Newslink for Shabbat Shuvah/Parsha Haazinu (September 22 - September 24)
09/21/2023 06:02:09 PM
Sep21
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Announcement & Upcoming Events
Kiddush is sponsopred anonymously in honor of Shabbat Shuva. Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Duke McCarthy. ​​​​​​​Teen Seudah Shlishit is also sponsored by Duke McCarthy. ​​​​​​​ Kol Nidre Campaign: Your support enables us to serve Hashem as a kehillah, support our membership and the greater Jewish community, and ensure financial stability as we continue to thrive and grow. Click Here to support SOI's Kol Nidre Campaign.
Kibbudim Bidding: Bidding for honors closes at 12:00pm on Erev Yom Kippur. Take advantage of this beautiful way to participate in Yom Kippur services. Consider showing your admiration or appreciation for a friend, family member or community member by presenting them with an honor on this most special day. Click Here to place your bid.
Tefillot LaKehillah Initiative: Based on Rabbi Davies' Drasha for Parshat Nitzavim Vayelech, we are making an active effort to focus our priorities in our Tefillot for the Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days). Please fill out the form keeping in mind that the information you share, anonymously, will then be shared with others in our community, thereby allowing them and the community as a whole to daven for each and all of us over this highly spiritual and meaningful time.
Men's Mikvah at SOI: On behalf of the Men's Mikvah at SOI we want to wish everyone a K'Siva V'chasima Tova! There will be mikvah open hours Erev Yom Tov between 8:00am - 6:00pm. Make sure that you bring your own towel, no towels will be provided. The mikvah relies on your financial support in order to continue to function. Please see the packages on the form and choose whichever is right for you and your family. If you joined this time last year when we launched our membership campaign it is time to renew. Having commitments at the beginning of the year will give the Mikvah a reliable source of income to manage the annual operations of the Mikvah.
Shabbat Shuva Drasha: Teshuva as a Return to Self delivered by Rabbi Davies. Saturday, September 23rd following davening. Concurrent magic show for children led by Dore Provda.
Semichas Chaver Program with Rabbi Davies: Wednesday evenings at 8pm. Stay tuned for review session information. The new Zman/semester begins in mid-October. For more information or to sign up please contact rabbi@soicherryhill.org.Â
Arba Minim Sale: Tuesday, September 26th from 7:30pm - 9:30pm in the SOI Social Hall. Come in and purchase your arba minim - no pre-orders. Three tiers available - $55, $65, $75, For more information contact Heshy Chaitoff at copresident@soicherryhill.org.
Sukkah Decorating: Friday, September 29th from 11:00am-12:30pm. Come join B'nei Akiva for exciting Sukkot themed activities outdoors at the SOI Sukkah.
Candy Sukkah Building Competition: Sunday, October 1st Groups begin at 10am & activity begins at 10:30am outside the sukkah for K-8th grade Save the Date for the SOI Pre-Simchat Torah Auction!  Wednesday, October 4th starting at 7:30pm. Join from your own home over Zoom or experience the auction at one of several intimate outdoor "block parties" happening around the community. A wonderful opportunity to support SOI and have lots of fun with food, drink, and good friends. If you would like to be a host in your sukkah or if you have goods or services that you would like to donate, contact Heshy Chaitoff at copresident@soicherryhill.org. Signups for block parties will be forthcoming. Vintage Sukkah Progressive Dinner: Wednesday, October 4th beginning at 5:00pm. Visit and enjoy 3 different sukkahs for 3 different courses. The third course will also host the Pre-Simchat Torah Auction (see above). Register Here
Simchat Torah Lunch:Â Sunday, October 8th from 1:30pm-3:30pm. Join us for a community lunch catered by Star of David. Pre-registration is required by Oct. 2nd.Register Here.
