 she became the fourth woman to be added to the National Inventors Hall of Fame
In preparation for Pesach we need to clear out the coatroom. After April 1st all items left in the coatroom will be donated to Goodwill. Please, also clear out your shtenders.
FINANCIAL/MEMBERSHIP UPDATE It’s hard to believe that as Pesach is just around the corner, we are heading towards the end of the current fiscal year. We appreciate everyone's support and commitment to SOI. We respectfully ask everyone to review your accounts, to see if you are up to date with dues and pledges. Clearing any outstanding balances allows the shul to start the new fiscal year fresh and financially ready to meet the challenge of returning to normal programs and services. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Heshy Chaitoff or Michael Partnow with any questions or concerns Thank you!
Advertising Opportunity 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 Fran & Fred Brockman on the birth of a granddaughter, Brooke Davida
Mazel Tov to Stephanie Sudit & Joshua Joress on their wedding on Sunday
Thank you to Sabra Weinberg, Malka Baratz, Alise Panitch, Alisa Fox, Suzie Mindel, Sylvia Levine, Baila Silverman, Sandy Crass, and Sabrina Spector for help with kiddush last week.
Thank you to Bob Moskowitz for making Chulent last week
Thank you to everyone who donated food for the Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantry. If anyone would like to do a mitzvah and deliver the foods, we would be glad to arrange that. Please reach out to Jean at officeadmin@soicherryhill.org.
Hurry & get your cocktail jelly beans ($8) & popcorn ($10). Limited quantities are available for sale!
A great big thank you to Debbie Fineberg, Avi Rynderman, Baila Silverman, Jeff Liss, Harvey Chaitoff, Steve Koloski, Robbie Friedner and Chemmie Sokolic for keeping us safe this past Shabbos. It’s your shul, help protect it! Please give us 30 minutes of your Shabbos morning to help protect your friends, family and fellow congregants. Volunteer for security greeter duty now!
A Message from the Welcoming Committee: Over the past two years during the COVID pandemic, many families have moved into our community. As many of us become more comfortable hosting people for meals, consider inviting these new families to your home or including them in your mishloach manot deliveries. If you would like a list of new families, reach out to anyone on the SOI Welcoming Committee: Aliza Chaitoff , Ora Davies, Michal Drabkin, Hannah Kaufman, Melissa Klein, Rachel Klein Michael Linetsky, Suzie Mindel, Alise Panitch, Aliza Sadiky, or Ilana Weiss
Condolences to Rabbi Jeffrey Weiss and Family on the loss of his grandmother Patricia Weiss z"l
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 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
For many older adults, going to the doctor can be difficult – especially when trying to remember the information the doctor imparts and understand complex medical terms or instructions. The JFCS Patient Partners program offers a remedy to this dilemma by pairing trained volunteers to accompany clients to their doctor appointments. Volunteers are trained to record, relay, and share information about each visit with the patient (and their family, if needed.) Volunteers also help decipher medical jargon and provide emotional support for the patient. All new volunteers undergo training on common health issues, medical terminology, honing listening and communication skills with medical personnel, confidentiality, and ethics. JFCS is now accepting new volunteer advocates and new clients for Patient Partners. To learn more, please contact Stephanie Whitson, RN, at 856-424-1333 or swhitson@jfedsnj.org.
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
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
