The newslink is sponsored by Sheryl & Daniel Malamud in honor ot Congregation Sons of Israel, to everyone who has made SOI a second home. Todah Rabah to the outgoing board & Hatzlacha Rabah to the incoming board.
Erev Shabbat, May 27: 41st Day Omer (Iyyar 26) 6:45am Shacharit 6:47pm Plag HaMincha (Earliest Candle Lighting) 7:00pm Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv 8:00pm Late Candle Lighting Tonight's Sefirah Count Is: היום שנים וארבעים יום שהם ששה שבועות לעמר
Shabbat, May 28: Shabbat Mevarchim, 42nd Day Omer, Bechukotai (Iyyar 27) 8:00am 8AM Minyan 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Minyan 9:16am Latest Shema 10:00am Youth Groups 10:30am Tot Shabbat 11:00am Shaffer Aliyah Kiddush 6:30pm Gemara Shiur 7:50pm Mincha 8:15pm Rabbi's Parsha Shiur 8:55pm Maariv 9:08pm Havdalah Tonight's Sefirah Count Is: היום שלשה וארבעים יום שהם ששה שבועות ויום אחד לעמר
Sunday, May 29: Yom Yerushalayim, 43rd Day Omer (Iyyar 28) 7:00am Shacharit 8:00am Shacharit 9:00am SIP Trip (Ends at 12:00pm) 8:05pm Mincha/Maariv Tonight's Sefirah Count Is: היום ארבעה וארבעים יום שהם ששה שבועות ושני ימים לעמ
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 Yehuda Appel entitled 'Repairing the World', about each of our individual roles in making the world a better place.
Judaism recognizes that everyone has a particular role to fulfill in this world. The mystical teachings state that with each waking hour God grants us, there comes an accompanying responsibility to in some way help repair the world. This concept of "Tikkun Olam," repairing the world, also extends to repairing our own selves. Every person has one dominant area of weakness (whether it be gossip, dishonesty, arrogance, etc.) where they need to focus attention in order to accomplish a "personal tikkun." In fact, explain the Sages, the need to correct this area of weakness is why a person has been put into the world in the first place!
[...] This week's Torah portion, Bechukotai, deals with the tremendous responsibilities given to the Jewish people. Just as each individual has a task to improve the world, so too the Jewish people have that role. [... A]t the beginning of the parsha, God promises the Jewish people that "if you walk in My laws and guard My commandments," you will be blessed with great peace and wealth. As much potential as there is for tragedy, great blessing can also be theirs.
Of course the big question is what does the Torah mean when it says "if you walk in My laws?" What exactly is expected of the Jewish people? Rashi explains that "walk in My laws" means that everywhere we walk we should be studying Torah. The Jews are to engross themselves in the study of Torah and become a nation of scholars. The Sfas Emes, a great 19th century Chassidic rabbi, says this goes beyond the simple acquisition Torah wisdom. Walking in God's laws means to become so connected to the will of God that the presence of the Almighty becomes manifest on earth.
This in turn teaches a profound insight into the nature of each person's individual "Tikkun." This is accomplished when the individual becomes an instrument of expressing God's will here on earth. And this is truly the deepest meaning of Tikkun Olam.
Tragically, this week we yet again witnessed the very opposite of Tikkun Olam with the horrific events that took place in Uvalde, Texas. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families anf friends of the victims and we hope for a speedy recovery for all those injured. It is difficult to fathom how this could happen and to reflect on what we can do moving forward. Perhaps a first step is to incorporate the above idea from our Parsha and find ways in which we can personally imporve ourselves, in turn adding a little more light to this dark time.
What an amazing week for Sons of Israel. Coming together as a community to celebrate our past presidents and looking forward to the next 50 years at our Jubilee GALA celebration was amazing. David Fleisher, Cherry Hill Council President, presenting a proclamation from Mayor Chin’s office was a lovely start to the festivities. The caterers, Majestic Caterers, provided a delicious spread. The Avi Maza Band was lively and fun. We honored our past presidents who brought us to where we are today.
