Women's Shiur: Saturday, August 20 4:30pm given by Malka Feibush at the home of Jillian Daniels
Semichas Chaver Program with Rabbi Davies: Thursday, August 25 after Mincha/Ma'ariv Please note date change for this week only.
End of Summer Bonfire: Motzai Shabbat, August 27 9-10:30, hosted by the Panitch and Gal families at 2108 Aqueduct Lane, live music and light refreshments - men and women invited to attend, adults only please. For more information contact Anna Schwartz - annakeoo@gmail.com.
Chodesh Elul Book Club: As we head toward the High Holy Days and the Season of Repentance, we will be reviewing and going through the exercises in the book Immunity to Change by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey. The book is available on Hoopla, so anyone with access to the Cherry Hill library has access to both the electronic copy and the audio version of the book. - First session will meet Monday, August 29 8:30pm-9:30pm in the SOI Kiddush Room.
Mezuzah and Tefillin Checking with Rabbi Long: Monday, August 29 - Friday, September 2. To schedule an appointment contact Chanan Avraham (Shawn) Baratz: Call/Text 856-870-3333 or Email shawnbaratzsoi@gmail.com
Save the Date: Welcome Back BBQ Thursday, September 8 details to follow
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 Boruch Leff entitled ‘Appreciating the Process’, which discusses how we are able to achieve love and fear of HaShem. [...] "And now, Israel, what does God, your Lord, ask of you but to fear God, your Lord, to go in all His ways, and to love Him." (Devarim 10:12) [...] How can love or fear be commanded? How is it possible to command an emotion? Either I already love and fear God or I don't. But commanding me to love God does not make me love Him. [...W]hat is the meaning of a commandment for an emotion, and how can I fulfill it?
The Rambam in Yesodei HaTorah, 2:2 (Fundamentals of Torah) presents an approach to loving and fearing God that addresses all of our questions: "What is the path to love and fear Him? When a person thinks deeply of His wondrous and awesome creations and actions and sees from them His infinite wisdom, inevitably and necessarily, he will love, praise, glorify, and desire greatly to know the Great Name... And when he thinks of these things, he will inevitably and necessarily tremble and become afraid, knowing that he is a small, low, creature standing with feeble intelligence before the Perfect and Complete Knower of all things." [...] Only when it comes to commandments involving emotion, like loving and fearing God, does the Rambam feel compelled to present a path toward achieving it. This is because the Rambam acknowledges that it is not possible to command an emotion, unless there is a clear path to guarantee the attainment of the emotion.
The Rambam is showing us that pondering God's wondrous creations will unmistakably lead to the emotions of loving and fearing God. This is the path we must use if we wish to fulfill the commandments to love and fear God. And this is the approach we must take in relating to an invisible and intangible God. We must relate to and see Him through His creations.
We cannot actively involve ourselves nor worry about attaining the ultimate goal of feeling the emotions of love and fear for God. The only thing we can do is to embrace the process and the path toward the emotions of love and fear by daily and continuously contemplating His works throughout our lives. Through consistency and dedication to the process, the final goals - of love and fear of Him - will come.
The process is what needs focus, not the results. The results can only come if the process is accomplished well and the process will only be accomplished well if it is properly appreciated. [...] You need to be reflective in order to appreciate the process, removing yourself from the microcosm of the present event and contemplating how this experience fits into the entire picture of what you are accomplishing. Focus on the process, not the ultimate goal. [...]
Let's face it. We don't live forever, and unless we treasure our individual days, one by one, we will end up growing old even faster than we think - with nothing left to 'get over with' and nothing left to look forward to. Let's truly live the 'process' of life, not only the results. Living in this fashion helps us get more out of the years of our lives.
Speaking of the process, and following my remarks from last Shabbat entering year two, I believe this is a worthwhile moment to ask each of you to think about any ideas you might have to further enhance our experience at SOI. I invite you to email me at Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org.
Contact Information for Co-Presidents Ilana Weiss: president@soicherryhill.org Rabbi Heshy Chaitoff: copresident@soicherryhill.org
Welcoming New Members with a Service Dog
We are pleased to let the congregation know of a new family moving into the community over the summer. This family relies on the use of a service dog and you might see the dog accompany the family at shul. Service dogs help perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities and they are well trained.
