Kiddush is sponsored in honor of Marilyn Mindel‘s Birthday. Wishing her many more years of health and happiness. With love and gratitude from all of her children and grandchildren.
Semichas Chaver Program with Rabbi Davies: Wednesday, August 3 after Mincha/Ma'ariv
Inspiration for the Three Weeks with Rabbi Davies: Thursday, July 28 7:30pm on Zoom - Meeting ID: 882 1104 9415
Women's Shiur: Saturday, July 30 4:30pm given by Ilana Weiss at the home of Hannah Kaufman
Mezuzah and Tefillin Checking with Rabbi Long: Monday, August 29 - Friday, September 2
Shabbat, July 30: Matot-Masei (Av 2) 8:00am 8AM Minyan 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Minyan 9:31am Latest Shema 10:00am Youth Groups K-2 10:30am Tot Shabbat 10:30am Shabbat Mishna with Eric Klein 5th-8th Graders 11:00am Kiddush is sponsored in honor of Marilyn Mindel's birthday No Gemara Shiur this week 7:45pm Mincha 8:10pm Rabbi's Parsha Shiur 8:50pm Maariv 9:02pm 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 Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman entitled ‘Pre-Commit’, which shares a helpful tool for successfully managing our actions. You can see the full article here - https://aish.com/pre-commit/.
Parshat Mattot begins by introducing the laws of vows and oaths. […] A person can even decide, the Talmud notes, to take an oath to perform or not to violate a commandment (Nedarim 8a). This is so even though the person is already obligated by the Torah commandment. The oath functions as an even more intense motivator than the original Biblical law.
In his classic work Michtav Me-Eliyahu, Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler elucidates the psychology behind taking an oath to comply with a mitzvah (4:237). At times, he writes, we become aware of our own laxness in Torah observance and we want to self-correct. Often, we try to fight this desire or weakness head on, but in the moment the yetzer hara is too powerful and we fail. The fix for this circumstance is to force our hand and avoid the self-control battle in the first place. We need to construct the situation in such a way where we are forced to comply. The classic Biblical way to accomplish this is through an oath. People viewed oaths with such awe and trepidation that adding an oath to a desirous behavior was generally a strong enough intervention to force self-compliance. […]
[E]ven though [today] we generally abstain from taking oaths, figuring out other ways to up the ante and solidify our commitment is essential. We need to think of ways, Rabbi Dessler suggests, to in effect bind ourselves to our commitments without taking an oath. […]
In the psychological literature on self-control, this concept is called a pre-commitment device. In a 2002 research article, Israeli-born psychologist Dan Ariely and Klaus Wertenbroch define such a strategy as the “voluntary imposition of constraints (that are costly to overcome) on one’s future choices in a strategic attempt to resist future temptations.” The oft-cited paradigm of this technique in Greek mythology is Ulysses, who tied himself to a mast so that he could not be lured by the song of the Sirens.
Pre-commitment devices can potentially help with many self-control battles including procrastination, eating unhealthily, drinking too much alcohol, and over-spending. […] Whether the goal is to improve our self-control, increase the amount of mitzvot we accomplish, or decrease the amount of transgressions we violate, we can look to the message behind oaths, and conceive of different ways to bind ourselves to improvement by pre-committing to progress. 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
We are excited to inform you that the construction to the front entrance of the building has begun!
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. Parents, please keep your children away from the construction area.
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
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.
We welcome Ahuva & Joshua Boniuk as SOI's new members
Thank you to Chani & Yona Blackstein, Sofia & Shmuel Fils, Naomi & Eli Goldman, Henny & Avi Knijnikov, Rachelli & Dovid Levy, & Robyn & Yossi Witriol for sponsoring last week's kiddush. Thank you to Bob Moskowitz for making chulent.
Thank you to Gerald Mindel for shopping for baking supplies.
Thank you to Melissa Klein, Devi Klein, Anna Schwartz, Alisa Fox, Marsha Sadres, Joyce Joseph, Donna Moskowitz & Rena Oshlag for helping to bake for kiddushes.
Thank you to Sophia Miltz, Vicki Miltz, Flo Shulman, Liana Weinberg, Jenni Provda, Neely Elisha, Yair Klein, Sabra Weinberg & Aliza Sadiky for helping with kiddush last week.
A huge thank you to Bill Jungreis (succah doors & early minyan), Harvey Chaitoff (cameras), Jeff Liss (cameras and succah doors) and Mike from OPS. They did a great job while Sam wasn’t able to be in shul. 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
Condolences to David (& Judi) Barg on the passing of David's father, Hershel Barg David will be sitting Shiva at 7712 Dorcas Street Philadelphia, PA 19111 Wednesday - Friday and Motzei Shabbat (no specific visiting hours have been set, please use your discretion when choosing a time to visit)
Condolences to Beatrice Stobezki & Nosson Stobezki on the passing of Tzvi Stobezki
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 Joan Solomon Weinberg - Yehudit Sarah bat Esther
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
Recently, a local medical student contacted our congregation with an opportunity to participate in a short survey looking at religion and spirituality in medical care and we are pleased to be a source of support. You will find a description of her project and information on how to participate at this link: Link: https://rowan.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_abIW62WUtVm0Isu
Join the NEW SOI Updates Whatsapp group!
For all the news and announcements you don't want to miss.
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
All submissions for the Newslink are due by noon on Wednesday
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 Our office manager, Jean Klein, will be out of the office for the week of August 1st. During this time, the office will be open with limited services Monday - Thursday, 8:00am - 12:00pm. Due to construction, please do not come to the synagogue without calling ahead.
For any urgent or time- sensitive needs contact: Co-presidents Ilana Weiss and Rabbi Heshy Chaitoff at the contact information below. Ilana: president@soicherryhill.org, 402-682-1166; Heshy: co-president@soicherryhill.org, 973-903-0703. For information to be submitted as announcements, please send to memberhotline@soicherryhill.org.
Congregation Sons of Israel 720 Cooper Landing Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