We raised over $100,000 from sponsors, ticket purchases, raffles/auction items, and a surprise match by a group of very generous anonymous donors. I had always wanted to have one of those huge checks presented to me, so thank you for the honor of holding that check and knocking it off my bucket list. Thank you to all of the anonymous donors and for providing the opportunity for others to meet their match challenge. If you graciously made a pledge, it is easy to pay online via your ShulCloud account at www.soicherryhill.org. If you would like to contribute to this campaign, you are still able to do so under the donations section on our website. Thank you to everyone who made this event such a success, especially Vicki Miltz, Flo Shulman, and TL Weinberg, the GALA Chairpeople. With the overwhelming support shown during our Jubilee year, I have no doubts about SOI’s future.
On Wednesday night, we had our yearly Congregational Meeting via Zoom. An overwhelming majority approved our new Board of Directors for 2022-2023. Mazel tov to all Board members and especially to Ilana Weiss and Heshy Chaitoff – your new Presidents of SOI. I am honored to have served as your President for the past two years and I am very excited for the next phase. Here is to another 50 years of Sons of Israel!
Larry Miller Herb Zarge Alan Baker Bill Jungreis Sid Goldberg Allan Zarembski Ken Panitch
Bill Weiss Ron Zanger Mark Lowitz Aaron Greenberg Eytan Irwin Jeff Lubin
Following is the approved Sons of Israel Board of Directors for 2022-2023 Executive Committee President: Ilana Weiss 1st VP: Heshy Chaitoff 2nd VP: Judy Herzberg 3rd VP: Eric Klein Treasurer: Mark Littwin Financial Secretary: Yaeli Sokolic Assistant Financial Secretary: Michael Partnow Recording Secretary: Chani Weisman
Term Expiring 2023 Helene Raush Sabrina Spector Dan Drabkin Sybil Bernstein Ken Panitch
Term Expiring 2024 Sam Tilonsky Hildy Berlin Flo Shulman Jack Fuchs Dan Malamud Suzie Mindel
Term Expiring 2025 Moshe Moskowitz Akiva Fischman Judi Barg Shari Solomon Charles Kivolowitz Oriel Weinberg
Welcome to the community Ema & Michael Goldenberg
Mazel to to all the new Board Members and our new Presidents: Ilana Weiss & Heshy Chaitoff
Mazel tov to Sarah Rynderman, Avi Rynderman's sister, on graduating from PA School.
Mazel tov to Sybil Bernstein on the birth of a new great-grandson
Mazel tov to Fran & Mark Bordman on the bris of their grandson Aaron Yehudah Lev
Thank you to Gavi Weiner, Jenni Provda, Lyla Lubin, Charles Weg, Alise Panitch, Suzie Mindel, Sabra Hess, Lianna Wienberg for preparing Kiddush last week.
Thank you to Vicki Miltz, Flo Shulman, TL Weinberg and ther entire committee for such a beautiful Jubilee GALA.
A huge thank you to Jenni Jimenez-Fischman and Karen Cohen for expertly handling the Homeland Security Grant proposal - an extremely important project for the Shul.
Thank you to Baila Silverman & Avi Rynderman for sponsoring the Kiddush cholent this week in honor of Sarah Rynderman's graduation from PA School.
We need volunteers for security! You can watch the cameras, stand by the doors or be in one of the minyanim. Whatever makes you comfortable. Contact Sam Tilonsky (drsamod@gmail.com) for details.
It’s Your Shul, Help Protect It!
Condolences to Elyse Greenberg on the loss of her mother, Dr. Beth Berger, Dova bat Gedaliah. Elyse is sitting Shiva with her family in Florida until Friday, and can be reached on her cellphone: 856-905-8711.
After Shabbat, Shiva will be at the Greenberg home: 78 Knollwood Drive
Shiva Visiting Hours: Sunday 9:30am-12:30pm, 1:30-5:30pm, 6:30-8:00pm Shiva Minyan Schedule: Motzai Shabbat Maariv at 9:20pm Shacharit at 8:00am, Sunday and Monday Mincha/Maariv at 8:00pm, Sunday
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים May the family be comforted among the mourners of Zion & Jerusalem
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 Chayim Gedalya haLevi ben Henya Shari Goldberg
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
Due to the increased number of cases nationwide mask wearing is highly recommended inside but not mandatory. Vaccination, including booster immunizations, are highly recommended.
Masks are optional for all minyanim and programs.
Out of concern for fellow shul attendees, if you are feeling sick, we ask that you please refrain from attending. Thank you for your cooperation.
Rabbi Michael Davies, Donna Moskowitz, and the Covid Task Force
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 Monday to Friday 10-2pm
Congregation Sons of Israel 720 Cooper Landing Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
