You are receiving this email because you are an FJMC Club Member, Individual Member, Club Officer, Regional Leader or Friend of the FJMC. | |
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“Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.”
— Anne Frank
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Chanukah Party Review at Plainview Jewish Center
On Sunday, December 3rd, the Plainview Jewish Center Men's Club hosted their annual Chanukah Party. The party was a huge success and featured music with Cantor Judy Merrick, candle lighting with Rabbi Steven Conn, would famous Vinny the Magician and a toy raffle with over 50 toys.
Children and parents enjoyed potato latkes and mini hot dogs in blankets, apple sauce and lots of other snacks.
Children who did not win a toy in the raffle still went home with a toy from a supply held in reserve for just that purpose. A separate collection of toys was donated to the Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Hospital.
At the end of the party, all the kids left with a goodie bag containing chocolate get, a dreidel, menorah, candles and a few novelty items.
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Dix Hills Jewish Center
555 Vanderbilt Pkwy
Dix Hills, NY 11746
www.dhjc.org
Phone: (631) 499-6644
Make a donation here!
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Park Avenue Synagogue
50 E 87th Street
New York, NY 10128
www.pasyn.org
Phone: (212) 369-2600
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Thursday, December 21
at 5:00 pm
87th Street
Join Cantor Davis and the Purim spiel creative team for our annual Purim spiel kickoff. We will reveal the theme of this year’s spiel and read through part of the script together. Come ready to sing and dance!
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Temple Israel of Great Neck
108 Old Mill Road
Great Neck, NY 11023
www.tign.org
Phone: (516) 482-7800
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Processing the War and Antisemitism
Tuesday, December 19
at 8:15pm
Join Rabbi Stecker and Rabbi Schweber on for an intimate processing and listening session on the war and antisemitism. Everyone will have an opportunity to speak about their feelings and reactions to the war in Israel and the rise of antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world.
RSVP here.
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Midway Jewish Center
330 S. Oyster Bay Road
Syosset, NY 11791
www.mjc.org
Phone: (516) 938-8390
RSVP here for Shabbat Together Dinner!
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Thursday, January 4, 2024
at 8:00PM on Zoom
The history of the Jews of Spain is a remarkable story that begins in the remote past and continues today. For more than a thousand years, Sepharad (the Hebrew word for Spain) was home to a large Jewish community noted for its richness and virtuosity.
Click here to register and receive the zoom link.
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Congregation L'Dor V'Dor
49-10 Little Neck Pkwy
Little Neck, NY 11362
www.olnjc.org
Phone: (718) 224-0404
Let us know you will be joining us for Pilates!
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Attention All Men's Club
Submit Your Man/Youth of the Year Honorees
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Please submit your Man of the Year
and Youth of the Year Honorees with
Stuart Haimes emailsstuh@gmail.com
Please include:
- Honoree Name
- Synagogue/Kehillah
- Headshot
- Bio
The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2024.
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Mark your calendars for June 2024!
The New York Metropolitan Region Honors
Les Agisim
New York Metro Regional Man of the Year 2024
Les is no stranger to FJMC, having served us diligently in the past and has renewed his activism and enthusiasm by reinvigorating our NYC Chapters and outreaching new ones.
Les is very involved:
- Chairman Emeritus of Park Avenue Synagogue Men's Club
- Former President of the FJMC New York
- Current head of the NY District of FOMC/MRJ
- Board of Emeritus of Park Avenue Synagogue
- Involvement in a variety of local services and community projects
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Save The Date!
February 2024
More information to follow
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SAVE THE DATE: MAY 16-19, 2024
Registration Opens Soon!
Come join all your old friends and make new ones at the beautiful
Hilton Chicago/Northbrook.
Our jam-packed weekend includes:
• Chicago Architecture River Cruise
• Sneak peak tour of the Sheraton Grand Chicago, site of our 2025 Convention
• A wonderful Shabbat together again
• Great guest speakers
• Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field (depending on MLB 2024 Schedule)
and loads of fun for everyone!
