Weekly Newslinks

Announcements & Upcoming Events

Schedule for the Weekend

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 Dr. Mordechai Schiffman entitled "There’s No I In Happy".

[...] How do you keep a leader with absolute power — a king — from becoming corrupt? In this week’s Torah portion, the Torah gives us its solution: [...] The Torah commands the king to write two Torah scrolls and carry one with him constantly—from his throne to the battlefield to public addresses. By reading from his Torah each day, he learns to "fear God," recognizing that a Supreme Being stands above him, that his kingship can vanish instantly, and that he'll answer for his actions in this life and the next. [...] We can all appreciate the wisdom of this commandment, but if we look a little deeper, we'll see another fascinating detail of this mitzvah. According to the verse, the king must personally write two Torah scrolls. Why two scrolls? According to the Talmud, one travels with him everywhere while the other remains locked in his treasury. We understand the value of portable Torah guidance, but why invest equal energy in a scroll destined for storage?

To understand why the king needs two scrolls, we must first examine how leadership typically unfolds in our world today. Too often, we see the greatest public figures living double lives. Even when these leaders achieved extraordinary external impact, they often failed to master their inner worlds. Society often excuses these private lapses, focusing instead on public heroism and leadership. But Jewish wisdom takes a radically different approach.

The Torah's vision of leadership rejects any separation between public achievement and private character. [...] A clear hierarchy emerges [...]: before one can lead others, one must first master oneself and one's home. This reflects Judaism's approach to leadership, which operates through three expanding circles of mastery:
Level 1: Internal Leadership - In Ethics of Our Fathers (4:1), Ben Zoma teaches, "Who is mighty? He who subdues his inclinations." Only through self-control against life's many temptations can one embark on the path to true leadership.
Level 2: Familial Leadership - Rabbi Chaim Vital taught that 99% of a person's judgment in mitzvot between man and fellow man comes from relationships at home. All the charity, heroism, and world-changing impact someone makes in their lifetime adds up to only 1%. The small daily acts of love and care given to spouse and family account for 99%.
Level 3: External Leadership - Once you've mastered yourself and built a stable home, you might be ready to expand your concentric circles to include community, nation, and world. At each stage of expansion, the individual must never be forgotten in favor of the collective, for the collective consists of individuals.

Now that we understand the Torah's vision for leadership, we can solve the mystery of the two Torah scrolls. One scroll accompanies him as an ever-present reminder of his role as God's trusted servant in leading the Jewish people. The second remains locked in his personal treasury, reminding him of the equal—if not greater—importance of self-mastery and proper conduct within his home. The treasury scroll embodies the Torah's most radical leadership principle: private character matters more than public achievement.

[...] Just as the king needed both scrolls to lead properly, we need both dimensions of leadership. The public scroll reminds us to use our leadership to serve something higher than ourselves. The treasury scroll asks: Metaphorically, have you been changing the diapers? May we be blessed to bring these essential lessons of leadership into our careers, communities, homes, and beyond!

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.

 Seating Selections

What seats are included in my membership?
Family Membership - Two seats are included in your membership
Single Membership - One Seat is included in your membership
Members have reduced rates for seats for their children and additional guests.
Associate Members - Reduced fee for seats

**Arrangements for membership dues payment must be made in advance of reserving seats**

All seats will be assigned and will be your seat for both
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. 

Those interesed in attending the Vasikin minyan or Sephardic Minyan should note this in the "additional information" portion of the form. For information about the Vasikin minyan, please contact Aaron Greenberg at ahgreenberg@gmail.com and for the Sephardic minyan, please contact Hoosh Sadiky at  hsadiky2@gmail.com .

Yizkor Book

Camp Shofar

Camp Shofar information was sent out a bit earlier than intended. We’re currently finalizing the details to ensure everything is accurate and aligned with our plans.

Please stay tuned—updated Camp Shofar information will be shared with you shortly. We appreciate your patience and look forward to an amazing experience ahead!

