Newslink for Shabbat Parshat Zachor, Tetzaveh (March 7th - March 8th)
03/06/2025 05:01:01 PM
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Announcements & Upcoming Events
Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Robbie and Debbie Friedner in honor of Rabbi Davies and welcoming Scholar in Residence Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein.
Scholar In Residence: Congregation Sons of Israel and Rabbanei Tzohar welcome Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein as Scholar in Residence, Shabbat Zachor Parshat Tetzaveh, March 7th - 8th.Click here to view the schedule.
Doughnuts and Discussion with Rabbi Dovi Friedman: Saturday morning, March 8th at approximately 10:30am in Politz Science Room for 6th-8th graders.
Shabbat Parshat Zachor: We add a brief additional Torah portion relaying the Mitzvah of Mechiyas Amalek - Remembering to wipe out Amalek. This is considered one of the only biblically mandated Torah readings of the year, and so we encourage all to make special effort to attend. There will be an additional reading at the conclusion of the 9am davening (approximately 11:30AM) for those who miss it earlier.
Girls Night Out! Pre Purim - Hamentashen Wars: Saturday evening, March 8th at 8:00pm at the Davies Home. 6th - 9th grade girls are welcome to join an exciting evening of baking competition! $5 per person. Dough will be provided. Provide your own creative filling, must be in a sealed package. To Register, send payment to Ora Davies by Zelle oradavies@gmail.com or Venmo 917-991-1887.
Gemara Shiur with Jeff Schwartz:Sunday evening at 7:30pm in the SOI Chapel. Come join for an in depth study of Talmud.
Coffee with the Rabbi: Whether you have a burning question, seek guidance, or just want to chat, this is the perfect opportunity. Secure a cup of coffee (or tea), and your 30-minute one-on-one slot for a conversation with Rabbi Davies. Click here to reserve your slot.
Rabbi Kelemen's Inner Circle:Monday evenings at 8:00pm, March 10th & 24th Video presentation with Rabbi Kelemen, March 17th and March 31st review session with Rabbi Davies.You can attend one, the other, or both. Missed the first sessions? Click here to receive Rabbi Kelemen's first few presentations. Please note that, starting with the January sessions, Rabbi Kelemen presentations will only be available at the Monday evening screening for free or through paid subscription. Monday evening sessions with Rabbi Davies remain free of charge.
Semichas Chaver Program: Wednesday evening, March 12th from 8:00pm-8:30pm.Topic: Business Law, Contact Rabbi Davies to participate or for more information.
Women's Weekly Parsha Discussion: Wednesday evening, March 12th from 8:30-8:45pm. Join us on Zoom for a brief peer led discussion on the weekly parsha. Click Here to Join the Zoom.
Matanot L'Evyonim Campaign 5785: Donate today and support those in need in our own community and beyond! Send donations to SOI and indicate "Matanot L'Evyonim" or submit donations through our website by March 14th. If you are in need of help, reach out to Rabbi Davies or Michal Drabkin. Requests are kept in strictest confidence.
PURIM AT SOI: For the full Purim schedule, see below or go to our designated Purim page on the SOI website - www.SOICherryHill.org/Purim. An important note for Megillah reading Purim night: To assist everyone in fulfilling the Mitzvah of hearing the Megillah, SOI will provide babysitting during the first nighttime Megillah reading for children ages 2 and up. If you would like to be at the first Megillah reading and require childcare to do so or if your child finds it difficult to remain quiet for the entire reading, please consider utilizing this service.
Purim Break-Fast Bingo: Thursday, March 13th at 8:30pm. Join us for a fun-filled evening featuring a delicious dairy dinner and exciting bingo games for kids and adults. Register by March 7th for early bird pricing. Click here to register.
Bnei Akiva Purim Carnival: Sunday, March 16th 10am -12pm at SOI. Fun for 1st through 8th graders. $5 per child. Pay at door. Email Bneiakivach@gmail.com for questions or more information.
Join the Shnayim Mikra Initiative! Become part of our expanding group dedicated to daily study of the weekly Parsha. Choose between in-person morning sessions or follow along with recordings on WhatsApp. Click here to join the WhatsApp group. For more information contact Rabbi Davies.
Erev Shabbat, March 7 (Adar 7) 6:45am Shacharit 8:15am Shacharit 5:40pm Candle Lighting 5:40pm Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv 8:30pm Friday Night Oneg with Rabbi Grunstein - at the Gals' Home
Shabbat, March 8: Parshat Zachor, Tetzaveh (Adar 8) 8:00am 8AM Minyan 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Sanctuary Minyan 9:17am Latest Shema 10:00am Youth Groups 10:30am Tot Shabbat 10:30am Donuts and Discussion 11:30am Second Reading of Parshat Zachor (approx.) 4:30pm Afternoon Shiur with Rabbi Grunstein 5:20pm Mincha 5:20pm Teen Minyan 5:50pm Seudah Shlishit with Divrei Torah from Rabbi Grunstein 6:35pm Maariv 6:40pm Havdalah 8:00pm Pre Purim Hamentashen Wars at the Davies Home
Sunday, March 9 (Adar 9) 7:00am Shacharit 8:00am Shacharit 2:00pm Philadelphia Orchestra 6:45pm Mincha/Maariv 7:30pm Gemara Shiur with Jeff Schwartz
Schedule for Purim
Thursday, March 13: Taanit Esther, Erev Purim (Adar 13) 5:55am Fast begins 6:30am Shacharit 8:15am Shacharit 6:30pm Mincha 7:30pm Maariv & Megillah Reading 7:37pm Fast ends 8:30pm Purim Bingo and Breakfast 9:15pm Late Megillah Reading
Purim, Erev Shabbat, March 14 (Adar 14) 6:30am Shacharit & Megillah Reading 8:30am Shacharit & Megillah Reading 10:45am Late Morning Megillah Reading 1:09pm Chatzot (Halachic Midday) - preferable to begin Seudah before this time 4:00pm Afternoon Megillah Reading 6:50pm Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/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 excerpt from an article by Rabbi Shraga Simmons entitled "The Kabbalah of Clothes" which speaks of the Torah's seemingly puzzling emphasis on outer appearance.
