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You are receiving this email because you are an FJMC Club Member, Individual Member, Club Officer, Regional Leader or Friend of the FJMC.

Hello Hal,


Welcome to the FJMC New York Metro Region Newsletter. 


In this issue, you will find club announcements, upcoming affinity webinars, insightful articles on men's health, and exciting events happening around the region, important FJMC programs, and the latest news within the Jewish Community and around the globe.

For your situational awareness: there is no immediate threat.

This morning, a synagogue in our area received a suspicious package. When opened, it contained a gray/black powder.


The package is pictured to the left. It is addressed to "Chief Rabbi".

  1. Any package so addressed should be considered suspicious, and not opened.
  2. There is no return address, another red flag.


Before opening such packages (Click here to see a poster with more telltale signs from the USPS. Prominently post this poster for all personnel to see.), feel free to reach out to the Community Security Initiative at: csi_questions@jcrcny.org.


If someone in your organization does open a package containing an unknown substance (e.g., powder) follow the following steps:


  1. Leave the package in place.
  2. Immediately evacuate the room and close the door. No one, but the police should enter that room.
  3. Inform someone to dial 911.
  4. Anyone opening such a package with an unknown substance should immediately thoroughly wash their hands. 
  5. Shut down the building HVAC, air conditioners, air purifiers, etc.
  6. When the police arrive, follow their directions. 


Consider review your mail handling procedures with staff. Please advise your mailroom and other personnel not to handle letters or packages that look suspicious (discoloration, stains, or emits an odor).


Any questions, contact your CSI Regional Security Director at: csi_questions@jcrcny.org.  

Come to the

FJMC Convention!


Make Your Own History!


We've waited four years to get together

in-person and we're doing it in "The City of Brotherly Love"; the home of Rocky, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, soft pretzels, and now...FJMC Convention!

Come early, Stay for Fireworks!



Convention is Thursday-Sunday but there's so much to do you're going to want to enjoy our pre and post-convention activities or plan a longer stay to explore Philly your own then enjoy the 4th of July celebration!

Register Now!

The NY Metro Region is now offering a $500 stipend to all NY Metro 2023 Convention attendees.

The Vanishing American Jew?


Challenging the common assumption that

the number of Jews in the US is decreasing


A meeting with

Prof. Leonard Sachs

Head of the Institute

for Contemporary Judaism

at Brandeis University


Sunday, January 29, 2023


We invite you to a meeting with a senior researcher, which challenges the Israeli consensus regarding the balance of Jews in North America compared to Israel. Where do most Jews live? The answer to this question has significant consequences for the State of Israel.


We hope to see you there, taking part in an important discussion.

 

On Sunday, January 29, 2023, 7th Shebat

18:00 - Gathering and light refreshments

18:15 - Opening: Dr. Yizhar Hess, Deputy Chairman of the World Zionist Organization. Weizmann Hall, National Institutions Building.


18:00 - Gathering and refreshments

18:15 Opening remarks: Dr. Yizhar Hess, Vice-Chair of the WZO

Weizmann Hall

National Institutions Building, 48 King George


* For those interested - a tour of the National Institutions Building, the structure in which the state was born, before the lecture

Register for the lecture!

Men's Health

WHY FOCUS ON BOYS AND MEN?

By Richard V. Reeves


In my latest book from Brookings Press, 

Of Boys and Men, and other related publications, I describe many of the challenges facing boys and men, especially those with least economic power. Important issues exist in the domains of education, employment, family life and health. There is a growing recognition that these problems need to be taken seriously, not only for the sake of boys and men, but also for the sake of women, children, the economy, and even the health of our political life. As Michelle Goldberg wrote in the New York Times, in response to my book:


“It’s possible to believe that sexism remains a major impediment to women’s flourishing and also believe that for many boys and men life is much harder than it should be. . . Even if you’re not inclined to care much about men’s welfare, their growing anomie and resentment is everyone’s problem, fueling right-wing populist movements around the world. People who feel unmoored and demeaned are going to be receptive to the idea that the natural order of things has been upended, the core claim of reactionary politics.”


Read the article in its entirety.

EXPANDED CARDIOVASCULAR BENEFITS SHOWN WHEN WEARING TEFILLIN - STUDY


Research from the University of Cincinnati shows health benefits from Jewish tradition


The cardiovascular health of both men and women who wear tefillin (phylacteries) around their arms can improve, according to new research at the University of Cincinnati (UC). The study suggests those benefits are the result of ischemic, or reduced, blood-flow preconditioning that produces protection from the damage caused by heart attacks.