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!

Chulent Fund - We are at 55 %
Chulent at our weekly kiddush 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: 
Noah & Madi Botwinick, Harvey & Sharon Chaitoff, Sandy Crass, Daniel & Michal Drabkin, Daniel & Rory Eisenstein, Ronald Ellis, Alan Friedman, Nimrod & Dana Gal, Sidney & Shari Goldberg, Marlene Goldhagen, Yoni & Michelle Goldstein, Oze & Maetal Henig, Evan & Kimberly Hershenson, Judy & Steven Herzberg, Karen & Marc Hess, Adam & Alison Kaye, Justin & Hannah Kaufman, Dovid Schwartz & Anna Kerzner, Eric & Rachel Klein, Steven & Rachel Klein, Steven & Karine Koloski, Raphael & Tovah Kurlansik, Avi & Biana Lifschitz, Andrew Linder, Jeffrey & Liz Liss,  Raphael Littwin, David and Leia Mendelovitz, Larry & Janet Miller, Steve Nunez & Shana Sokolic, Kenneth & Alise Panitch, Alexis & Zachary Pells, Andy Rauer, Matti & Rachel Rosenberg, Avi Rynderman & Baila Silverman, Avi & Aliza Sadiky, Hooshang & Lea Alvo Sadiky, Charles Weg & Shari Solomon, Yehuda & Sloane Stuchins, Karen & Richard Sullivan, Sam & Eve Tilonsky, Sabra Hess & Shealtiel Weinberg, Jeffrey & Ilana Weiss, Nate & Tamar Wiener, Yoni Berliant & Chani Wiesman, Ron & Sarah Zanger, Avital & Marc Zeffren, Isabella and Joseph Zummo.

Crosswalk Update

After many long months of discussion, last week the township updated the crosswalk near the Sons of Israel campus across Cooper Landing Road to improve the safety of that crossing, specifically on Shabbat mornings and Chagim. While during the week the crosswalk lights will only flash when the button is pushed, the lights are set to flash from 8-10am and 11:30am-1pm on the mornings of Shabbat and Chagim. We are so grateful to the Mayor and the township for helping increase the safety of our community members! 

Member Account Statements

As part of our regular billing process, we recently mailed out invoices to ensure all member accounts remain current. This statement will reflect the outstanding balance on your account. Members who are fully current, or have pre-payments on their account, will receive a statement with a zero or negative balance and no action is required at this time.  

If you believe there is an error or have any questions regarding your invoice, please contact our office promptly at 856-667-9700 or email  officeadmin@soicherryhill.org  so that we may address the matter without delay.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the many members who have already fulfilled their obligations. For those with an outstanding balance, we kindly request that payment arrangements be completed as soon as possible to help us maintain the programs and services that benefit our entire community.

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. 

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

Book Repairs
A big thank you to Sylvia Levine for repairing all the books.
Please continue to place any books that need repairs into the designated
​​​​​​​box located in the Sanctuary.

​​​​​​​Thank you to Matti Rosenberg, Aharon Yeres, Nate Wiener, Michael Morgenstern, Elon Elisha, Debbie Fineberg, Sam Tilonsky and JFed Security Officer Bill DiCola for providing security on Shabbos.

Medication in shul?  Please be careful!
Recently an Epi-Pen was taken from a stroller in the social hall, investigated and then left in the Ladies room by an unknown individual.  Thank goodness this unknown individual wasn’t able to inject themselves and potentially have a life threatening reaction.

If you need to bring any medication to shul for any reason, please make sure it is kept in a safe place away from curious eyes and hands.  Thank you for helping keep our congregation safe.
​​​​​​​

Mazal Tov to Yoni & Michelle Goldstein on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter,Tsofia!

A complete list of Cholim and Chayalim that have been submitted to SOI can be  www.soicherryhill.org/cholim-chayalim
To add or remove from these lists, please email  
​​​​​​​memberhotline@soicherryhill.org

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