[...T]his week's Parsha features a detailed account of clothes worn by the Kohanim (priests) in the Holy Temple. Each garment was metaphysically designed for peak performance – from the gold plate across the forehead, down to the bells and pomegranates at the hem of the robe. (Don't ask about shoes; the Kohanim served barefoot!) An entire Parsha dedicated to clothing?! Why [...]?! [...]
The Western world typically relates to others as physical beings. In characterizing someone, we typically describe their physical appearance – e.g. he's the tall guy, or she's the one with curly brown hair. Yet the most important aspect of a person is the spiritual dimension: talents, hopes, dreams and fears. And we struggle to make that voice be heard. How do we feel when we're seen only for the outward appearance? Cheap, demeaned, and dehumanized. [...] Which is why the Torah is so strict about dignified dress. It is essential that we deflect attention from superficial appearance, to enable others to see us as the real person that we are. Judaism does not ask us to dress in a way that is ugly. Rather, we should not draw undo attention to the body by being flamboyant or provocative. For in fact, that which is more "precious" is generally hidden – not open, available and free for all. [...]
On a deeper level, the Kabbalists metaphorically apply the concept of clothing to God Himself. The Talmud, in discussing the issue of why God is not more obviously manifest in the world, explains "that God wears the world like a garment." Just as a garment covers a person, so too the physical world conceals God. The Hebrew word for "world" (olam) comes from the same root as "hidden" (ne'elam). But as a garment covers, so too it reveals – by making others look more deeply inside. God dons the garment of the physical universe, to encourage us to use our free will to seek and reveal Him. Just like you can only see the Invisible Man when he's wearing a shirt, so too God becomes revealed by the garment He dons. [...] Maimonides writes that meditating on the wonders of nature is one primary way we get to know God. (Of course, God's true essence remains hidden – we see only the garment, not God Himself. Which is why Maimonides suggests a more intimate way of knowing God – by performing His mitzvot.)
The holiday of Purim, which is just a few [days] away, is when we dress up in costumes. At first glance, wearing costumes seems contrary to the concept of clothes as self-revelation. Aren't costumes a false reflection of our inner identities? The truth, however, is that many people are confused about who they really are – and in effect wear a mask all year round. Therefore on Purim, we "drop our daily masks." The costumes we wear do not hide our true selves, but rather reveal an even deeper degree of self-image! [...]
The lesson of this week's Parsha is that clothes have the power to communicate – and we need to be sensitive to exactly what messages we're sending out. Our spiritual health depends on it. Because the more dignified our clothes are, the more we become free to see ourselves in the pure light of our souls. Hoping and praying for 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.
Join Our Team: Event Manager Wanted! SOI is looking to hire a friendly and organized per diem Event Manager to oversee and assist with various events, such as Bar/Bat Mitzvot, parties, graduations..etc. This position involves being on-site to ensure everything runs smoothly—from coordinating with office staff and renters to making sure the building is set up and ready before and after each event. You’ll also help with any on-site needs, work closely with caterers, and warmly greet guests as they arrive. This is a paid position. If you’re interested, or to learn more, please reach out to Heshy Chaitoff at CoPresident@soicherryhill.org
Volunteers Wanted! Purim is on its way! We are looking for volunteers to help with packing Mishloach Manot! Packing the Mishloach Manot will occur on Thursday 3/13 at 10:30am. Please reach out to Oze and Maetal Henig, Chani or Heshy for more information or to volunteer.
SOI Gala: We are looking for volunteers to help with all aspects of the SOI Gala. Please reach out to Ilana Weiss, Avital Zeffren, or Yaeli Sokolic to get involved.
Do you enjoy small fix-it projects or just love helping out? We’re looking for friendly hands to assist with minor repairs, like sealing doors and patching up little gaps. No special skills needed! Just a willingness to pitch in and help make a difference! If you’d like to help, please reach out to Dan Malamud or Oriel Weinberg. We truly appreciate it!
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!
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with last week's Kiddush.
Thank you to the volunteers who helped with last week's Seudah Shlishit.
We regret to inform you of the passing of Charlotte LeBow חיה גולדה בת אברהם ומיכל
Beloved Mother of Jacquelyn (Charles) Nusbaum and grandmother of Malka (Aaron) Feibush.
Shiva will be at 302 Tearose Lane, Cherry Hill, NJ
Shiva visiting hours: 11 am – 1 pm on Friday and Sunday or call (856) 278-3863 to arrange a time.
Thank you to Debbie Pester, Aharon Yeres, Avi Sadiky, Steve Herzberg, Debbie Fineberg, Sam Tilonsky and JFed Security Officer Bill DiCola for providing security on Shabbos. Spring Ahead It’s Daylight Savings Time Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night. How springing forward to daylight saving time could affect your health — and how to prepare - https://apnews.com/article/daylight-saving-time-spring-forward-sleep-health-5d7b96c3bc1ed243dd6e41b17ec8ee25?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=share Losing an hour of sleep as daylight saving time kicks in can do more than leave you tired and cranky the next day — it also could harm your health. Darker mornings and more evening sun together knock out of whack a body clock that regulates when we're drowsy and when we're alert.
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