This week's kiddush is sponsored by Steve and Judy Herzberg in loving memory of Steve's parents on the occasion his Mother's Yarzheit this Shabbat.
Seudah Shlishit: SOI is pleased to resume Seudah Shlishit between Mincha and Maariv. If you would like to assist with future planning, please contact Matti Rosenberg. Click here to sponsor Seudah Shlishit for $136.
This week's Seudah Shlishet is sponsored by Cantor Moshe Moskowitz in memory of his father Chaim Moskowitz on the occasion of his yahrzeit. 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. Busy in Brooklyn Cooking Demo: In Honor of our Renovated Kitchen Dedication Sons of Israel Presemts Millenial Kosher with Chanie Apfelbaum, insta-famous food blogger, writer, recipe developer and food photographer. - Sunday, October 30 7:00pm-10:00pm
Unveiling for Hillel Pester, beloved husband of Debbie Pester: Sunday, November 6 at 10:30 am at Crescent Memorial Park Cemetery - 7349 Westfield Ave, Pennsauken, NJ 08110.
SOI Hospitality Shabbat: Parshat Vayera, November 11-12, 2022. We will kickstart Shabbat with a Friday night oneg at the Davies home, open to the community. We invite you to meet the members of our community by participating in the Hospitality Shabbat lunch where you can choose to be a host or guest by filling out a brief form. Spending a Shabbat meal together is a wonderful way to forge new relationships and enjoy the company of new friends! Signup at https://bit.ly/SOIhospitality.
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 Ari Kahn entitled ‘The First Echo Chamber’ in which he describes the right and wrong kind of unity. [...] This generation [of the dispersion] was marked by unity, by a shared purpose and a common, agreed-upon goal. This seems to be a very positive, even admirable trait; indeed, the tone of the verses sounds encouraging, hopeful. The people of this generation want to remain unified, to live in peace and harmony. Why did God find it necessary to intervene, to micro-manage, to disperse them? [...] They were punished with exile and dispersion, scattered far and wide. And since no other crime is mentioned in the text, we must assume that their unity was the problem.
[...] The legend of Avraham the iconoclast who was thrown into the fiery furnace for espousing his belief in a singular, omnipotent God of Mercy, is closely intertwined with the episode of the tower. There, in the Valley of Shinar, a furnace was used to make bricks. The people involved in the project were unified in their quest, as well as in their desire to kill Avraham. Their particular brand of unity left no room for dissent.
The mindset of the generation of dispersion may be seen as a reaction to the experience of the previous generation: The "every man for himself" mentality had brought the flood; this new generation broke down all personal boundaries for the sake of unity, creating an atmosphere of enforced conformity. This generation lived in a self-imposed echo chamber, in which everyone was forced to espouse the same beliefs and aspire to the same goal. This generation did not seek salvation on a boat, but in a tower, a monolithic structure that represented their singular resolve and uniformity. This unity was preserved by expunging all dissonance - by eliminating all dissidents.
Avraham refused to fit in. He spoke about a kind, benevolent God, a God whom people in the post flood/holocaust generation could not accept. They rejected the notion that God is merciful; they refused to consider mercy a value. Some rabbinic sources suggest that this generation rejected the notion of God altogether. Avraham, the young, idealistic, ethical monotheist, expressed ideas which they found abhorrent, and with one unified voice they called for the murder of the man who would bring so much light to the world.
Unity such as this, emboldened by sheer numbers and whipped into a murderous frenzy by anger and hatred, must be dismantled. The people who espoused it were not washed away or cast into their own furnace; they were separated, dispersed, their unity cast to the wind, waiting to be restored under a banner of peace through understanding, of harmony born of different voices - and of kindness.
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 Harvey and Sharon Chaitoff on the birth of a granddaughter! Mazal Tov to the proud parents, Hillel and Ester Chaitoff. Mazel tov to Sari & Yaakov Linder & big sister Yael on the birth of a baby girl, Shoshana Tzirel.
Thank you to Baila Silverman, Tamar Wiener, Liana Weinberg, Daniel Malamud, Heshy Chaitoff, Sylvia Levine, Sandy Crass, Ora Davies, Donna Moskowitz and Anna Schwartz for helping with kiddush last week.
hank you to Matti Rosenberg and Moshe Moskowitzt for restarting Seudah Shlishit. Thank you to additional volunteers: Yair Klein, Yaakov Linder, Dan Malamud, Flo Shulman, Jeffrey Weiss, and Yaakov Zeffren. Thank you to Yaakov Zeffren for sponsoring last week's seudah Shlishit.
Thank you to Josh Joress, Avi Rynderman, and Jeffrey Weiss for taking down the schach from the sukkah.
Thank you to Hannah Kaufman, Aliza Sadiky and Sabrina Spector for organizing the Sisterhood Annual Membership Event
Thank you to Baila Silverman, Avi Rynderman, Oze Henig, Gerald Mindel, Avi Sadiky and Donna Moskowitz for all their hard work painting the beautiful kitchen.
A big thank you to Bill Jungreis, Debbie Fineberg, Avi Rynderman, Jeff Liss, Robbie Friedner, Harvey Chaitoff, Avi Sadiky, Jack Fuchs, Chani Weisman Berliant, Hector from OPS and Sam Tilonsky.
Fire Lane Parking Please don’t park in the fire lane at the front of the building, even if you are there for “just a minute”. Parking is available in the upper lot and along the fence line.
Door Alarms The alarms on the succah and sanctuary doors are active once again. Please don’t go out these doors unless it is an emergency.
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. Arie's email address is awein47@gmail.com for anyone would like to send him a condolence note.
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 Chaim Leib HaLevi ben Batya Gittel Tobie Cohen, Tova Lieba bas Esther Chaya
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