Please keep in mind these important best practices: - Do not feed/pet/distract the dog while the dog is in his harness. Ignoring the dog altogether is best. - Do not grab the harness in an attempt to guide. This is alarming for the handler. - Talk to your kids about the work service dogs do and prep kids to not feed/pet/distract the dog.
Preparing yourselves and your family to encounter a service dog in shul will help ease this family's transition into the community. Contact Chani Wiesman with any questions at chaniwiesman@gmail.com.
Important Membership Dues Reminder As the High Holidays draw near, we are so glad that so many of our members have already renewed their SOI membership dues for this year! If you have not yet done so, please take a moment to log into your ShulCloud account on www.soicherryhill.organd pay your membership dues for the 22-23 year. You can either pay in full, send a partial payment or set up a payment plan. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your account, please contact the Financial Secretaries Yaeli Sokolic ( financialsecretary@soicherryhill.org / 551-206-7385) or Michael Partnow (mrpmjp@aol.com/ 609-760-9083). Thank you!
What Do You Love To Do? Congregation Sons of Israel thrives on the efforts put forth by our volunteers. We would love to connect you with committees that can use your help in ways that utilize your unique skills, talents, and interests. Click here to let us know what you love to do so you can get involved!
Mazel Tov to Helen & Alan Baker on the marriage of their granddaughter Yali Schaffel to Yehuda Zev Lifchetz
Mazel tov to Donna & Bob Moskowitz on their 30th wedding anniversary.
Mazel Tov to Menorah and Jeff Schwartz on the birth of a granddaughter.
Mazel Tov to Lainie and Norman Fastman on the marriage of their granddaughter. Mazel Tov as well to aunt and uncle Sarah and Ron Zanger.
Thank you to Sylvia Levine, Baila Silverman, Sophia Miltz, Vicki Miltz, Ilana Weiss, Liana Weinberg, Donna Moskowitz, Yaeli Sokolic, Flo Shulman & Tamar Wiener for helping with kiddush last week.
PARENTS: Recently multiple children have been running around in the sanctuary and small chapel. We have even witnessed them entering the Aron Kodesh after davening has ended. The sanctuary is not the place for this kind of activity. Please watch your children closely. Thank you.
Thank you to Bill Jungreis (doors and early minyan), Debbie Fineberg (doors and main minyan), Ken Panitch (main minyan), Harvey Chaitoff (cameras), Adam Shulman (cameras), Michael Morgenstern (cameras), Donna Moskowitz (cameras), Jeff Liss (cameras), Chemmie Sokolic (cameras), Jack Shulman (vestibule and sanctuary), Henry Miltz (vestibule and sanctuary), Shaul Glatt (vestibule and sanctuary), Mike from OPS and Sam Tilonsky.
30 minutes is all we ask. We desparately need more volunteers to help with security, especially during the High Holidays and Succot. The more people who volunteer the easier it is for everyone. VOLUNTEER!
New Fiscal Year - Locker Rental Renewals - New Rentals Available
From the Building Committee Seeking volunteers to assist with taking down the tents on Sunday, August 28th at 10AM. Contact Avi Rynderman at avirynd@gmail.com for more information or to sign up to help.
Mr. Finkelstein L'Chaim Bottle Club
The Bottle Club is seeking to replenish its cart for the upcoming year. Please consider donating a bottle of your favorite alcoholic beverage or making a donation at www.soicherryhill.org/sponsor to sponsor a bottle to be served at kiddush. Contact Donna Moskowitz for more information at donnamoskowitz1@gmail.com.
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.
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. There is some ongoing construction around the building including near the Politz Classrooms. Please remind your children of all ages to stay away from construction and not cross any barriers.
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.
Kosher by the Case Kosher by the Case is back for a bulk meat order pre-Rosh Hashanah. It allows for affordable prices for meat even with the cost of inflation baring down. The order form can be found here:
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 The office will be open from Monday to Friday 10am-2pm Rabbi Davies general office hours are Monday, Wednesday-Friday 10am-5pm
Congregation Sons of Israel 720 Cooper Landing Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
