Shabbat, June 25: Shabbat Mevarchim, Shlach (Sivan 26) 8:00am 8AM Minyan in the Chapel 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Minyan 9:18am Latest Shema 10:00am Youth Groups 10:30am Tot Shabbat 11:30am Kiddush in honor of Yehoshua Davies' Bar Mitzvah 6:45pm Gemara Shiur 8:05pm Mincha 8:30pm Parsha Shiur given this week by Rabbi Chaim Tropper 9:10pm Maariv 9:23pm Havdalah
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 Dr. Avigdor Bonchek entitled 'Forgiveness As You Said', which, through the commentary of Rashi, gives a glimpse into appreciating HaShem's judgment. Numbers 14:20 - "After the sin of the Spies, Moses intercedes with Hashem to ask forgiveness for the people. And Hashem said 'I have forgiven, as you said.' " [...]
Hashem said that He was forgiving the people. But if this were so, why does He then say (verses 23-28): "If they will see the Land that I have sworn to give to their forefathers, and all who anger Me shall not see it.... Say to them, as I live, by the word of Hashem , if I shall not do to you as you have spoken in My ears. In this wilderness shall your carcasses drop ..." Punishing the people is in direct contradiction to God's saying He forgives them. [...]
Rashi is telling us that when God said "I have forgiven," He does not mean a complete forgiveness; He means, rather, a qualified forgiveness, a forgiveness based on and limited to "your words." This means that God forgave only in accordance with that part of Moses' plea that referred to the chilul Hashem which would result if God didn't bring the people Israel into the Land of Canaan. God's forgiveness relates to the fact that, in spite of their sin, the nation of Israel - the next generation - will be brought by God into the Promised Land, thus there will be no chilul Hashem. On the other hand, this generation will be killed out. For this generation there is to be no forgiveness. Clearly the forgiveness was partial (see Ohr Hachayim). [...]
God had accepted Moses' plea for forgiveness, but only to a certain degree. On the one hand, He consented to have the next generation of the People of Israel enter the Land of Canaan, as He had promised the Forefathers. Nevertheless, He exacted punishment from the generation that sinned. We have here neither a sweeping amnesty nor a wholesale punishment. This is God's "morality."
The Psalmist says (25:8): "Good and upright is God, therefore He guides sinners on the [right] way." On these words the Midrash adds a pithy insight. "Why is He good? Because He is upright. Why is He upright? Because He is good."
An artfully succinct phrase which teaches us God's balance in judgement. If He were always good, then His goodness would lose all value. It is similar to a person who always has a smile on his face; the smile loses all significance. So the good, in order to retain its quality of kindness, must be tempered, at times, with righteousness. Likewise, righteousness, for it to remain righteous and not deteriorate into the callous, cold, impersonal implementation of the law, it too must so be tempered at times with a touch of kindness.
God maintains this sensitive balance in rendering judgment. Likewise in our case, while the Spies were punished, there was no collective punishment and the future generations did not suffer for the sins of their fathers. [...] Have a Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Davies Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org
We are excited to be partnering with Mizrachi World Movement to provide their publication of HaMizrachi Parasha Weekly.
SOI Board Meeting Synopsis - Last meeting of the current Board
Heshy Chaitoff gave a d’var torah saying how it is more important to visit a house in mourning than a simcha. “When we attend the needs of another during their time of need and tragedy, we are assisting them in raising their sense of self-worth. We are helping them regain that equilibrium of their worth - building them back up to whom they viewed themselves as prior. Attending and rejoicing at the simcha of another, is also partaking in the self worth of another, but since it was never truly destroyed or diminished there is no re-building needed. As we are coming to the end of this current board, and as I become a co-president of the incoming board, I reflect on what it took for all of us to have served on the board. We are the builders of our Shul and community. We did not just attend services already set for us, we planned services, all those who did not just attend a Gala Dinner, but organized it, and built it in any capacity. We built and planned so many things that keep the shul going that no one else recognizes unless they have been here before. Congratulations, tizku l’mitzvot, and thank you to all of you for all your hard work and accomplishments by being here.”
