Weekly Newslinks

The Newslink is sponsored by the Mishlochei Manot Committee in appreciation for all of the volunteers who helped package and deliver boxes and make this year’s campaign a huge success.

The Newslink is also sponsored by AdvocareSJColonDocs.com - Drs. Eytan Irwin & Edwin Empaynado
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month - Colonoscopy Starts @ 45.

Announcements & Upcoming Events

Schedule for the Weekend

Erev Shabbat, March 10 (Adar 17)
6:45am Shacharit
8:15am Shacharit
5:43pm Candle Lighting
5:45pm Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv

Shabbat, March 11: Parshat Parah, Ki Tisa (Adar 18)
8:00am 8AM Minyan
8:30am Sephardic Minyan
9:00am Main Sanctuary Minyan
9:14am Latest Shema
10:00am Youth Groups
10:30am Tot Shabbat
11:00am Kiddush is sponsored by Eyal & Aliza Levy
5:25pm Mincha
5:55pm Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Duke McCarthy
6:40pm Maariv
6:43pm Havdalah

Sunday, March 12 (Adar 19)
7:00am Shacharit
8:00am Shacharit
6:50pm Mincha/Maariv
8:00pm In-Depth Gemara Shiur

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 Shraga Simmons entitled ‘The Golden Calf: Yesterday and Today’ on how the lure of idolatry affects us to this very day.

[...] The question [on this week's Parsha] is obvious: If the Jews had just witnessed God's awesome power in the Ten Plagues, the splitting of the Red Sea, and the revelation at Mount Sinai, how could these same people turn around and worship a Golden Calf?! [...]

Maimonides explains that idolatry is not a single step, but rather a process. In the old days, someone would carve a piece of stone and call it the "sun god." He'd want to pay tribute to God as creator of the sun. Before long, they were worshipping the sun itself. They believed that something other than God was the ultimate source of strength and salvation. Today, it's not uncommon to believe that money, fame, stock options, status, an iPhone, or good looks is our source of fulfillment and happiness. Treating something other than God as having ultimate significance is the very definition of idolatry! People start off focused and clear on the priorities of life. But then we get sidetracked and may even forget what we're truly living for. We imagine that putting our trust in [fill in the blank – money, power, beauty, prestige, etc.] will bring me happiness. [...]

After Moses came down from the mountain and smashed the Tablets, he issued a pronouncement to all Jews: "You can now turn back and avoid tragedy. Stop worshipping the Golden Calf and affirm your loyalty to God." Only the Tribe of Levi, comprising about 3% of the Jewish population, accepted Moses' words. The other 97% remained stuck in their failed venture. How often do we see someone continuing a destructive relationship simply because they're deeply invested and stuck. The physical or emotional gratification may have us hooked. And once we're in, it's hard to stop.

[...] It's true what they say: "The fight for life is the fight for sanity." Many times in life, we hear a little voice in our head saying, 'Stop the idolatry.' Something will challenge us to stand up and be counted. In which camp are we? Do we have the clarity and conviction to stay on the right track? Because how we respond will have implications not only for us, but for generations beyond.

The lesson of the Golden Calf is to think about what we're doing. What starts innocently may turn out tragic. Have we lost sight of our true priorities? Are we being swept away by the mob? We need to take a deep breathe and read the signs being sent to us every moment. With the right clarity, when we hear the voice, we will stand up and be counted.

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.

Thank you to everyone who made purim at SOI so joyous and successful.

Thank you to Megillah Baalei Kriah: Jeff Schwartz, David Raush, Eric Klein, Yoni Berliant, and Akiva Fischman

Thank you to sponsors of hamantashen on Purim night: Avi & Aliza Sadiky in honor of the 25th anniversary of Aliza’s bat mitzvah.

Thank you to those who helped with the SOI & Politz Mishloach Manot Campaign:  Organizers: Oze & Maetal Henig and Adam & Flo Shulman; Backend Technical Setup & Implementation: Eytan Irwin; Mishloach Manot Packers: Yoni Berliant, Paul Berlin, Hildy Berlin, Sandy Crass, Yael Davidowitz, Yosef Davidowitz, Rory Eisenstein, Elon Elisha, Oze Henig, Maetal Henig, Diane Irwin, Melissa Klein, Sarah Klein, Meir Levy, Gerald Mindel, Aliza Sadiky, Baila Silverman, Shayna Simon, Yaeli Sokolic, Keren Sokolic, Sabrina Spector, Penny Zeffren, Adam Shulman, Flo Shulman, Shira Anaki; Mishloach Manot Deliverers: Alisa Fox, Oze Henig, Melissa Klein, Sylvia Levine, Aliza Levy, Sheryl Lomas- Malamud, Moshe Moskowitz, Alise Panitch, Ken Panitch, Debbie Pester, Avi Rynderman, Aliza Sadiky, Avi Sadiky, Adam Shulman, Baila Silverman, Shayna Simon, Chemmie Sokolic, Sabrina Spector, Sam Tilonsky, Oriel Weinberg, Chani Wiesman, Ilana Yares.