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Personal Thoughts
Exodus 91
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Left to right: Victor Goldsmith, Cynthia Ahn, Gideon Naim, Mazi Malesa Pilip, Les Agisim | |
Remembering One of the Great Events
of Modern Israeli History
With A New, Magnificent Film:
“Exodus 91: the Untold Story
of Operation Solomon (1991)”
By Victor Goldsmith
I have been closely following the arrival of the Ethiopian Jews in Israel, and their subsequent great success. I lived in Israel for 7 years and taught at Haifa University, during the time of the predecessor airlift, Operation Moses, in the 1980’s. I visited the Ethiopian absorption center in Tivon, 2 days after Operation Moses with my father. We were surrounded and warmly hugged and embraced, with great laughter by these very happy new Israelis.
When I attended IDF Army training in the 1980s, 3 in our unit were Ethiopian Jews, who proved to be very gentle, and as such, underwent training for fighting for the defense of their new home, Israel! These Ethiopian Jews are right now, both as Israeli soldiers and officers, at the front lines, giving their all, for their country.
Read the entire review here!
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Rare Opportunity!
Complimentary Movie
New York Metropolitan Region
Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs
Invites you to a FREE movie streaming
Exodus 91
available up until December 17, 2023!
Click here for all the details!
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Health & Meditation & Spirituality | |
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Spirituality Among Americans
7 in 10 U.S. adults describe themselves as spiritual in some way, including 22% who are spiritual but not religious
In recent decades, Americans have become less likely to identify with an organized religion. Yet a new Pew Research Center survey shows that belief in spirits or a spiritual realm beyond this world is widespread, even among those who don’t consider themselves religious. The survey finds that:
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83% of all U.S. adults believe people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body.
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81% say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.
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74% say there are some things that science cannot possibly explain.
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45% say they have had a sudden feeling of connection with something from beyond this world.
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38% say they have had a strong feeling that someone who has passed away was communicating with them from beyond this world.
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30% say they have personally encountered a spirit or unseen spiritual force.
Overall, 70% of U.S. adults can be considered “spiritual” in some way, because they think of themselves as spiritual people or say spirituality is very important in their lives.
Click here to read the entire article!
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State of the American Men 2023
From Crisis and Confusion To Hope
This inaugural State of American Men report, “From Crisis and Confusion to Hope,” seeks to understand the realities of men in 2023. This study is part of a larger initiative to build partnerships around male allyship and healthy masculinities, including diverse groups from media, philanthropy, sports, and the corporate sector, in partnership with Futures Without Violence. Forthcoming plans include a website/portal for greater exchange in the male allyship and healthy masculinities space in the US and a national summit on these topics in 2024.
Click here to learn more about this insightful study!
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MEDITATIONS FOR LIGHTING CANDLES
By Shalom Hartman Institute
Celebrating Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, feels particularly hard in these dark days as we mourn with those who have lost loved ones and cry over the horrifying violence of recent weeks. It is hard to breathe, and it will remain hard to breathe until all the hostages and soldiers are safely home.
Coming together to light the Hanukkah candles reminds us that even in the darkest times, our forebearers believed in the power of one little light, and then another, lit alongside many others, to change the world. Perhaps in this way, we can succeed in making the world a brighter place and in uplifting the good within it.
Click here for the Shalom Hartman Institute Guide!
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DOROT is a nonprofit organization addressing the challenges of an aging population. We serve our clients with a diverse range of programs and services. We deliver those programs and services through intergenerational connections with volunteers of all ages.
Social isolation and loneliness are public health risks that affect a significant portion of the older adult population.
RSVP here for "Cookies, Cocoa and Cardmaking"!
Learn more about this incredible organization!
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ADL
Words that Can Hurt, Help and Heal
Published: 11.13.2023
Anti-Bias EducationBias, Discrimination & Hate
From: ADL Education
GRADE LEVEL: Elementary, Middle School
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Speaking & Listening, Language
SEL STANDARDS*: Self Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making
Words have power. We see biased words and language all around us—on the street, in our classrooms, online, in workplaces, on walls and buildings, in the media and among celebrities and politicians. Biased words, even when unintended, can cause hurt, pain and harm to young people and can also lead to more consequential impacts like bullying and other acts of bias and discrimination. Therefore, it is important to address this language with students, helping them explore what biased language looks like, its impact and how to address it when faced with or witnessing it.
Click here to read the entire article!
