in honor of Avital Zeffren and our 12th anniversary
Announcements & Upcoming Events
Kiddush is sponsored this week by Debbie Pester and family on the first yahrzeit of our beloved husband, father and brother, Hillel Yochanan ben HaRav Yaakov z'l. May his neshama have an Aliyah.
Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Malka & Moshe Moskowitz in memory of Malka's father Yitzchok Moskovic and Penny, Aaron and Johnny Zeffren in honor of their wonderful parents on the occasion of their 12th anniversay.
Musical Havdallah & Craft: Special Tu BShvat Edition - February 4th from 6:30-7:30pm. Geared towards ages 0-10, but all are welcome. Kids invited to come in their PJs. Contact oradavies@gmail.com for more information.
A Deep Look at Sefer Bereishit with Rabbi Michael Davies: Mondays at 8:00pm. Starting a new 2-week series: The Death and Legacy of Kayin. Next class is February 6. Zoom link Meeting ID: 88211049415
Mikvah Ohel Leah Shovavim Event: Wisdom to Enhance Your Marriage with Mrs. Yael Kaisman. Tuesday, February 7 at 7:45pm in SOI Kiddush Room. Event is Free, but please RSVP.
Semichas Chaver Program with Rabbi Davies: Next session will be Wednesday, February 8 at 8:00pm. For more information please contact rabbi@soicherryhill.org.
Donuts and Discussion: Saturday, February 11 at 10:30am with Rabbi Dovi Friedman in the Politz Beit Midrash Birthdays At the Shul Youth Seudah Shelishit: Celebrating Birthdays for October-February on Saturday, February 11. To add your child's name or to sponsor, click here.
Minute To Win It: Sunday, February 12, 12:30-2:00pm for 6th-8th Graders in the SOI Kiddush Room. Fast paced competitions Register at www.soicherryhill.org/event/minuteor for more info contact dovif88@gmail.com Red Cross Blood Drive: Sunday, February 19 from 9:00am-2:00pm at SOI. All donors will receive a $10 amazon gift card & a chance to win a trip to Florida. To sign up click here. For more information contact Jeff Lubin at lubin.jeffrey@yahoo.com
Chesed Opportunity for All Ages: Sunday, Feb. 19 from 10:00 -11:00am at SOI. Package Mishloach Manot bags & decorate cards for our local Holocaust survivors. RSVP tomadispalter@gmail.com
Shabbat, February 4: Beshalach (Shevat 13) 8:00am 8AM Minyan 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Sanctuary Minyan 9:40am Latest Shema 10:00am Youth Groups 10:30am Tot Shabbat 11:00am Kiddush sponsored by Debbie Pester and Family 4:45pm Mincha 5:15pm Seudah Shlishit sponsored by Malka and Moshe Moskowitz and the Zeffren Family 5:55pm Maariv 6:05pm 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 Abba Wagensberg entitled ‘Holy Measures’ sharing a beautiful idea from the Slonimer Rebbe.
This week's Torah reading tells of the Exodus from Egypt. In his monumental work, Netivot Shalom, the Slonimer Rebbe writes that the Jewish people merited to leave Egypt only because they cultivated within themselves a concept of kedusha (holiness). This is based on the verse: "And Moses took the bones of Yosef" (Exodus 13:19). However the word for "bones" - "atzamot" - is very close to another Hebrew word, "atzmuto," which means "his essence." Moses, the leader of the Jewish people, did not only take the bones of Yosef; he also took with him the essence of Yosef.
What is the essence of Yosef? [...] Yosef HaTzaddik, Yosef the righteous one, [...] withheld himself from engaging in immorality with the wife of Potiphar and anyone else. So Moses took with him not just the bones of Yosef, but also the essence of what Yosef represents - which is kedusha, separateness from immorality. Only in the merit of kedusha are the Jewish people redeemed from Egypt.
The commandment to be holy is repeated more often throughout the Torah than any other mitzvah. [...] Obviously, being holy is a very central part of being Jewish. So, the Slonimer Rebbe asks, why isn't it counted as one of the 613 commandants of the Torah? He answers that holiness is not a specific or technical issue that can be addressed by Jewish Law. Rather, it is what being Jewish is all about. If a person is not holy, he is not just lacking in one particular area, his Judaism is deficient as a whole. Holiness is the true measure of a Jew and any lack in this area is a blemish on one's entire being. The Slonimer Rebbe maintains that just as there is no commandment to "be Jewish," so too "being holy" is so much of the essence, that it cannot be an individual commandment.
As the Torah says: "You are a holy nation unto God your God and God has chosen you" (Deut. 14:2). It is only when we choose to live the lives of a holy people that we merit being the chosen people. Instead of being numbered among the 613 specific commandments, holiness is a "global mitzvah." [...]
May we all think holy, and be holy, and live up to the innate holiness that lies inside us. Just as our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt in the merit of their holiness, so we too should be redeemed from our current exile in the merit of our own efforts to be holy. 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.
2023 Congregational Survey Next week we will be sending out our congregational survey to all members in good standing. This survey is an important way for members to recognize our strengths, provide feedback where we could do better and help us plan strategically for the future. To ensure your ability to participate please Login to ShulCloudto check that we have the appropriate email address for you and to see that you do not have any outstanding membership payments to be made. If you have any questions about your account please contact SOI Financial Secretaries Yaeli Sokolic and Michael Partnow at financialsecretary@soicherryhill.org.
Automatic Defibrillator Campaign An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. SOI is planning to upgrade our current AED, which is more than 20 years old. The cost of a new one is approximately $1,800. Please partner with us by donating towards this goal by February 10th. While we hope to never use it, having an AED on hand could be what saves the life of someone you know and care about. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Ron Zanger.
Mazal tov to Chava & Avraham Friedler on the bris for their son, Yehuda.
Thank you to Flo Shulman, Aliza Sadiky, Tamar Wiener, Debbie Friedner, Vicki Miltz, and Alisa Fox for helping with kiddush last week.
Thank you to Malka & Moshe Moskowitz, Sandy Crass, Matti Rosenberg, Jonathan Delman & Rachael Folowoshele for helping with seudah shlishit last week.
Thank you to Debbie Fineberg, Avi Sadiky, Avi Rynderman, Harvey Chaitoff, Jeff Liss, Chani Wiesman Berliant, Michael Morgenstern, Steve Koloski, Chemmie Sokolic, Hector from OPS and Sam Tilonsky for providing security on Shabbos.
A big thank you to Dan Malamud for providing a consistent supply of face masks for the congregation to use.
Security Needs You More people are needed to volunteer for a 30 minute shift during Shabbos. The more volunteers, the easier it is for everyone. Please be generous. Contact Sam Tilonsky to learn more and sign up to help. It’s your shul, help keep it safe!
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 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 Alan Friedman - Avraham Pinchas ben Hudda Kayla Chaya bat Bayla Simcha Avraham Ben Datya Leba Karen Cohen - Esther Chaya bas Sara Chana Inga bat Bella Janet Miller - Devora bat Basha Meir Moskowitz - Meir Yisrael ben Devora Cayla
Click below for a link to the prayers for good health and healing that you can recite for our ailing members
We regret to inform you of the tragic passing of Howard Saul, Chaim Meir ben Zundel. The Levaya was held Sunday, January 29. To pay a Shiva call, contact Gail at 856-316-8538 or email at grsaul16@gmail.com
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. Please note the AmazonSmile will be ending on February 20, so be sure to get in your support while you can.
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 Office hours next week are Monday 9am-1:00pm 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
