This Newslink is sponsored by Shari Solomon in honor of Charles Weg, who is celebrating a special birthday!
Announcements & Upcoming Events
Seudah Shlishit: SOI is pleased to resume Seudah Shlishit this Shabbat, October 22nd, between Mincha and Maariv. You can sponsor a week for $136. If you would like to sponsor and/or assist with future planning, please contact Matti Rosenberg.
Semichas Chaver Program with Rabbi Davies: New Zman/Semester beginning Wednesday, November 2, at 8:00pm! If you are interested in joining the Chaburah, please contact rabbi@soicherryhill.org.
Sisterhood Annual Membership Event - Caring for Ourselves and Caring for Our Community: Wednesday, October 26 at 7:30pm at SOI. Enjoy pink drinks and test your pink knowledge with our trivia contest. Guest speaker is Melissa Rosen, Director of Training and Education for Sharsheret. RSVP to aliza.sadiky@gmail.com and see flyer for additional details.
Busy in Brooklyn Cooking Demo: In Honor of our Renovated Kitchen Dedication Sons of Israel Presents Millenial Kosher with Chanie Apfelbaum, insta-famous food blogger, writer, recipe developer and food photographer. Sunday, October 30 7:00pm-10:00pm.
Advanced Talmud with Jeff Schwartz: For the last 30 years, a group of dedicated individuals have been studying Gemara together in depth. During the longer Shabbatot the Shiur takes place on Shabbat afternoon, but now that we are heading into the Fall/Winter the Shiur will be moving to Sunday evenings at 8pm in the SOI Chapel. If you are interested in a deep dive into the world of Talmud and its commentaries, this Shiur is for you. Contact Jeff Schwartz for more information.
Weekday Minyan Update: The 6:45am Weekday Shacharit and the Weekday Mincha/Maariv Minyanim have moved back to the Chapel post-Yom Tov. For those interested in social distancing there are spaced seats set up in the hallway/library portion of the Chapel. There is also a HEPA filter set up in the room for better air filtration.
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 Yehonasan Gefen entitled ‘The First Rashi’ in which he explains why the Torah begins the way that it does. [...] Rashi opens his monumental commentary on the Torah, quoting Rebbe Yitzchak, who tells us that the Torah should have begun with the first mitzvah of sanctifying the new moon, and it only opened with the story of Creation and the subsequent events in order to teach us that the Jewish people have a God-given right to the land of Israel. The commentators ask why this point is so significant to the extent that the order of the Torah is drastically changed because of it.
The Levush Haorah answers that if it is true that the Jewish people stole the land of Eretz Yisrael then the whole Torah is undermined because in the Torah there are mitzvot prohibiting stealing and of encroaching on the property of another person (hasagat gevul). Accordingly, the nations of the world will say that the Jews who claim to follow the Torah do not keep to its commands because they stole the land from the Seven Canaanite nations. And if the Jewish people will answer that God allowed them to steal it from the nations, then that is even more problematic as it demonstrates that even God Himself, does not, so to speak, observe His own commandments such as 'do to not steal' and hasagat gevul. This would cause a great Chillul Hashem (desecration of God's name) and undermine the whole message of the Torah.
Rebbe Yitzchak explains that the Torah addresses this argument, saying that there is no thievery here at all as God created the whole world and He determines who owns which land; It was His will that the nations have it at first, and it was His decision to take it from them and give it to the Jewish people.
The Levush Haorah teaches us a fundamental lesson with this explanation; Chillul HaShem is so serious that it is necessary to alter the nature of the Torah in order to avoid this possibility. This is because the whole purpose of Creation is Kiddush HaShem, the sanctification of God's name, the antithesis of Chillul HaShem. [...T]he Torah immediately assert[s] the God-given right of the Jewish people to own Eretz Yisrael. Thus the Torah begins with a vital message for all of us - just like God is extremely careful to be seen to be consistent with His Torah, so too we must be careful that our actions also be consistent with the mitzvot of the Torah.
Contact Information for Co-Presidents Ilana Weiss: president@soicherryhill.org Rabbi Heshy Chaitoff: copresident@soicherryhill.org
SOI is looking for volunteers for the Busy in Brooklyn event, October 30th. This will be for setup, serving, clean up, check in, and serving drinks. Looking for 15 volunteers if possible. (This will not include free admission) Please contact Donna Moskowitz at donnamoskowitz1@gmail.com
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 Estelle Lerner on the birth of a grandson
and to Joey Lerner on the birth of a nephew.
Thank you to Baila Silverman, Tamar Wiener, Liana Weinberg, Daniel Malamud, Heshy Chaitoff, Sylvia Levine, Sandy Crass, Ora Davies and Anna Schwartz for helping with kiddush last week. We are so grateful to the many volunteers who contributed to the wonderful experiences that we had together over the chagim. A full list of these important helpers will be sent out separately.
Thank you to the following people who gave of their time to help provide security.
Shabbos: Debbie Fineberg, Avi Rynderman, Jeff Liss, Donna Moskowitz, George from OPS and Sam Tilonsky
Shemini Atzeret: Bill Jungreis, Debbie Fineberg, Ken Panitch, Debbie Pester, Harvey Chaitoff, Jeff Liss, Adam Shulman, Shari Solomon, Daniel Eisenstein, Avi Rynderman, Bail Silverman and Sam Tilonsky
Simchat Torah: Bill Jungreis, Debbie Fineberg, Ken Panitch, Debbie Pester, Harvey Chaitoff, Steve Koloski, Robbie Friedner, Donna Moskowitz, Shari Solomon, Jack Fuchs, Seth Cohen, Lynn Jungreis and Sam Tilonsky
A very special thank you to those individuals who stepped up to fill the open security slots on Simchat Torah. Your dedication to keeping us safe is phenomenal.
Mike Update: Mike saw his doctor today; staples are out; everything is going in the right direction; keep doing PT. Everyone, thanks for caring.
Alarms on the Succah and Sanctuary Emergency Exit doors are activated again. Please do not open the doors unless it is an emergency.
Condolences to Moshe Moskowitz on the passing of his beloved mother,
Gittel Moskowitz Shiva is being held at the Moskowitz home, 30 Coach Lane
Shiva Minyan Schedule: Mincha/Maariv at 5:50pm on Thursday Shacharit at 7:00am Friday and Monday; 7:30am Sunday The family requests no visitors after 9:30pm, after 3pm on Friday
Sign Up to Participate in Shiva Minyanim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condolences to Elly Edenbaum (Steve) the passing of her beloved brother, Arthur Rubenstein. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condolences to Ari (Shayni) Weinstein (Chazzan & Pnina Horowitz's Son-in-Law) on the passing of his beloved father earlier this week in South Africa.
We are pleased to inform the congregation that much of the work on the front of the building has been completed which allows for more consistent access through the front doors. As you arrive at the front of the building you can see the beautiful new face of the building, smooth new concrete, and the awning being assembled. The front of the building may be used to enter the building. The fob and doorbell system have been restored as well. Should you be unable to enter the building for weekday davening, please knock on the sanctuary door at the back of the building. If you need to access the building during office hours, please call the office at (856) 667-9700. Thank you for your patience as we beautify our campus! SOI Co-Presidents
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 Chaim Leib HaLevi ben Batya Gittel
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
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 General office hours are Monday - 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