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Break Bread to #ShineALight on Antisemitism
(eJewishPhilanthropy) Tea Leoni, Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl, Hannah Bronfman and Elon Gold discussing antisemitism in a video, 'Breaking Bread,' created by Shine A Light.
This is the new video, “Breaking Bread,” an effort by Shine A Light, which partners with dozens of organizations and companies each year to raise awareness of antisemitism, work that has taken on fresh urgency since Oct. 7. By literally breaking bread together, the initiative’s leadership says, people can learn more about each other and build bridges across differences.
“It's been difficult for your average person in America to really understand how and what the Jewish community is feeling right now,” Carly Maisel, global CEO of Kirsh Philanthropies and a representative of Shine A Light, told eJP, adding that it makes this work “feel so much more necessary, urgent and challenging.”
Other projects by Shine A Light include a list of resources provided by the initiative’s partner organizations, a guide about talking to young children about a Shine A Light Shabbat conversation guide and a workplace toolkit — published within 48 hours of the Oct. 7 attacks — to help companies create space for Jewish employees who may need support in the aftermath, as well as outreach to the gamer community.
Read more about this remarkable effort and watch the video
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Rabbi Wolpe Resigns from Harvard Antisemitism Board After "Painfully Inadequate Testimony"
(Jewish Journal) — Rabbi David Wolpe, who left Sinai Temple in Los Angeles after 26 years to take a visiting scholar position at Harvard Divinity School, has resigned from the Harvard University Antisemitism Advisory Committee.
This comes two days after the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) gave what Wolpe called “painfully inadequate testimony” at a hearing in the House of Representatives.
Click here to read the article!
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Around the World
Team Effort
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The 10/7 Project was announced last week by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Jewish Federations of North America, Anti-Defamation League, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and American Jewish Committee. It will be run by the political and public relations consultants SKDK, OnMessage Public Strategies and CKR Solutions. | |
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The 10/7 Project, a joint PR effort by Jewish groups on behalf of Israel, begins to take shape
(eJewishPhilanthropy) — The 10/7 Project, a new joint initiative by five large American Jewish groups, will be run by three public affairs consulting firms from across the political spectrum. The project is beginning with the launch of a daily newsletter, followed by broader communications-related efforts, those involved told eJewishPhilanthropy.
Click here to read the article!
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WWW2024 will soon be here!
Sunday, February 11, 2024!
Club Registration is now open!
Hoping the WORLD WIDE WRAP will be in-person for many of you. Of course, it can be done virtually if needed, and whether virtual or in person, you need to register!
Please visit www.fjmc.org/wrap for registration and programming ideas!
Register on the website! Be one of the top 50 and register now!
Remember, you must register your club to qualify for a Quality Club Award.
Len Abrams
leonardabrams@yahoo.com
2024 World Wide Wrap Chair
Bill Becker
wbecker1919@gmail.com
2024 World Wide Wrap Co-Chair
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Be a part of Build-A-Pair Program!
Order your kits now!
Your children will learn about
Tefillin, Mitzvot, and Traditions!
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Greg Joseph kicks a field goal during the Minnesota Vikings' game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Dec. 10, 2023. (Steve Marcus/Getty Images) | |
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Jewish NFL player Greg Joseph kicks 36-yard game-winning field goal after wearing cleats declaring ‘I Stand with Israel’
(JTA) — A 3-0 score is extremely rare in the NFL. But when the Minnesota Vikings beat the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday night in the league’s lowest-scoring game since 2007, the moment held extra significance for the player who scored those three points. Vikings kicker Greg Joseph, one of only a handful of Jewish players in the NFL, had worn cleats before the game that showed support for Israel as part of the league’s “My Cause, My Cleats” program. His shoes displayed Stars of David and the phrases “I Stand with Israel” and “Am Yisrael Chai,” or “the Jewish people lives.”
Click here to read the article!
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"Jewish Miracles Can Happen" | |
Left to right: Actress Julianna Margulies, filmmaker Alexandra Shiva and director Jordan Matthew Horowitz discuss Horowitz’s short documentary "Jack and Sam" at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Manhattan, Dec. 3, 2023. (Julia Gergely) | |
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Two Holocaust survivors, reunited after 80 years apart, tell their tale in a new short documentary
(New York Jewish Week) — “It is such a beautiful love story,” director Jordan Matthew Horowitz said after a screening Sunday at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York’s Holocaust museum. “It’s a beautiful story of friendship that’s endured so much over such a long period of time.”
