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Announcements & Upcoming Events

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 Abba Wagensderg entitled 'The Torah's Three Elements', which shares a beautiful reason as to why we read Parshat Bemidbar so close to the holiday of Shavuot.

[...] The first verse in this week's portion tells us that God spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert (Numbers 1:1). The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabba 1:7) questions why it is necessary for the Torah to specify the location in which God spoke to Moses. According to the Midrash, our Sages derive from this detail that three elements were present when the Torah was given: fire, water and desert.

We learn about fire from the verse, "All of Mount Sinai was smoking because God descended upon it in fire" (Exodus 19:18). Water is specified in the verse, "The heavens dripped with water" (Judges 5:4), which describes the giving of the Torah. Finally, we learn about the desert from the phrase "in the Sinai desert" in this week's portion. What message is the Torah trying to convey by listing the weather conditions at the time we received the Torah?! [...]

Based on the Shem MiShmuel, we can now understand the deeper message of the Midrash in listing the three elements that were present at the giving of the Torah:
 
Fire symbolizes hard work. We see this explicitly in the Yiddish word "farbrent" (literally, "on fire"), which is used to describe intense effort in Torah learning. As we mentioned above, the idea of hard work corresponds to the blessing, "to be involved in the study of Torah." Water symbolizes happiness. In the Land of Israel, rain is considered a blessing and a benefit. We should all be happy when it rains, since almost every aspect of our lives depends on water. This idea corresponds to the blessing, "make the words of Torah sweet in our mouths." The desert represents humility. It is low and flat, and people walk all over it. This corresponds to the blessing, "the One Who gives Torah" - since, as we mentioned, it takes humility to recognize that our own efforts are not the ultimate cause of our success.
 
Now we can finally understand why Parshat Bamidbar is read right before Shavuot. On Shavuot, we do not simply commemorate the original acceptance of Torah, but we accept the Torah upon ourselves anew. In order to prepare ourselves to truly receive Torah on this day, Parshat Bamidbar gives us the keys that will enable our Torah learning to succeed. May we all be triply blessed: to work hard in learning the Torah that was given at Mount Sinai in fire, with sweet happiness that feels as good as cool water, so that this Shavuot will be a humble, down-to-earth acceptance of God's extraordinary gift.

Have a Shabbat Shalom and a Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Davies
Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org

We are excited to be partnering with Mizrachi World Movement to provide their publication of HaMizrachi Parasha Weekly.

This past Shabbat was amazing.  We had a beautiful kiddush honoring Rabbi Ian & Machla Shaffer and wishing them tzetchem l’shalom as they make Aliyah.  The B’nai Akiva Shabbaton was amazing.  Seeing our teens taking leadership roles organizing and running the Shabbaton was heartwarming. Planning the events, scheduling activities and davening, advertising the Shabbaton were all done by our teens, especially Leah Spector & Eyal Lubin. Thank you for putting together this event and all of the B’nai Akiva events all year.  You are amazing, along with your parents who supported all your efforts and always had your backs.

I also want to give a huge shout out to Sabra Hess.  While at shul for the Shabbaton, she noticed an emergency exit was left open.  She immediately shut the door and informed people that the door was open.  The cameras were reviewed by Sam Tilonsky and Avi Rynderman.  Other children attempted to prop open the front doors to allow access to their friends.  This was stopped by Bob Moskowitz who stood security by the doors.  I was informed from Politz that the door leading to the playground from the school was intentionally propped open with a hose by youth at shul. 

We are just recovering from the devastaing Uvalde shooting  - a mass shooting that occurred on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. At that time, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde through a door that was left unlocked and unattended. He was armed with an AR-15 and a shotgun, and killed 19 children and two adults (two teachers trying to protect the pupils). There are 15 people recovering from their wounds.  This has now become the deadliest school shooting since the Sandy Hook mass shooting that took place in Newtown, Connecticut, almost 10 years ago, in which 26 people were killed.

People say that nothing like this can happen in Cherry Hill.  At about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday May 24th, a drive-by shooter or shooters fired several gunshots at a Cherry Hill house in the 600 block of Woodland Avenue. No members of the family living inside the house were hurt. The family was not identified.

