 Finite sum of simple submodules

A finite sum of simple modules inside one module is a semisimple module. Inductively, if $M$ is the sum already retained, then $M\cap S_j$ is a submodule of the simple module $S_j$, hence zero or $S_j$. In the first case append $S_j$ as a direct summand; in the second it adds nothing. This gives a direct sum of modules selected from the original family.