       Schedule for Weekend ​​​​​​​ Erev Shabbat, September 22 (Tishrei 7) 5:50am Sephardi Selichot 6:05am Selichot 6:45am Shacharit 8:15am Shacharit 6:39pm Candle Lighting 6:40pm Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv
Shabbat, September 23: Shabbat Shuva, Ha'Azinu (Tishrei 8) 8:00am 8AM Minyan 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Sanctuary Minyan 9:50am Latest Shema 10:00am Youth Groups 10:30am Tot Shabbat 10:30am Donuts & Discussion 11:00am Kiddush sponsored anonymously 11:00am Shabbos Shuva Drasha 4:55pm Gemara Shiur 6:15pm Mincha 6:15pm Teen Minyan & Seudah Shlishit 6:45pm Seudah Shlishit sponsored by Duke McCarthy 7:35pm Maariv 7:36pm Havdalah
Sunday, September 24: Erev Yom Kippur (Tishrei 9) 6:45am Selichot 7:00am Shacharit 7:45am Selichot 8:00am Shacharit 3:00pm Mincha 6:20pm Camp Shofar 6:20pm Kol Nidrei 6:34pm Fast Begins 6:37pm Candle Lighting
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 of an article by Rabbi Abba Wagensberg entitled "Guaranteeing a Good Year" which describes HaShem's love for us and encourages our reciprocation of that love.
[...] The Amidah of the High Holiday prayers contains the prayer, "You chose us from all the nations, You loved us and You desired us." Although this prayer is phrased in the past tense, it also implies that God continually chooses, loves, and desires the Jewish people. The commentator Dover Shalom explains that the three expressions used in this prayer correspond to three levels of love. The lowest level is when we are loved because we are better than the other available options. Although we may be flawed, we are superior in comparison to the alternatives. The middle level is when we are loved because we are inherently good. The highest level is when we are loved unconditionally, for no reason at all. If there was a reason, it would be the reason that was loved, not us!
The phrase "You chose us from all the nations" corresponds to the lowest level of love, when we are loved only in comparison to the alternative options. The Talmud (Avodah Zara 2b, on Deut. 33:2) teaches that God initially offered the Torah to the nations of the world, all of whom refused to accept it. Only the Jewish people eagerly responded, "We will do and we will hear!" (Exodus 24:7). Based on this positive response, God gave the Torah to us. [The Jews could therefore more accurately be called the Choosing People, not the Chosen People. We chose God first, and He reciprocated. From the Jewish perspective, God will choose anyone who chooses Him.] The phrase "You loved us" corresponds to the second level of love, when we are loved due to our intrinsic goodness. Not only are we preferable over other options; we are actually inherently lovable! Finally, the phrase "You desired us" corresponds to the highest level of love: inexplicable, absolute love that does not depend on reason.
[...] The preface to the Otzer Tefillot states that the main thrust of the High Holiday prayers is for God to reveal Himself to all nations and peoples, thereby eliminating the desecration of His name and increasing its sanctification. Perhaps our Sages chose to word the prayers this way so that we could attempt to reciprocate God's love and devotion to us. On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, when our very lives are hanging in the balance, the greatest demonstration of love is our ability to rise above our personal concerns and devote ourselves solely to the revelation of God's glory. When God sees that we are mature enough to disregard our own needs and put His will above all else, He will do anything for us. This is the best way to secure for ourselves a sweet new year. [...]
As we approach the Day of Judgment, may we learn how to take ourselves out of the center and focus on God, and through this ultimate demonstration of love, may we be inscribed in the Book of Good Life.
Security for Shabbos and Rosh HaShana was provided courtesy of the Red Squadron, The Mod Squad and the following individuals: Â Avi Rynderman, Meir Miskin, Aaron Rubenstein, Jeff Liss, Guillaume Schpektor, Donna Moskowitz, Shari Solomon, Chemmie Sokolic, Chani Wiesman Berliant, Debbie Fineberg, Andy Rauer, Dan Eisenstein, Bill from JFeds and Sam Tilonsky.
Be Safe - Wear Your Reflective Belts
Thanks to the generosity of the Kraut Family these reflective safety belts have been distributed through the OU to many synagogues free of charge. Â Baruch HaShem these belts have literally saved lives.Â
Pick up your free reflective belt, in the lobby, when you are leaving shul after Kol Nidrei. Â
Don’t forget to wear your reflective safety belts when walking to and from shul.  ​​​​​​​
Gavriel Yehuda ben Chaya Sarah David Partnow - David Avram ben Tilla Razel Aaron Moshe ben Ruth Gaela bas Pinina Chayim Gedalya haLevi ben Henya 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 Esther bat Yehudit Nechamah Yitzhak Dovid ben Gruna Leah Reizel bas Yentel Peretz Yirmiyahu ben Elka Moshe Simcha ben Sarah Ester Chavah Nachamah bat Rifka Miriam Gershon Daniel ben Malka Chaya Terry ben Helen ​​​​​​​Cohat Sivel ben Leah
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Congregation Sons of Israel 720 Cooper Landing Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