Thank you to the sponsors of the Purim Seudah: Grand Sponsors: Meir & Vicki Miltz, Elon & Neely Elisha; Cowboy Sponsor: Avi Rynderman & Dr. Baila Silverman, TL Weinberg & Sabra Hess; Boots Sponsors: Jonathan & Devora Delman, Oze & Maetal Henig, Gersh & Melissa Klein.

Thank you to the Purim Seudah Committee and Event Volunteers: Chairperson: Madi Botwinick; Committee: Ora Davies, Dina Kivolowitz, Rena Oshlag, Jenni Provda, Anna Schwartz; Event Helpers: Sylvia Levine, Daniel Malamud,  Avi Rynderman, Aliza Sadiky, Devora Schpektor, Guillaume Schpektor, Baila Silverman, Yaeli Sokolic, Chani Weisman, Tamar Wiener; Teen Helpers: Allison Bender, Chana Davies, Yehoshua Davies, Leya Elisha, Lyla Lubin, Aidan Provda, Grant Provda, Naama Weiss.

New House of Kosher Donation Program
SOI will automatically earn 2% of your total purchase when you use our code when checking out!  SOI's code is 0720

(Think of our shul's address and add a "0" at the start!)

Mazel tov to Eyal & Aliza Levy on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Lydia.

Thank you to Oze, Maetal, Neta, Aviv & Gal Henig Henig, Tova & Benji Kurlansik & Tamar Wiener for helping with kiddush last week.

Thank you to Malka Moskowitz, Matti Rosenberg, Yair Klein, Aliza & Jonathan Delman for helping with seudah shlishit last week.

Thank You to Helen Baker and Donna Moskowitz for organizing the SOI get-together event with Rabbi Davies in Florida.

Thank you to Bill Jungreis, Debbie Fineberg, Harvey Chaitoff, Seth Cohen, Jeff Liss, Steve Koloski, Robbie Friedner, Shari Solomon, Hector from OPS and Sam Tilonsky for providing security on Shabbos.

IMPORTANT FRONT DOOR UPDATE

Our new front doors are scheduled to be installed during the week of March 20th.  
Please watch for updates as this momentous occasion draws closer.
​​​​​​​

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

Please help us keep this list up to date.  If you have names to add or would like to have a name removed from this list, please email memberhotline@soicherryhill.org.

 Click below for a link to the prayers for good health and healing that you can recite for our ailing members

​​​​There are many ways to support our Shul:

(check out our website for more oportunities)

Yartzeit Plaque ($400)

Shabbat Security ($180)

Siddur for the sanctuary ($50)

Chumash for the sanctuary ($75)

Newslink ($36)

Welcome Basket ($18)

Bottle Club ($36)

Kiddush (starting at $180)

Join the SOI Updates Whatsapp group!

For all the news and announcements you don't want to miss.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/J2uWWdEVNogLTdyHvoYEJ4

ERUV UPDATE
Sign up to receive email communications by clicking here and filling out a short formPlease check your spam if you are not getting notifications from the new Eruv Hotline

UPCOMING/ONGOING
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

                There is no class with Rabbi Hollander this week. 

UPCOMING/ONGOING
EVENTS & PROGRAMS

YOUTH & TEENS
EVENTS & PROGRAMS

UPCOMING COMMUNITY
EVENTS & PROGRAMS

Dear Friends,  I wish to thank all of you for your well wishes, gifts, and visits on behalf of my surgery!  Thanks again, Janet Miller

To Everyone who contributed to my Shalach Manot this year I say thank you very much. Due to circumstances I was not able to participate this year, but G-d willing next year things will be better & I will be able to.
Chag Purim Sameach, Alan Friedman

WAYS TO HELP SOI PAINLESSLY

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

https://www.soicherryhill.org/form/purchase_scrip

If you have news to share please send the info to:
MEMBER HOTLINE
memberhotline@soicherryhill.org

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 - 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