The Newslink is being sponsored by Rhoda & Jay Schmulowitz in memory of Gussie Landman - Gitle bas Chaya and Tzvi Hersh and Jean Schmulowitz-Shaindel bas Leba and Yehoshua Yakov
Announcements & Upcoming Events
Kiddush this week is sponsored by Oriel and Shayna Weinberg in honor of their daughter, Adira Leora, and to honor an incredible community that has treated us like family since we arrived here!
No Women's Shiur: Saturday, July 16 Erev Tzom Tammuz
Unveiling for Bruce Goldhagen: Sunday, July 24th. Meet at 10:45 at office. Floral Park Cemetery, 104 Deans Rhode Hall Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
Shabbat, July 16: Balak (Tammuz 17) 8:00am 8AM Minyan 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Minyan 9:25am Latest Shema 10:00am Youth Group K-2 10:30am Tot Shabbat 10:30am Shabbat Mishna with Eric Klein 5th-8th Graders 11:00am Kiddush sponsored by Shayna & Oriel Weinberg 6:35pm Gemara Shiur 7:55pm Mincha 8:20pm Rabbi's Parsha Shiur 9:00pm Maariv 9:15pm Havdalah
Sunday, July 17: Fast of Tammuz (Tammuz 18) 4:04am Fast begins 7:00am Shacharit 8:00am Shacharit 7:55pm Mincha/Maariv 9:05pm Fast ends
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 Shoshana Dresner entitled ‘Sharpen Your Saw’, which speaks to the importance of taking a break. You can see the full article here - https://aish.com/sharpen-your-saw/.
A man was walking through a forest when he came across someone cursing as he laboured to chop down a tree. "What’s the problem?" the man asked. "My saw is blunt and won’t cut the tree properly!" "Why don't you sharpen your saw?" "I don’t have the time to stop!"
Rashi (Vayikra 1:1) explains a beautiful insight about the layout of the text in the Torah. Rather than a continuous flow, there are breaks between the paragraphs. These breaks indicate that Moses stopped after various events in his life to reflect, integrate the experiences, and grow from them.
Parshat Balak records the downfall of Bilaam and his attempt to curse the Jewish people. It is in fact the only portion in the Torah where the text is written with no breaks. The Chofetz Chaim explains, that unlike Moses, Bilaam never stopped running. In spite of being privileged to direct communication from God, he did not slow down to integrate or reflect on the experiences, and they therefore had no effect on his character. Imagine who he could have been had he done so!
In our quest to becoming the best people we can be, let's make sure to make time for reflection. Are we running so fast that we are missing opportunities? Perhaps even harming ourselves or others as we run? […]
It is important to take the time to reflect on our experiences, to see what we can learn from them, and how we can improve. Although difficult to do, stopping occasionally to sharpen the saw will produce more effective labour in the long term. […]
I take this opportunity to thank you for allowing me the chance to ‘sharpen the saw’ and take some time away with my family this Summer. I look forward to returning with renewed energy, ready for an exciting, meaningful, and growth-filled year to come. 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.
Contact Information for Co-Presidents Ilana Weiss: president@soicherryhill.org Rabbi Heshy Chaitoff: copresident@soicherryhill.org
Parents, please keep your children away from the construction area!
We are excited to inform you that the construction to the front entrance of the building began on Wednesday!
Since the front entrance will be inaccessible during the construction, please see below on how to get into the building:
Shabbat Minyanim: Please enter through the back sukkah doors. Just as we usually have security volunteers by the front door, there will be a volunteer by these doors as well.
Daily Minyanim: Please come as timely as you can. The side doors from the main sanctuary will be open for some time to let everyone in with a point person guarding and overseeing the area. The door will be closed when davening begins. Those who are running late may text the point-person, Ken Panitch at 856-906-2545 and he will let you in when you arrive.
Office Visitation Entering the building outside of minyan times will be through the back sukkah doors.
We encourage you to communicate with Jean via email and phone as much as possible during this time. We understand that for some, email is not an efficient option and some issues are easier to deal with in person visitation. Please email or call Jean to make an appointment prior to coming to the office. When you arrive, please call her so she knows to let you inside.
Thank you for your patience while we beautify our campus.
Rabbi Heshy Chaitoff Ilana Weiss SOI Co-Presidents
Rabbi Davies will be away until Shabbat, July 16th. For all SOI related matters and/or items of an urgent nature, please contact Rabbi Heshy Chaitoff at copresident@soicherryhill.org. If you are in need of immediate Halachic assistance, please contact Rabbi Jonathan Bienenfeld at rabbijbien@gmail.com
Due to the recent uptick in COVID cases in our community, moving weekday minyanim to the chapel has been postponed.
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.
Mazel tov to Josh Boniuk and Ahuva Cantor on their marriage.
Mazel Tov to Shayna & Oriel Weinberg on the birth of a baby girl.
Welcome to the community Josh Boniuk and Ahuva Cantor
Thank you to Yaeli Sokolic, Tamar Wiener, Sylvia Levine, Donna Moskowitz and Flo Shulman for help with kiddush last week
A great big thank you to Bill Jungreis (front doors and early minyan), Debbie Fineberg (front doors and main minyan), Ken Panitch (main minyan), Harvey Chaitoff (cameras), Jeff Liss (cameras), Avi Rynderman (cameras), Baila Silverman (cameras), Andy Rauer (cameras), Mike from OPS and Sam Tilonsky. IMPORTANT REMINDER
All emergency doors are locked and alarmed at ALL times. Please don’t open them unless it is truly an emergency. Children of all ages should be told to stay away from the doors. Thanks for your cooperation.
SAFETY FIRST, FOREMOST AND ALWAYS
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
