Newslink for Shabbat Parashat Ki Tavo (September 20th - September 21st)
09/19/2024 05:01:03 PM
Sep19
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Newslink is sponsored by Marlene Goldhagen In Loving Memory of Bruce Goldhagen 19 Elul 5781
Announcements & Upcoming Events
Welcome, Freshman students and staff of Kohelet Yeshiva High School!
Kiddush is sponsored by Kohelet Yeshiva High School in gratitude to the Sons of Israel Community for hosting Kohelet Yeshiva High School Freshman Shabbaton! Seudah Shlishit & Teen Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Duke McCarthy.
Women's Halacha Shiur: Thursday, September 19th at 8:00pm in the SOI Chapel. Studying the Laws of Shabbat. Come join and learn.
Women’s Pirkei Avot Study Group: Saturday, September 21st at 4:30pm at the home of Suzie Lubin, 411 Cherry Hill Blvd.Come together for discussion led by Ora Davies on the third and fourth chapter of Pirkei Avot, sharing thoughts, insights, and inspiration. Texts will be provided.
B'nei Akiva of Cherry Hill Snif: Saturday, September 21st at 5:20pm for 1st-8th graders at Congregation Sons of Israel.
Semichas Chaver Program: Wednesday, September 25th at 8:00pm. Contact Rabbi Davies to participate or for more information. Women's Weekly Parsha Discussion: Wednesday evening, September 25th from 8:30-8:45pm. Join us on Zoom for a brief peer led discussion on the weekly parsha. Click Hereto Join the Zoom. Pre-Rosh Hashana Women's Shiur: Saturday, September 28 at 4:30pm. A shiur given by Ora Davies - Connecting and Feeling Inspired When Our Souls Feel Depleted - at the home of Gail Belfer, 16 Isaac Lane. Camp Shofar Registration is Open! Camp Shofar is a special childcare program for children of parents attending services at SOI during the High Holidays. This program is open to children ages 12 months - 5th grade. Children must be registered to attend these groups or be under the direct supervision of an adult during services. Early Bird registration is now in effect until September 23rd. This program is open to members and non-members with additional rates for non-members. Click here to register.
Shabbat, September 21: Ki Tavo (Elul 18) 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 4:30pm Women's Pirkei Avot Session 5:00pm Gemara Shiur 5:20pm Bnei Akiva Snif 6:20pm Mincha 6:20pm Teen Minyan 6:50pm Seudah Shlishit 7:35pm Maariv 7:38pm Havdalah
Sunday, September 22 (Elul 19) 7:00am Shacharit 7:00am Sephardi Selichot at Chabad 8:00am Shacharit 6:30pm Mincha/Maariv
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 article by Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy entitled "Increasing Good is the Antidote to Evil" that speaks about how to truly combat the challenges we face in the world today.
Parashat Ki Tavo begins by listing the steps we should take upon entering our homeland. We must acknowledge the good, give first fruits and tithes, provide for the leaders and teachers and care for the less fortunate. After giving the tithes we are commanded to make a speech, saying, ‘I have given to the Levite, proselyte, orphan and widow...I have not transgressed Your commandments and I have not forgotten [lo shachachti]’ (Deut. 26:13). This is a strange command. When else are we ever commanded to give a speech like this following the performance of a mitzva, stating that we have performed it and that we haven’t forgotten to perform it? Surely, if we are announcing that we have successfully performed a mitzva then it is obvious that we didn’t forget it?
Rashi explains that the phrase ‘I have not forgotten’ is actually referring to the requirement to make a blessing upon the separation of tithes. However, the question remains as the blessing or lack thereof does not actually change the essence or efficacy of the performance of the mitzva.
A possible answer is hinted to through the parallel with the final words of the previous parasha, ‘erase the memory of Amalek from beneath the heavens – do not forget [lo tishkach]’ (Deut. 25:19). Amalek represents absolute evil. It is a nation that preys upon the innocent and weak, and as such is the antithesis of the Jewish vision of helping the needy and the vulnerable. The Torah juxtaposes the story of Amalek with the commandment of the tithes, in order to show us that the only way to wipe out the abuse of the less fortunate is for the more fortunate to seek them out and act kindly. The society of Amalek worships power. The Torah, in contrast, constructs a society that cares for the powerless, the ‘Levite, proselyte, orphan and widow’.
