Upcoming Deadlines: September 17th - Yizkor Book Submissions, September 18th - Honey Delivery Sponsorships, September 21st - Camp Shofar Registration
Shabbat Morning Youth Groups are Back! K-2nd Grade, 3rd-5th Grade Boys and 3rd-5th Grade Girls start at 10:00am. Tot Shabbat starts at 10:30am
Birthdays in the Park: Saturday, September 17 4:30pm-6:00pm To have your child's birthday announced or to be a sponsor, click here. Pre-Selichot 5783 Event: My Path to Observance:Saturday, September 17 11:30pm followed by Selichot at 1:00am, click here for more information. SOI Group Leader Orientation for 8th - 12th graders Sunday, September 18th 5:00pm - 6:30pm. RSVP Required: Text 917-991-1887 or email oradavies@gmail.com
Semichas Chaver Program with Rabbi Davies: Wednesdays at 7:30pm, Next session Wednesday, September 21. If you are interested in joining the Chaburah for the new Zman/Semester, please contact rabbi@soicherryhill.org.
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 Abba Wagensberg entitled ‘An Out Loud Prayer’, which speaks to the importance of Selichot and their connection to our Parsha. This week's parsha discusses the mitzvah of "first fruits." [...] The Midrash (Tanchuma 1) states that Moses saw prophetically that the Temple would be destroyed in the future, and that the mitzvah of the first fruits would no longer be able to be fulfilled. In response, Moses instituted three daily prayers to replace this service. The Midrash's statement is striking, since the Talmud (Brachot 26b) teaches that our three daily prayers were instituted by the Patriarchs. How can we understand this contradiction? Was it Moses or the Patriarchs who established our current system of prayer?
Furthermore, the Torah teaches that a specific statement must be recited by the person bringing the first fruits: "Then you shall answer and say...'An Aramean destroyed my forefather..." (Deut. 26:5). Rashi (citing Sotah 32b) explains that the word "you shall answer" refers to calling out in a loud voice. [...] This interpretation raises a difficulty. The Talmud (Brachot 24b) teaches that a person who raises his voice in prayer is considered to have little faith in God! Rashi explains that loud prayers imply a lack of belief that God can hear a whisper just as clearly. In practice, Jewish law follows this opinion (Orach Chaim 101:2, Mishna Brura 7). If we are not permitted to raise our voice in prayer, how can our Sages specifically require it at the time we bring the first fruits?
The commentator Chanukat HaTorah addresses this issue by stating that there are two categories of prayer. The first category is regular prayer, containing the three standard elements of praise, request and thanks. The second category is prayer that testifies explicitly that God hears our thoughts. There is an obvious difference between these two categories. It is forbidden to raise our voices if we are praying according to the first category, because the volume might be misconstrued as a lack of belief. However, if we pray according to the second category, and explicitly state that God hears our thoughts, then surely He can also hear our whispers! Thus, it is permitted to raise our voices, because doing so will not lead to any improper assumptions. [...]
The concept of two categories of prayer will resolve the problem of who instituted daily prayers as a replacement for the service of first fruits. [...W]e can suggest that both Moses AND the Patriarchs established our daily prayer service. The Patriarchs instituted prayer according to the first category, in which it is forbidden to call out loudly. Moses instituted prayer according to the second category, in which we explicitly state God's omniscience.
We see that the Amidah, corresponding to the Patriarchs, is said silently. But when do we experience Moses's type of prayer? One example is the Slichot service, in which we ask God's forgiveness for not only our improper actions and speech, but even for inappropriate thoughts. Asking forgiveness for improper thoughts is tantamount to acknowledging that God is aware of them. Thus, it is permissible to raise our voices. [...]
At last we see how this week's parsha relates to Slichot. When we read about the prayer spoken over the first fruits, we prepare ourselves to call out to God. Slichot, too, are spoken out loud, in order to awaken our emotions. They belong to the second category of prayer - Moses's category - in which we are encouraged to raise our voices to God and arouse our hearts to higher levels of connection. [...]
We see from our Parsha the importance of the Selichot that we recite as we head toward the Jewish New Year. I encourage you all to avail yourselves of the opportunity to join in this important type of Tefillah. We have two options for the first Selichot (for Ashkenazim): 1am following a wonderful program beginning at 11:30pm (Click Here for Details) and 6:15am prior to Sunday morning Shacharit. Selichot thereafter will begin at 6:15am before Rosh HaShanah and 6:05am during the Aseret Yimei Teshuvah.
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!
Do you want to join our staff of Group Leaders? Being a Group Leader is a great opportunity to add meaning to your Shabbat mornings, enhance the experiences of our cutest and youngest shul-goers, as well as foster useful life skills such as teamwork, leadership and board game strategy. 8th-12th graders are eligible for paid positions and younger middle schoolers can volunteer to help support our younger age groups. Please let Ora Davies know if you are interested by emailing oradavies@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!
Welcome to new members Noah & Madi Botwinick, Eyal & Aliza Levy & Jacob & Marina Levy, Shlomo & Kit Aronoff & Chaim & Alisa Fox
Mazel tov to Pam & Bob Benedon on the birth of a granddaughter.
Thank you to Gershon Klein, Joel Dahan & Ken Panitch for their contribution to the Bottle Club
Thank you to Vicki Miltz, Donna Moskowitz, Maetal Henig, Sylvia Levine & Sandy Crass for helping with kiddush last week.
Thank you to Anna Schwartz, Marsha Sadres, Estelle Lerner, Malka Moskowitz, and Donna Moskowitz for baking kugels for kiddushes.
Condolences to Dovi Meles on the passing of his grandmother, Clara Meles a"h Sarah Rivka bas Meir
A huge thank you to Debbie Fineberg (doors and main minyan), Ken Panitch (main minyan), Avi Rynderman (cameras), Guillaume Schpektor (cameras), Harvey Chaitoff (cameras), Chemmie Sokolic (cameras), Mike from OPS, Sam Tilonsky, our newest volunteers Shari Solomon (cameras) and Jack Fuchs (cameras).
The high holidays are rapidly approaching. Having enough security volunteers on regular days is always tough. It’s even harder at the holidays. Please volunteer fo a 30 minute shift during the holidays. Helping your community was never so easy. Contact Sam Tilonsky (drsamod@gmail.com) to volunteer.
Bikur Cholim along with Boscov's department store is sponsoring, "Friends helping Friends" on October 19,2022 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Amazingly you will get a 25% discount on most items in the store. All you have to do is donate $5.00 to SOI's Bikur Cholim organization and you will get your discount shopping pass. You then present it when checking out your purchase and receive your discount price. So get your discount shopping pass now!!! Call the shul office or Janet Miller at 856 667-0860 to receive you pass.
New Fiscal Year - Locker Rental Renewals - New Rentals Available
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 Yisroel Chanan ben Riva Alta
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
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. Snack items served at kiddush will no longer be individually packaged. Please be courteous to others and make use of the serving utensils provided.
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.
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 closed Monday for Labor Day and reopen Tuesday - 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
