REMEMBER TO MAKE AN ERUV TAVSHILIN TODAY FOR COOKING FOR THE SECOND DAY OF SHAVUOT
Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Yaakov and Avital Zeffren in honor of Aaron Zeffren in recognition of his volunteerism to the shul, being a consistent participant in seduah shlishit setup/cleanup, and for doing an excellent job with leading the end of davening on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Good work, Aaron!
SOI Annual Gala: Monday, June 12th at 6pm: Tickets and Journal Ads are now on sale. Purchase your tickets and ads here . Deadline for ads has been extended to Sunday, May 28th.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot All Night Learning: Thursday Night into Friday May 25th-26th beginning at 11:30pm. Pareve refreshment will be available.
Middle School Late Night Learning: Thursday Night into Friday 11:30pm-1:30am for boys and girls. Refreshments, games, and learning of course.
Shavuot Women's Shiur given by Rebbetzin Ora Davies: Friday, May 26th at 3:30pm "Dynasty and Destiny: The Making of Jewish Heroines" at the home of Dina Kivolowitz, 27 Ivy Lane.
Youth Programs: Friday, May 26th 3:30pm K-5th - Parsha Panoply & ice cream at the Weiss' home, 40 Ivy Lane: Middle School - special event with Tzvi & Rivka Goldstein at the Provda's home, 419 Columbia Blvd.
Friday Night Oneg at the Davies Home: May 26th at 9:00pm, 23 Liberty Lane.
Torah Slam and Enhanced Dairy Kiddush following Davening: Shabbat, May 27th. Registration is appreciated but not required. Thank you to our current sponsors: Robbie & Debbie Friedner, Yoni Berliant & Chani Wiesman, Rabbi Michael & Ora Davies. Signup or Sponsor here.
Wine & Treats with a Taste of Torah: Rabbi Davies will speak on the topic of The Laws of Jewish Matchmaking. Saturday, May 27th at 6:30pm hosted by the Belfers, 16 Isaac Lane.
NCSY Shavuot Events: Thursday Night, May 25th 12:00am - 5:00am All Night Learning with Chinese Dinner, Friday, May 26th 3:00pm Shavuot Lunch, Saturday, May 27th 7:30pm Mincha, 8:00pm Seudah Shlishit & Senior Farewell Program.
Annual Congregational Meeting and Board Election: Tuesday, May 30th 7:30 - 8:00pm on Zoom. Information regarding the slate and Zoom link was sent out to all members in a separate email. If you have any questions, contact Ilana Weiss at president@soicherryhill.org or Heshy Chaitoff at copresident@soicherryhill.org
Israel's 75th Birthday Celebration: Sunday, June 4th 10:00am - 2:00pm, Activities for everyone, food & live music at the Jewish Community Center, 1301 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill.
Schedule for the Weekend
Erev Shavuot: May 25: (Sivan 5) Remember to make an Eruv Tavshilin 7:58pm Candle Lighting 8:00pm Mincha/Maariv 9:05pm Earliest Preferable time to make Kiddush
Shavuot and Erev Shabbat: May 26: - 1st Day (Sivan 6) 5:00am K'Vatikin Minyan 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Sanctuary Minyan There will not be children's groups or kiddush on the first day of Shavuot 6:30pm Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv 6:46pm Plag HaMincha (Earliest Candle Lighting) 8:00pm Candle Lighting Please note that the time posted on the Politz candle lighting magnet is a misprint
Shabbat, May 27: Shavuot, Yizkor, (Sivan 7) 8:00am 8AM Minyan 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Sanctuary Minyan 10:00am Groups 10:30am Tot Shabbat 10:45am Yizkor in the Main Sanctuary 7:40pm Mincha 8:10pm Seudah Shlishit sponsored by Avital & Yaakov Zeffren 9:05pm Maariv 9:07pm 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 with you an excerpt from an article by Rabbi Nechemiah Coopersmith entitled ‘When I Decided to Take God and Religion Seriously’, about the significance of the commemoration of the revelation at Mt. Sinai and how it impacts each of us personally.