Rav Kook states: The purely righteous: Don’t complain about wickedness, they increase righteousness; don’t complain about heresy, they increase faith; don’t complain about ignorance, they increase wisdom.
When we encounter challenging situations in our lives, often our first reaction is to complain and to focus on the negative. This approach, however, can lead us to sink deeper into the problem itself. We become consumed by the issue, and this blurs our ability to deal with it objectively. With a negative perspective, it is extremely difficult to create a positive outcome. Our complaining leads us to become part of the problem rather than a part of its solution. With all the problems facing our world today, we must realize that the remedy for the world’s ills lies in transcending the bad by overcompensating with good, combatting radical hatred with radical love. Darkness does not become diminished as a result of complaining about it or trying to cover it up, but rather through creating an abundance of light. And this message, as stated by the Torah, is so crucial, that we should all be able to proudly declare: ‘I have not forgotten!’
Mikvah Ohel Leah's annual Elul fundraiser is underway. Through the generous contributions of the members of our community we are able to maintain a beautiful mikvah and strenghten the observance of Taharat Hamishpacha in our community. We are so grateful for your continued support. Thank you and tizku lmitzvot
Volunteers Needed for Sukkah Building on September 29th! Your time and effort will be greatly appreciated as we come together to create a beautiful space for our community. Please contact Avi Rynderman to volunteer at (617) 515-8285.
In search of drivers to deliver Honey. Please reach out to Oze Henig oze.henig@gmail.com if you are able to help.
Sons of Israel will be participating in a meaningful community event to mark the one-year of October 7th. We will be crafting personalized messages of prayers and acts of kindness messages on keychains and jewelry. Help us bring beauty to the world as we commemorate this day of pain. We continue to pray for the hostages and pay tribute to the heroes who inspire us. Please inquire about volunteer opportunities to help man this important booth.To Volunteer, please emailsimon.shayna4@gmail.com
Website Update: We are pleased to share that thanks to a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern New Jersey, SOI will be redesigning our website. As a ShulCloud-based site, updates take place in real time. This means that users will see updates to the design, navigation, and pages as they take place in all phases of the project, rather than only once the project is completed. It may take a few months for the website to display in its final form. We look forward to our site being easier to navigate for our members and better communicate what we offer to those seeking information about SOI. We appreciate your patience throughout this process!
Welcome to Melissa & Ari Edelstein and family who have become members of SOI! Welcome to Shaya and Leah Gindoff who have become members of SOI! Welcome to Gabi & Reuven Gold who have become members of SOI!
Thank you to Sylvia Levine, Flo Shulman, Vicki Miltz, Debbie Friedner for helping prepare last week's kiddush.
Thank you to Eric Klein, Jeffrey Weiss, Jonathan Delman, Yaakov Zeffren, Matti Rosenberg, and Aaron Yeres, for helping with last weeks Seudah Shlishit.
Thank you to Team 3 (The Bagel Bandits: Yaakov Linder, Matti Rosenberg, Michael Morgenstern, Elon Elisha, Dan Eisenstein), Debbie Fineberg, Ken Panitch, Donna Moskowitz, JFed Security Officer Bill DiCola and Sam Tilonsky for providing security on Shabbos. IMPORTANT: Security Incident
On this past Shabbos during a routine morning sweep around the building, conducted by Sam Tilonsky, two backpacks and a plastic bag were found sitting on the top of the steps leading to the gym doors of Politz.
Through Bill DiCola’s investigative efforts using texts, phone calls and a review of Politz’s security cameras it was ultimately determined the bags belonged to one or two children and were not dangerous.
Thank you to Bill DiCola, John Moyer (JFed Deputy Director) and Kristen Head for helping make sure these backpacks were not dangerous to our synagogue or community.
Security at Jewish properties and facilities is in general a security concern but due to the war between Israel and Hamas, the war’s fast approaching one year anniversary, the approach of the High Holy Days and the current climate of accepted anti-Semitism, investigation into the placement and contents of the backpacks and bag was unfortunately warranted to rule out nefarious intentions.
Thankfully everything worked out okay. Please do not leave ANY personal items unattended. “See something, Say something, Do something.”
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.
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!)
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 receiving our weekly email, please let the office know. Regular Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9:30am - 3:00pm (In-Office) Wednesday & Friday: 9:30am - 3:00pm (Remote)
Congregation Sons of Iarael 720 Cooper Landing Road Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002