Tefillin is used for morning prayers for Jewish men over the age of 13 on weekdays,” said clinical internal medicine Prof. Jack Rubinstein of the Division of Cardiovascular Health in UC’s College of Medicine.


Read the article in its entirety.

World Wide Wrap!

February 12, 2023


Our theme for this year's Wrap is "Hearing Men's Voices and Tefillin - Inspiring the Daily Tefillin Wrap."


We are asking each Club to implement programming with the goal of inspiring the daily mitzvah of tefillin use and run Hearing Men's Voices sessions as a primary format.

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,

FJMC has created an entertaining and educational WWW ’22 Video for you to use!  Download the video and have it on the ready during your Wrap program.

Register Your Club!

Now in stock!



  • Introduce 5th to 7th graders to the joy and mitzvah of Tefillin in Jewish life.


  • The website has an extensive library of educational and How-To documents and multiple videos!

If your synagogue doesn't have an FJMC-affiliated men's Club, you may not be aware of the Build-A-Pair program, an outstanding arts and crafts and religious education program about tefillin. 


Questions:

Buildapair.fjmc@gmail.com

Order Your Kits!

Around the Jewish World

The New Jews in America and the Old Oligarchy in Israel


(January 17, 2023 / JNS) There’s a new sort of Jew emerging in America. He isn’t progressive. He isn’t conservative. He’s just a Jew, and he’s got no interest in explaining his existence as a Jew to antisemites of any variety. Writer Karol Markowicz describes the phenomenon in “The New Jew: The Beginning of a Jewish Political Realignment in Real Clear Books.” She joins Caroline Glick on theCaroline Glick Showthis week to discuss the rise of proud, free, Zionist Jews in America, and the challenges they face—and pose for the overwhelmingly liberal and increasingly woke Jewish establishment in America.


Read the article in its entirety.

Holocaust objects to be displayed at German parliament


(January 17, 2023 / JNS) An exhibition of Holocaust-era items from the collections of Yad Vashem whose stories are intertwined with Jews from Germany will open in the Bundestag next week, ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Jerusalem-based Holocaust remembrance center announced Tuesday.


The exhibition, titled “Sixteen Objects,” will be inaugurated on Jan. 24 by the Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan, on his first-ever visit to Germany, and Bundestag President Bärbel Bas.


Read the article in its entirety.

Historical New York

Lower East Side

Then and Now


(New York Jewish Week) – For a large part of the 20th century, the Lower East Side in Manhattan was the bustling center of American Jewish life.


Storeowners, peddlers and families all crowded into the neighborhood for a chance at success, as well as opportunities to rebuild Jewish communities left behind in Europe. But as the Jewish residents moved out to Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and beyond — and other immigrant communities moved in — the neighborhood dynamics, storefronts and signage began to shift.


The changes in the neighborhood were recently captured in a Twitter thread curated by a Hasidic Jewish man living in Monsey, N.Y., who uses the Twitter handle “Hungry Chipmunk” and asked to be referred to here as “S.”


In black-and-white images, the excitement and grit of Jewish life in the Lower East Side — a neighborhood bound by East Houston Street and Canal Street to the north and south, and the Bowery and FDR Drive to the west and east — is shown in images of barefoot boys, Yiddish signage and names like “S. Wolarsky & Son, N. Schapiro & Sons sign makers and B. S. Kahan hosiery.”


Read the article in its entirety.

Affinity Groups & Webinars

FJMC Affinity Groups & Webinars are open to all.

You do not need to be an FJMC member to join. 

Pride & Prejudice Quarterly Inclusion Initiative Dialogue


Wednesday, February 15, 2023

at 8:00 PM ET


Save The Date!

Registration coming soon!


Support, practical suggestions, resources and discussion centered on inclusion of marginalized community members. Inclusion Initiative info.


The goal of the initiative is that Men’s Clubs, Women’s League Affiliates and synagogues will create an environment that makes all underserved communities feel welcomed and embraced in the Jewish Community. Core targets are the Men’s Clubs, Women’s League Affiliates, clergy and synagogue leaders who we want to support, applaud for their work and encourage to improve their adoption of inclusion practices and policies.


