Newslink for Shabbat Parashat Nitzavim (September 19th - September 20th)
09/18/2025 05:01:29 PM
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Announcements & Upcoming Events
Kiddush is sponsored in honor of David Barg, in recognition of his heartfelt contributions to both the Kiddush and the shul.
Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Duke McCarthy. Doughnuts and Discussion with Rabbi Dovi Friedman: Saturday morning, September 20th, at approximately 10:30am in Politz Library for 6th-8th graders.
Gemara Shiur with Jeff Schwartz: Shabbat afternoon in the SOI Chapel 80 minutes before Mincha. Come join for an in depth study of Talmud.
Tefillot LaKehillah Initiative – Share Your Prayers: As we approach the New Year, join our community-wide initiative to uplift one another through heartfelt tefillot. Click Here to contribute Tefillot for the Tefillot L'Kehillah Initiative or scan the QR code on the flyer. For questions, email rabbi@soicherryhill.org 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. This program is open to members and non-members with additional rates for non-members. Registration is closed but you can still register with a late fee. Click hereto register.
New for Elul: 30-Day Teshuvah Challenge with the Rambam: This Elul, building on the popularity of the Kedushah Challenge leading up to Shavuot, join us for a unique 30-day journey through the Rambam’s Hilchot Teshuvah, with short daily insights and practical challenges to help us awaken our hearts and draw closer to HaShem. The program began on Monday, August 25th. Daily posts will be shared via WhatsApp. To participate, click here.
Rabbi Kelemen's Inner Circle:Sessions will re-start on November 3rd. Join SOI's very own Mussar Vaad, studying Rav Shlomo Wolbe's Alei Shor and working on improving ourselves. Monday evenings at 8pm.
Semichas Chaver Program:Session will resume November 5th. Wednesdays at 8pm. Starting a new and exciting topic: Studying the laws of Basar B'Chalav. Come and join this international program!
Announcing-- SOI's First Ever Sukkot Bake Sale! SOI Sukkot Bake Sale -- Items are selling out fast, but there are still tons of delicious things left to order! Ordering will close Sept 28th. Click here to order.
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.
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.
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 Avraham Kovel entitled "How to Return to Your Truest Self" that analyzes the true meaning and process of Teshuvah.
[...] For centuries, we've mistranslated this word as "repentance," conjuring images of sackcloth and ashes, of 40 days spent cataloguing our failures and wallowing in religious guilt. But the Hebrew tells a different story entirely. Teshuva (תשובה) stems from the root "Shav" (שב)—to return. The same root gives us Shabbat (שבת), our weekly homecoming from chaos to peace, and Yeshiva (ישיבה), where we return from life's distractions to discover and fulfill our life’s purpose. When we engage in Teshuva, we don't grovel before an angry deity. We return to three magnificent realities that have been waiting for us all along: God, our loving Father in Heaven. Our authentic selves, beneath all the masks and compromises. Our divine mission—the unique purpose only we can fulfill.
[...] The very concept of "return" assumes you've been somewhere before. You can't return to a place you've never been. The magnificence you seek—connection to God, authenticity, purpose—these aren't foreign territories to conquer. They're your true home, and deep in your soul, you've never forgotten the way.
Moses makes this explicit in this week’s Torah portion: "Surely, this Teaching which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach. It is not in the heavens... Neither is it beyond the sea... No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it." (Devarim 30:11-14) The Ramban reveals that this "Teaching" refers to the preceding verse: "You shall return (תָשׁוּב) to Hashem, your God, with all your heart and all your soul." Teshuva isn't an advanced spiritual practice reserved for the enlightened few. It's as natural as breathing, as close as your next heartbeat. You need only stop running from yourself long enough to remember who you've always been.
This understanding transforms how we view our mistakes and failures. Think of sin not as a moral stain but as spiritual amnesia—forgetting your true identity and chasing mirages that promise but never deliver. The Hebrew word for sin, "chet," literally means "missing the target"—like an archer whose arrow veers off course. There's nothing wrong with the archer; he simply needs recalibration. Getting back on target means remembering who you really are and realigning your life with that truth. [...] Hoping and praying for a Shabbat Shalom and a Shanah Tovah, Rabbi Davies Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org
We are excited to be partnering with Mizrachi World Movement to provide their publication of HaMizrachi Parasha Weekly.
Seats have already been assigned and you should have received your seat assignment via email. Please contact Yael at officeadmin@soicherryhill.orgwith any questions.
All seats assigned 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 athsadiky2@gmail.com .
As we approach the Yamim Noraim, our thoughts turn towards the drumbeat of Elul: Teshuva, Tefilah, and Tzedaka. In light of the high value of Tzedakah, shuls around the globe appeal to - and depend on - their congregants for generous support at this time of year.
We have already had a phenomenal response! Thank you to all of the donors who have generously given and encouraged others to give!
We have an exciting opportunity with a matching grant of $20,000 if we are able to raise another $20,000. Please help us reach our fundraising goal for this campaign by donating today! (link)
Please note- If you would like a kibbud for the holidays, you may request it when you make your gift.
Thank you for stepping up and showing your support at this most important time of year. Together, we can make this SOI B'Yachad Campaign a true success for our entire community.
With gratitude,
Ron Zanger President, Congregation Sons of Israel
Our Shlichei Tzibbur have put together a Spotify playlist of many of the tunes they will be using over Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. We hope you will listen to get inspired for the upcoming holidays and learn the tunes so that you can sing along.
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 to help put up the SOI Sukkah Schach on Sunday, September 21st at 10AM. Free coffee and doughnuts for those that help! *Bring gloves!* Please message Avi Rynderman at (617) 515-8285 if you’d like to help; we need to know how many volunteers will be assisting. _________________________________________
Volunteers wanted to help with some pre-Yom Kippur set up in the sanctuary on Tuesday September 30th. Please contact Debbie Fineberg for more information _______________________________________
Volunteers wanted to help with Kiddush - preparation, set up, and clean up! Please contact Yaakov Linder to get involved.
We regret to inform you of the passing of Jillian Eve Moskowitz, Esther Chava Nechama bat Rachmeal Eliezer, beloved daughter of Robert Moskowitz.
The funeral took place on Thursday. Shiva will be observed privately.
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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 Debbie Fineberg, Meir Miskin, David Mendelovitz, Aaron Rubenstein, Nate Wiener, Blake Daugherty, Sam Tilonsky and JFED Security Officer Bill DiCola for providing security on shabbos.
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
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