Most committee reports were submitted early enabling the meeting to move along very quickly. The first half of the meeting was with the current board. The second half brought in our new Board members with Ilana Weiss & Heshy Chaitoff presiding.
Thank you to Avi Rynderman for agreeing to chair the Building Committee. He was instrumental in helping to get rid of our old ovens and in getting our new ovens installed. No committee is a one person job. There is quality and decreased burn out with devoted helpers. If you are interested in being involved in this committee, please reach out to Avi at avirynd@gmail.com.
Our kitchen is coming together and is being utilized. Thanks to a very generous donation we have purchased a large stand mixer to enable us to prepare more cakes/cookies for kiddushes, two convection ovens and installation, and a new counter top and shelves. The first baking event was well received with new people involved and our freezers being well stocked. Estelle Lerner came in and we reorganized some of the furniture creating a larger prep area in the dairy section . We have had beautiful sponsored kiddushes, rentals and ease of movement due to the improvements.
Finance Committee -- New fiscal year dues invoices were emailed. They will be going out via snail mail soon along with the cover letter written by the outgoing, incoming, and former financial secretaries. As a reminder, SOI does not deny membership due to financial constraints. Everyone is encouraged to reach out to the financial secretaries to arrange a dues agreement comfortable for everyone. All communication is held in the strictest confidence. A new email address, financialsecretary@soicherryhill.org has been set up for all communication regarding membership dues. This email is checked by the Financial Secretary only.
Ritual Committee -- Chani Wiesman and Heshy Chaitoff reported that we had a beautiful Shavuot holiday, with over 30 attendees at Hashkama minyan (thanks to our NCSY Shavuot night learning attendees). They will be discussing 17 Tammuz and 9 Av towards the beginning of July and start planning for Rosh Hashana / Yom Kippur towards the end of the summer.
Security Committee -- Sam Tilonsky: - New front doors are scheduled to be installed mid to late July. Newly installed cameras (small chapel and coat room) are working wonderfully. Two security incidents occurred recently. One problem was thwarted by Jeff Liss on Shavuot night. The second problem was that a small child called 911 from a phone where kids groups are held. Police responded, spoke to the child and parents. As a reminder, the Politz playground is not supervised on Shabbat. Our annual fire inspection was completed by the CHFD accompanied by Avi Rynderman and Sam Tilonsky. More greeters are needed on an ongoing basis. The same 7 people are doing security every week. Your help is greatly needed! If you see something, say something! Help keep our shul and members safe.
A very special thank you to our outgoing Board members – Oze Henig, Karen Hess, Chemmie Sokolic and TL Weinberg. Thank you for all your time, commitment, and efforts on behalf of SOI.
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 Rabbi Michael & Ora Davies and Family
on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Yehoshua.
Mazel tov to Evan & Kimberly Hershenson on the birth of a baby boy.
Thank you to the outgoing Board members
Oze Henig, Karen Hess, Chemmie Sokolic and TL Weinberg
Thank you to all our kitchen/kiddush helpers - Liana Weinberg, Sylvia Levine, Tamar Weiner, Aliza Sadiky, Yair Klein, Gavi Weiner
Thank you to the following individuals who helped provide security on Shabbos. Bill Jungreis (front doors and early minyan), Debbie Pester (indoor minyan), Jeff Liss (cameras), Harvey Chaitoff (cameras), Avi Rynderman (cameras), Seth Cohen (cameras), Chemmie Sokolic (cameras), Mike from OPS and Sam Tilonsky.
Also, thank you to those individuals who provided first aid and comfort to Eitan Brody after his accident on the playground,
IMPORTANT
Children should not be at the playground without adult supervision.
Safety and security, first and foremost!
New Fiscal Year - Locker Rental Renewals - New Rentals Available
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
