Kiddush is sponsored by TL Weinberg & Sabra Hess in honor of Liana's 10th Birthday and Tamar & Nate Weiner in honor of their anniversary: Saturday, June 18 11:00am-12:00pm
Sunday, June 19 (Sivan 20) All Day Event: Father's Day 7:00am Shacharit 8:00am Shacharit 10:00am Art of Prayer with Chazzan Moskowitz 8:15pm 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 Stephen Baars entitled 'The Best Things in Life are Never Free', which shares a fascinating perspective on the complaints of the Jewish people in the wilderness.
[...] After seeing water stand on end at the Red Sea, receiving the Torah and witnessing a multitude of miracles, the Jewish people post this complaint: "We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for free, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic." (Numbers 11:5). [...] While in the desert the Jewish people had a miraculous food called Manna. It fell from the sky every day and it tasted of whatever you wanted to think of. Everything? Well, not everything. There were five things it didn't taste of. Yes, you've guessed it, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.
What about fish? Nope, the Manna even tasted like fish, it just wasn't free. You mean to tell me, that this Manna was like walking into a restaurant and everything was on the house except a few incidentals, and that's what they are complaining about? [... I]f the Manna fish wasn't free, how much did it cost? More than they were willing to pay. The best things in life are never free.
Let me explain. [...] How we think about tomorrow changes how we feel right now, no matter what kind of day we're having. In other words, nothing will ruin your day if you are willing to pay the price of thinking that tomorrow will be incredible.
"But what if it isn't?" That is not the point, this is: [...] If you knew you won the lottery you would have an absolutely incredible, over the top, amazing day. With all the same problems and all the same issues. And what's more, it will cost you nothing. Except one thing. Thinking. Oscar Wilde famously said, "There are two problems with life, sometimes you don't get what you want, and sometimes you do." [...] Some people need to get what they want to realize it won't make them happy, and some people are willing to think. If you thought that something tomorrow was going to solve all your problems, and thinking that would make you happy now, it means that your mind controls your happiness - now! And that thing won't do you any good - because it isn't making you happy, your thinking is. Therefore, you can have the best life possible if you are willing to think.
If you thought that this Manna fish was the most incredible tasting fish any human being had ever tasted, beyond anything ever, then what a great meal that would be. That's what the Manna fish required. And if you didn't think, then that's what it would taste like too.
If you wake up tomorrow truly expecting your day to be the best day ever, then you know what? It will be a great day. Can you do that? For sure, you have done that many times. [...] But you have to think, and most people would rather let someone else think for them, so they just turn on the T.V. That's why they wanted to go back to Egypt where they didn't need to think, because thinking is the most expensive cost there is. And relative to thinking, slavery is a bargain. [...]
Fathers……the men who love you unconditionally….. who encourage you along the way…... who have the best hugs…..who tell the worst joke….. who always had a shoulder for support and tears. My Pop and I shared a love of ShaNaNa, good food and wine, and all Philadelphia sports teams. He was my first date to see the Supremes at the Latin Casino.(I even remember the dress I wore). I didn’t think there would be a time when I could talk about my father without crying, but I can now recall all the great things I learned from him and reminisce and grow. To him, family came first and foremost. I pray my children and grandchildren have as beautiful and great memories of the man I chose to be their father.
As a little girl I was given an Easy Bake oven. Being able to cook food with a lightbulb by myself was intriguing. After I used up all the mixes, I made up my own recipe: flour, sugar, water and green dye. I was so proud to give this to my father and he ate it. It was basically a glue cake with the consistency of rubber. He ate it and praised me. He was encouraging even at the cost of his tastebuds and thanked me for the "cake" and making the effort to do something special for him.
Having a Bat Mitzvah in the ‘60’s was not common practice. I had to fight my parents and actually prove to them why it was important to me. They said that women had no place in the Jewish religion. (I proved them wrong). At my Bat Mitzvah, one of the first at our synagogue in Mt. Airy, my parents gave me a blessing. Afterwards I whispered to them that I wanted to become a Rabbi. My father would be so proud of the fact that I was president of an orthodox shul.
When I was in High School I took a jewelry making course and made my father a silver necklace. He was so proud of the fact that I made something for him that he wore that necklace everyday of his life except for one week when the chain broke and he needed to get it fixed. When he passed, I was given that necklace as my own and I cherish the memories that necklace evokes.
Having been president for these past two years has been a challenge but is overshadowed by the rewards. The skills and confidence my father instilled in me helped to accept this responsibility - confidence, encouragement, gratitude and persistance.
We have a vibrant welcoming shul, a friendly intelligent and sensitive Rabbi, new families joining regularly, informative classes, many minyanim, a revitalized kitchen, enhanced security, creative programming, engaging youth programming and the enthusiasm of many people wanting to make SOI an even better place to daven and call home. A new SOI Board of Directors will be starting as of July 1st. I am confident we will have much more interesting happenings in our future at SOI.
To all you fathers out there, Thank You and Happy Father’s Day.
COVID UPDATES FOR THIS SHABBAT Due to the increased number of cases nationwide and specifically in our community, 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
Mazel Tov to Eve and Sam Narrow-Tilonsky as they proudly announce the arrival of their newest granddaughter, Shayna Batya Bashevkin, on June 9th. Proud parents are Miriam and Elie Bashevkin. Shayna joins her siblings Mayer, Goldy and Abie in West Hempstead NY.
Mazel tov to the Panitch family on Ellie’s wedding in Israel
Mazel tov to Bill and Lynn Jungreis on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Cobi Cutter, son of Jessica and Azi Cutter in Modiin Israel.
Mazel tov to Bill and Lynn Jungreis on the 8th grade graduation of their granddaughter Atara Milgraum, daughter of Natanya Milgraum from Bruriah Middle School.
Mazel tov to Marsha and Sol Sadres on the birth of a granddaughter to Boruch and Michelle Sadres.
Thank you to our kiddush volunteers last week: Ora Davies, Avi Rynderman, Baila Silverman, Liana Weinberg, Sylvia Levine, Tamar Weiner and Anna Schwartz.
Thank you to Avi Rynderman for making our freezer usable for Shabbat
Thank you to the following people for providing security on Shabbos: Debbie Fineberg (front doors and indoor main minyan), Debbie Pester (cameras), Jeff Liss (cameras), Avi Rynderman (cameras), Harvey Chaitoff (cameras), Seth Cohen (cameras), Chemmie Sokolic (cameras), Mike from OPS and Sam Tilonsky (front doors).
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!
Condolences to Dr. Noah (& Shaindy) Lindenberg, Shifra, Eliana, Meital, and Ilan on the passing of their brother/uncle
Dani Lindenberg, Daniel Asher ben Aryeh Dov
Shiva will be at the Lindenberg home: 3 Marshall Avenue Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Shiva Visiting Hours: Thursday 10:00am-1:00pm, 3:00pm-6:00pm, 7:00pm-9:30pm Friday: 10:00am-1:00pm Shiva Minyan Schedule: Mincha/Maariv at 8:15pm, Thursday Shacharit at 7:00am, Thursday-Friday
Florence Axelrod – Fruma bas Sarah Gavriel Yehuda ben Chaya 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 Marcia Heine
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
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