For more information contact Jerry Brodsky (jerrybrodsky2@gmail.com).

Torah Talks!

With Norm Kurtz

and Benny Sommerfeld


Next Thursday Evening Sessions:

January 26, 2023.

February 2, 2023.

February 9, 2023.

7:30pm ET

6:30pm CT

4:30pm PT


Register here!


Torah Talks is our weekly conversation about the Torah portion. This is an opportunity to share your Torah thoughts with us at FJMC Beit Midrash on Thursday afternoon/evening. Each session is about 30 minutes. We want to create a meaningful conversation, share insights, and prepare for the upcoming Shabbat.

Be a part of the NY Metro Region's

effort to support the

Ramah Berkshires Tikvah Fund


Supporting Campers with Special Needs


DONATE TODAY

Around the Region

East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center

1400 Prospect Avenue, East Meadow, NY

www.eastmeadowjc.org


Men's Club Shabbat!

Saturday, February 11, 2023

At 9:00 AM

Temple Beth El of Cedarhurst

46 Locust Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY

Phone: 516-569-2700

office@templebethelofcedarhurst.org


Men's Club Showing Four Academy Award Winning Films

From the Simon Wiesenthal Center

On selected Mondays

from January through April

All Films will be on ZOOM ONLY

East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center

1400 Prospect Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554

516-483-4205

www.eastmeadowjc.org


World Wide Wrap & Breakfast

Sunday, February 12, 2023

At 9:00 AM



RSVP by February 8 with Michael Turner

Congregation L'Dor V'Dor-OLNJC

Men's Club and Sisterhood

49-10 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck, NY

718-224-0404

www.olnjc.org


From the City of David to the Abraham Accords

What Ingredients Were Necessary

To Bring Peace To The Middle East


A Zoom Presentation by Aryeh Lightstone

Author of "Let My People Know"

the inside story of the Abraham Accords


Sunday, February 12, 2023

At 11:00 AM


Register here

Plainview Jewish Center

95 Floral Drive West, Plainview, NY

516-698-2220

www.plainviewjewishcenter.org


Patio Players present:

Guys and Dolls


Saturday, March 18 & March 25

At 8:15 PM


Sunday, March 19 & March 26

At 2:00 PM


Ticket Cost:

$25 in advance. $30 at the door.


Accepting cash, checks made out to PJC Men's Club

or PayPal: pjcmensclub@gmail.com

Order Shoah Yellow Candles now.


Light on Erev Yom HaShoah

Holocaust Remembrance Day

Monday, April 17, 2023

Order Your Yellow Candles!
Click Here to Submit Your 2023 Torch Award Application

Now is the time to take action and submit your Torch Award applications, rather than waiting! 


The application deadline is April 27th with extra credit given to those submitted by March 15th!


The best time to submit is right after you do any program while all the information is still fresh in your mind and easy to relate. Just go to the FJMC Torch Awards Submission Page   to begin. You will have to log in to the FJMC site to proceed. Here you will find a listing of all the Torch Award categories, the Torch Awards Program Guidelines and the application. And there is no limit to how many programs you may submit or how many Torch Awards you can win.  But remember...if you don’t submit, you’re not in the running and we all lose out from discovering on valuable new programming ideas! 


If you have any questions or need any support, please feel free to contact any of us on the Torch Awards 2023 Committee.


Wishing you all the best and looking forward to learning more about all of your exciting and novel club programming!


Thank you,

 

2023 Torch Awards Committee

Jonathan Brody  

jbrody627@gmail.com 917-687-4069

Lester Shapiro  

lestershapiro@marfjmc.org 610-453-3581

Alan Pressman

ampress1@optonline.net 914-263-5432

Stephe Sturman  

stephesturman@gmail.com 845-313-0248

Letters to the Editor


If you have an article of interest, a special event happening at your Men's Club or other news for the New York Metro Region newsletter, please forward them to Lisa Pollack at assistant@fjmc.org

New York Metro Region

Is Seeking A Volunteer

Marketing Communications "Maestro"


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Inquiries and questions, contact: Aaron Altman at aaltman@fjmc.org

Please check out our website for the latest news around the region,

the exciting club programs and more.


New York Metro Region Newsletter edited by Lisa Pollack.

www.newyorkmetrofjmc.org

newyorkmetroregionfjmc@gmail.com

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