The Cherry Hill Jewish Community Center (JCC) was evacuated in March twice for reports of a bomb threat on two consecutive days. After an explosives sweep returned nothing, the building was reopened around 12:30 p.m. The threats in Cherry Hill numbers among a rash of threats that cropped up at other JCC’s throughout the tristate area, including in Wynnewood and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. The uptick in threats against Jewish centers throughout the country has been a national story.  Leaders of the Jewish community and a local congressman decried the incidents, which included the evacuation of youngsters in a childhood program at the center.

Sam Tilonsky, with the help of the Security Committee, DSD and Homeland Security have put in an enormous amount of time and effort to make the Sons of Israel campus safe.  We have surveillance cameras throughout the facility, large monitors in the office, and have alarms on the doors.  We hire armed security guards. This equipment and precautions do no good if people are going to prop doors open and leave open doors unattended.

Help keep our facility safe for everyone:
1.     See something say something
2.     NEVER prop doors open.
3.     Emergency exits are for emergencies ONLY!

Please teach your children the importance of safety. Although I would naively like to believe that something tragic couldn’t happen here—unfortunately, it can and might.  PLEASE help keep us safe.

Shabbat Shalom & Chag Sameach
Donna Moskowitz
SOI President
president@soicherryhill.org

Layered Shavuot Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients:
½ cup fudge ice cream topping, warmed
1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed
1 pkg. (4 serving size) chocolate flavor instant pudding
¼ cup milk
8 Oreo cookies
12 ice cream sandwiches
Directions:
1.     In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup warmed hot fudge and 1 cup of whipped topping. Mix well until blended. Add dry pudding mix and stir until blended.
2.     Stir in 1/4 cup of milk and mix until smooth. The consistency of this needs to be spreadable. If it is still too thick, mix a little more milk.
3.     Fold in chopped cookies.
4.     Arrange 4 ice cream sandwiches on a piece of foil measuring approximately 12 x 24.
5.     Spread half of the pudding mixture on top of the four ice cream sandwiches. Then top with four more ice cream sandwiches.
6.     Repeat the process by adding the rest of the pudding mixture and top it with the remaining four ice cream sandwiches.
7.     Frost the top and sides with remaining whipped topping. Bring up the sides of the foil and make a loose pouch. Don't stress if the foil touches the whipped topping. Freeze at least 4-6 hours before serving.
8.     Optional for Serving: Take the cake out of the freezer and put a thin layer of Cool Whip on the outside. Add crushed cookies on top. Place back in the freezer for 30 minutes before slicing.

Mazel Tov to Diane & Eytan Irwin on the wedding of their daughter Tali to Josh Lieman.

Mazel tov to Pamela & Robert Benedon on the wedding of their son Evan to Dr. Julia Finkel.

Mazel Tov to Rabbi Hirsch & Talia Hollander on the birth of a baby girl.

Thank you to Sabra Hess for - See Something Say Something

Thank you to Leah Spector, Sabrina Spector,  Eyal Lubin and all the other volunteers who helped make the Bnai Akiva Shabbaton a success.

Thank you to our great kitchen crew - Ilana Weiss and daughters, Alisa Fox & daughters, Hannah Kaufman and sons, Yakov Levy, Sylvia Levine,
Liana Weinberg, and Sandy Crass.

Thank you to Heshy Chaitoff for making the chulent last week.

Thank you to Marilyn Mindel (cameras), Harvey Chaitoff (cameras), Jeff Liss (cameras), Chemmie Sokolic (cameras), Seth Cohen (cameras), Donna Moskowitz (front doors) and Mike from OPS for providing security on Shabbos.

IMPORTANT 
The sanctuary emergency exit doors were left open for several hours on Shabbos.  It was eventually closed by a situationally aware member.  
Doors are not to be propped open and left unattended under ANY circumstances.

Security and safety first and foremost!

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

​​​​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)

Join the NEW SOI Updates Whatsapp group!

For all the news and announcements you don't want to miss.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/J2uWWdEVNogLTdyHvoYEJ4

COVID UPDATES FOR THIS SHABBAT

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

ERUV UPDATE
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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

https://www.soicherryhill.org/form/purchase_scrip

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Congregation Sons of Israel
720 Cooper Landing Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002