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Hello Hal,


Welcome to the FJMC New York Metro Region Newsletter. 


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

MEN ARE LOSING FRIENDS AND STRUGGLING TO MAKE NEW ONES - MISSING HEALTH BENEFITS

 

Sharing a recent article in BBC Science Focus magazine by Ian Taylor.


The benefits of friendship are profound. Having a strong social circle is associated: 


  • With a longer life and fewer illnesses. 
  • Your pals lower your blood pressure and trigger positive chemicals in your brain. 
  • People with a strong social network are less stressed, more resilient and more optimistic. 
  • They’re more likely to be a healthy weight and less likely to suffer cognitive decline. 
  • They also enjoy some protection from cancer, heart disease and depression. 
  • But there’s one group – a big one – that is missing out on these benefits - MEN. Men are lonely. 


A YouGov poll in 2019, concluded that one in five men have no close friends, twice as many as women. In 2021, the Survey Center on American Life found that since 1995, the number of American men reporting that they had no close friends jumped from 3 to 15 per cent. In the same research, the number of men saying they had at least six close friends halved from 55 per cent to 27 per cent.


Why do men struggle to make or maintain friendships? And what can we do about it, not just as individuals but on a societal level? Loneliness is a health hazard, as dangerous as smoking or alcoholism, according to some research. 



One profound reason the FJMC and the camaraderie it offers have been around for almost 100 years.


Think about it. 


Aaron Altman

New York Metro Region President

Around the Jewish World

Why disposable plates and cutlery are at the center of Israel’s culture wars (JTA)


TEL AVIV (JTA) — Devora Zien’s tiny apartment in Bnei Brak runs like a factory, but, she admits, not a very smooth one. With 12 mouths to feed three times a day, single-use plasticware is a basic necessity, she says. So when Israel’s then-Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman increased taxes on disposables in 2021, Zien said she was “in total shock.”


“For me, it’s more important than bread and milk,” she said. “It’s about survival. I can’t stand in front of the kitchen sink all day washing dishes — and where would I put a dishwasher even if I could afford one?”


Read the article in its entirety.

Menorahs and tableware hidden from Nazis: Polish builders uncover Jewish WWII trove (A.P., Times of Israel)


Glass cosmetic containers, cigarette holders and hundreds of other items found under Lodz building; local Jewish community lit a restored menorah on Hanukkah.


WARSAW, Poland — About 400 items believed to have been hidden in the ground by their Jewish owners during World War II have been accidentally uncovered during home renovation work in a yard in Lodz in central Poland.


History experts say that the objects found in the city’s Polnocna Street include Hanukkah menorahs and items used in daily life, TVN24 reported.


Another Polish media outlet, said that perfume bottles and cigarette holders were also found in the trove, located some 70 centimeters underground.


Read the article in its entirety.

German zoo gets $26 million from widow of animal-loving Holocaust survivor (JTA)


(JTA) — The zoo in Cologne, Germany, has gotten its first check from the $26 million gift promised by the widow of a Holocaust survivor who credited the city’s residents for saving him during the war.


Elizabeth Reichert willed the funds to the Cologne Zoological Garden in 2017 in honor of her husband Arnulf, who died in 1998. Both Reicherts were born in Cologne and met during World War II, when Elizabeth was part of the local anti-Nazi resistance network and Arnulf, a German Jew, was in hiding with the network’s help.


“They only survived the war in Germany thanks to the help of courageous people from Cologne, who offered hiding places to the Jew Arnulf Reichert,” the zoo said in a statement in German this week.


Though they moved to Israel and, after five years, America after the war, Arnulf and Elizabeth maintained affection to the city for the rest of their lives.


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!

Welcome to the

Build-A-Pair Program! Now in stock!


The "Build-A-Pair" Program is a fun learning program to introduce 5th to 7th graders to the joy of 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!

New York Metro Region

Is Seeking A Volunteer

Marketing Communications "Maestro"


  • Newsletter
  • Email Announcements
  • Mailing Lists
  • And more


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

Affinity Group Webinars

New Affinity Group!


Israeli Music Today

Hosted by Jason Hecht


Sunday, January 15, 2023

12:30pm ET

11:30am CT

10:30am MT

9:30am PT


Israeli Music Today - It's much more than "Hava Nagila"!


Join us for a presentation hosted by Jason Hecht, featuring songs and singers popular in Israel, over the past few years.


Register here!


Looking forward to seeing you there!


Questions or more info? Have a suggestions for a presentation?

Please contact group leader, Jason Hecht

Sports Affinity Group

presents:

Steve Rosenberg, Author


Managed, Marketed, and

Operated some of America's best

known and most interesting Sport events. 


Wednesday, January 18, 2023

at 8:00 PM ET


Register here!


We look forward to seeing you there!


Your Group Leaders:

David Kravitz & Danny Mandeau

Questions? Email us at sports@fjmc.org

Today in NYC history


On this date, in 1918, Danish-Jewish playwright Henri Nathansen’s play “Inside the Walls” had its United States premiere at the German-language Irving Place Theatre near Union Square (above). The play was one of the first to sympathetically depict a romance between a Jew and a gentile, four years before “Abie’s Irish Rose.” (NYPL Digital Collection)

Around the Region

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

Welcome to the

Build-A-Pair Program! Now in stock!


The "Build-A-Pair" Program is a fun learning program to introduce 5th to 7th graders to the joy of 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!

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

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

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.

Order Shoah Yellow Candles now.


Light on Erev Yom HaShoah

Holocaust Remembrance Day

Monday, April 17, 2023

Order Your Yellow Candles!

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

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

the exciting club programs and more.

www.newyorkmetrofjmc.org

newyorkmetroregionfjmc@gmail.com

Follow NY Metro on social media!

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