Weekly Newslinks

Announcements & Upcoming Events

Schedule for the Weekend

Rabbi Davies will be away this Shabbat

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 " Don't Add or Subtractt" about why it
is so important not to change the Torah. The full article can be found here -
https://aish.com/dont-add-or-subtract-2/.
[…] In this week's parsha, the Torah says: "Do not add to or subtract from the
mitzvot" ( Deut. 4:2 ) […] Intuitively, it is understandable why not to subtract from
the Torah. But why can't we add to the mitzvot? Isn't doing more always better?

Consider a great work of art. Would you add a few notes to a Bach fugue, or some
brushstrokes to a Rembrandt portrait?! Adding to the mitzvot is not serving God –
it is serving oneself with what "feels good." Perfection, by definition, cannot be
improved upon. Adding to the Torah implies that God is lacking. It is self-worship
of one's own creativity.

Furthermore, the same subjective judgement which decides to add, is that which
eventually leads one to subtract: In the Garden of Eden, the snake tried to entice
Eve to eat from the Tree. "Did God really say not to eat from the Tree?" queried the snake. "Absolutely," said Eve."God said we can't eat it, and we can't even touch it" (Genesis 3:3). At that point, says the Midrash, the snake pushed Eve so that she brushed up against the Tree. "See that!" said the snake. "You touched the Tree and nothing happened. God didn't really mean what He said. You touched it, now go ahead and eat it." So Eve ate. Those who add, will come to subtract.

Maimonides explains the importance of not tampering with the Torah: "The Torah explicitly states that its mitzvot will remain binding forever, with neither change,
addition nor subtraction... Therefore, if any person will arise – whether Jew or non-
Jew – and performs signs and wonders, saying that God sent him to either add or
subtract a mitzvah from the Torah... then we immediately know he is a false
prophet... For God Himself told Moses that these commandments are for us and
for our children forever." (Foundations of Torah 9:1-2)

Jewish law is a precise metaphysical science. For just as removing one wire from
your cell phone means that it no longer can pick up reception, so too we mustn't
tinker with Jewish law. As King David declares: Torat Hashem Temimah – "the
Torah of God is perfect" (Psalms 19:8). The masterpiece is marred – whether by
adding or by subtracting.

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.

Please set up your membership dues by August 15! 
Your dues are essential to supporting the day-to-day operations of our shul

Chulent Fund - We are at 50%
Chulent at our weekly kiddish has become a valued and appreciated aspect of kiddush for our community. Aside from a treat after davening, it helps create an environment of community and achdut.

In an effort to replenish the chulent fund, we are asking for your help.
Please consider donating $36 or more to the "Chulent Fund". At full community participation, we will be able to have chulent at kiddush throughout the year.
The success of this project will determine our ability to have chulent featured weekly at Kiddush.
Add your name to the growing list by becoming a sponsor today!

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far: 
Jeffrey & Ilana Weiss, Kenneth & Alise Panitch, Andrew Linder, Alexis & Zachary Pells, Hooshang & Lea Alvo Sadiky, Adam & Alison Kaye, Avi Rynderman & Baila Silverman, Nimrod & Dana Gal, Daniel & Michal Drabkin, Raphael Littwin, Yoni & Michelle Goldstein, Nate & Tamar Wiener, Dovid Schwartz & Anna Kerzner, Avi & Aliza Sadiky, Sandy Crass, Karen & Richard Sullivan, Ronald Ellis, Steven & Rachel Klein, Daniel & Rory Eisenstein, Isabella and Joseph Zummo, Harvey & Sharon Chaitoff, Avi & Biana Lifschitz, Steve Nunez and Shana Sokolic, Yehuda & Sloane Stuchins, Oze & Maetal Henig, Steven & Karine Koloski, Karen & Marc Hess, Noah and Madi Botwinick, Yoni Berliant & Chani Wiesman, Matti & Rachel Rosenberg, Eric & Rachel Klein, Raphael & Tovah Kurlansik, David and Leia Mendelovitz, Evan & Kimberly Hershenson, Adam & Florence Shulman, Allen Friedman, Shari and Sid Goldberg, Larry and Janet Miller, Sabra Hess and Shealtiel Weinberg, Charles Weg and Shari Solomon,  Avital and Yaakov Zeffren, Ron and Sarah Zanger

Volunteers Wanted!

Kiddush: Volunteers wanted to help with Kiddush - preparation, set up, and clean up! Please contact Yaakov Linder to get involved.

Thank you to the volunteers who helped with last week's Kiddush. 

Thank you to the volunteers who helped with last week's Seudah Shlishit. 

Thank you to Jenni and Dore Provda, Neely and Elon Elisha, Vicky and Mayer Miltz, Sabra and TL Weinberg, and Rachel and Eric Klein for the wonderful ice coffee enhancement to our weekly summer Kiddush!

Shabbos Water
 Thank you to Tovah & Rafi Kurlansik for sponsoring water this Shabbat

​​​​​​​Thank you to Oriel Weinberg, Diane Irwin, Jeff Liss, Avi Sadiky, Eytan Irwin, Shlomo Aronoff,  Debbie Fineberg, Sam Tilonsky and JFed Security Officer Paul Lovern for providing security on Shabbos.

Good News
This week new exit doors were installed in the Chapel and in the hallway near the Simcha Room.  The doors are part of the recently completed security grant.
​​​​​​​

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Congregation Sons of Iarael
720 Cooper Landing Road
Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002