[...] When the Jews stood at Mount Sinai and God offered them the Torah, they replied as a unified nation, “Naaseh v’nishma – we will do and we will understand.” They accepted the Torah and all of its commandments right off the bat, without knowing everything that it entails. They signed on the dotted line, and only afterward read the fine print. Contrast this with how the non-Jewish nations responded to God's offering them the Torah. The Talmud says each nation asked, “What’s written in it?” which is a reasonable question. We want to know what we’re getting ourselves into if we sign this contract. God answered each nation by telling them the very commandment they were loath to accept, and each one rejected it.
What’s going on here? The impulsive Jews accept the Torah, no questions asked, and the reasonable-minded non-Jewish nations end up refusing it. Why?
God doesn’t need your stamp of approval. As the Creator of the universe and the source for all of existence, He determines reality. On offer wasn’t just a new self-help book full of advice and guidance from which you can pick and choose; the Torah is the blueprint of creation, the transcendent map that reveals the structure, purpose, and inter-connectedness of the entire universe. Its commandments enable one to harmoniously connect to its Author, becoming attached to the Infinite.
The Jews standing at Sinai heard God speak. Once they knew the Torah was coming from God – and yes, that’s a huge condition – they were ready to commit because that was Truth, regardless of how they felt about it. The other nations who asked, “What’s written in it?” were essentially telling God, “Let me see if this Torah fits into my lifestyle and if I like it.” The very question was a rejection; they were more interested in staying in their comfortable bubble than going with the truth. [...]
The holiday of Shavuot replicates the acceptance of Torah. It reminds me to set my sights on truth, not comfort. When it boils down to listening to God or my inner desires, I need to humble myself and subjugate my values to His values. It’s not easy, but if Torah is real, then I need to do the changing, not God. That’s the “we will do” part. Then there’s the “we will understand” – which means I have the unmatched opportunity to devote my lifetime to studying God’s blueprint and strive to understand as much as I possibly can, infusing my life with meaning and connecting to His boundless love. That’s what it means to take God and Torah seriously.
Mazal tov to Karine & Steve Koloski on the marriage of their son Jeremy to Shlomit Kulik
Thank you to Suzie Mindel, Sabrina Spector & Sabra Hess for helping with kiddush last week.
Thank you to Jeffrey Weiss, YaaKov & Aaron Zeffren, Matti Rosenberg, Yair Klein, Jonathan Delman & Yochai Yares for helping with Seudah Shlishit last week.
Thank you to Charles & Shari Weg for hosting the inaugural Vintage Club event.
A big thank you to the members of Team 1 for providing security on Shabbos. They are Debbie Pester, Guillaume Schpektor, Jeff Liss, Donna Moskowitz, Shari Solomon and Chemmie Sokolic. Also thank you to Debbie Fineberg, Hector from OPS and Sam Tilonsky.
Condolences to Dori Shapiro & Rabbi Shalom (and Miriam) Shapiro on the passing of Elie Shapiro - Elisheva Ilana bat Zalman Refael.
Condolences to wife Rhoda Miller and daughters Lori & Sheira on the passing of Dr. Reuven Miller. The funeral will be held Sunday, May 28 at 10:00am at Mt. Sharon Cemetery, 502 E. Springfield Road at West Avenue, Springfield, PA. Shiva will take place at the Miller Home, 2 East Riding Drive. Visiting hours will be Monday - Wednesday 2:00 - 5:00pm.
Gavriel Yehuda ben Chaya Sarah David Partnow - David Avram ben Tilla Razel Aaron Moshe ben Ruth Gaela bas Pinina Chayim Gedalya haLevi ben Henya Tobie Cohen - Tova Lieba bas Esther Chaya Alan Friedman - Avraham Pinchas ben Hudda Kayla Chaya bat Bayla Simcha Avraham ben Datya Leba Inga bat Bella Shaindel bas Gruna Leah Moshe Krumbein - Moshe ben Yehudit Sarah Shmuel ben Ita Ettle Tinok ben Esther Esther bat Yehudit Nechamah Avigail Sarit bat Emilia Yitzhak Dovid ben Gruna Leah
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Shoprite Scrip Now Available SOI Office Monday-Friday 10-2 Yaeli Sokolic at ycsgraphix@gmail.com Flo Shulman at florence.shulman@gmail.com
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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 Closed Monday, 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