Click here to read the article!
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For Hanukkah this year, Caviar Russe executive chef Edgar “Teddy” Panchernikov has created a luxury latke topped with caviar. (Courtesy of Caviar Russe and Food Story Media, Inc.; design by Mollie Suss) | |
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(New York Jewish Week) — With movie tickets that cost $30 and apartments that can reach staggering, nine-digit figures, New York City is notoriously expensive. And yet, one restaurant’s new luxury latke is still pricey enough to make jaws drop.
Click here to read the article!
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Brooklyn Seltzer Boys president Kenny Gomberg pours seltzer for egg creams at the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum. (Courtesy of the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum) | |
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Fizz ed: The Brooklyn Seltzer Museum tells the fascinating history of ‘Jewish champagne’
(New York Jewish Week) — On a recent Sunday in Brooklyn, some 100 people, mostly families, gathered for a Hanukkah party that offered something a bit different than the typical latkes and games of dreidel. Instead, there was a factory tour, instructions on how to manufacture a classic seltzer bottle and freshly-made egg creams.
Click here to read the article!
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The exhibition at the Museum at Eldridge Street, with works by artist and cartographer Adrienne Ottenberg, shines a spotlight on poet Emma Lazarus, left; Gittel Natelson, who was a member of the Eldridge Street Synagogue; and Dora Welfowitz, who perished in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. (Courtesy) | |
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Meet 29 remarkable women who lived and worked in the historic Lower East Side
(New York Jewish Week) — The Museum at Eldridge Street (probably) isn’t haunted, but ghosts were what artist Adrienne Ottenberg had in mind when she created the works now on view in the new exhibit at the 1887 landmarked synagogue, “On the Lower East Side: 28 Remarkable Women…and One Scoundrel.”
Click here to read the article!
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Reaching over 25,000 Families
New York Metro Region Newsletter
We are now accepting ads beginning January 2024.
- Control Circulation of over 25,000
- Covers entire NY Metro Region Area - LI & NYC
- 26X Issues
- Very Competitive Rates
For further information and rates,
email Lisa Pollack at assistant@fjmc.org
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Affinity Groups & Webinars | |
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Join us for Yiddish Lite!
Beginner's Yiddish Group
Alternate Tuesday Evenings
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
at 8pm ET
Hosted by Al Davis
Click here to register!
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Join us for Sports Affinity!
with Eliza Kanner
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
8pm ET
Affinity Group Leaders:
David Kravitz and Danny Mandeau
Click here to register!
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Join us for Yiddish Alive!
Advanced Yiddish Group
Monday, December 25, 2023
at 8pm ET
Hosted by Jeffrey Newton, Joe Rotstein,
Esther Scheer and Barry Wagner
Click here to register!
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Join us for Torah Talks!
Thursday, January 4, 2024
7:30pm ET | 6:30pm CT | 4:30pm PT
With Norm Kurtz and Benny Sommerfeld
Click here to register!
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IMPORTANT REQUEST:
At FJMC, we welcome and encourage feedback as to how you, your synagogue, your communal organization, etc. has mobilized to address the events of these past several weeks. We want you to be heard. We would like to share your thoughts and comments through Gesher.
Email: Lisa Pollack at assistant@fjmc.org
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We invite you to check out our new website!
- What's happening around the NY Metro Region
- Upcoming NY Men's Club events
- FJMC International Programs
- NY Metro Fundraisers
- NY Metro newsletter archives
- Resources
And much more to come!
Reminder: If your New York FJMC Men's Club would like an event published in the newsletter or on our website, please email it to Lisa Pollack at assistant@fjmc.org
New York Metro Region Newsletter edited by Lisa Pollack.
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Without the FJMC, valuable Jewish programming might never occur. FJMC needs your financial support to in order to continue to create the important programs which keeps your Men’s Club vibrant. You can help preserve the significant impact the FJMC and its members have made on behalf of the Jewish men and their families around the world by making a pledge. Our movement depends on you! | | | |
Follow NY Metro on social media!
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