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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May is Jewish American Heritage Month.
Are you ready?
(AJC) To spread the word, American Jewish Committee is calling on educators, academic institutions, the private sector, elected officials, and all Americans to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month this May.
AJC created easy-to-use toolkits with all the information necessary to help in recognizing this important month.
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“The highest form of wisdom is kindness.”
— from the Talmud
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“Thou shalt not be a victim, thou shalt not be a perpetrator, but, above all, thou shalt not be a bystander.”
— Yehuda Bauer
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From the Office of the New York Metropolitan Region FJMC President
Hello Hal,
Being an avid reader, I came across some interesting insights for this week’s column from the Jerusalem Post and the constant coverage of the situation on American College campuses.
Having concluded Passover and as we approach Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), which begins at sundown on May 5 and concludes at nightfall on May 6, we pause to remember the six million Jews systematically murdered by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.
The Shoah, defined in Hebrew as “utter destruction” and the standard Hebrew term for Holocaust, was a horrific event that shattered Jewish communities across Europe and forever altered the course of history. The establishment of Israel in 1948, a safe haven for the Jewish people, served as a powerful symbol of resilience in the face of barbarity.
Yet, the dream of “Never Again” remains perpetually under threat and we are finding that “Never Again is Now.” Sadly, history warns us that the seeds of hate sown in the past can easily germinate in the present.
This year, Yom HaShoah takes on more meaning than ever as Jews throughout the world are reeling and grieving after the October 7 massacre along the Gaza border in Israel. Here in the United States, antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed 360% since the attack, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Underscoring this alarming trend, the ADL has also reported that almost three-fourths (73%) of Jewish college students have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.
Not only did these incidents include violent attacks, vandalism, harassment and the placement of swastikas, there was a dramatic increase in antisemitic propaganda and tropes reminiscent of those found in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s, which helped create the climate for the Holocaust. Just like Europe over 75 years ago, we will find today that silence and apathy lead to complicity.
How can we empower the next generation of Jewish citizens to stand up against hate, safely and effectively? The answer is up to us:
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Education We must advocate for a unified Holocaust educational curriculum in our schools
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Advocacy Teaching young people how to effectively engage with school administration in cases of antisemitism is imperative. Whether it is providing them with resources or knowledge about their rights, this know- how is crucial. The most powerful act of resistance is togetherness. Supporting safe community spaces such as synagogues, camps and student-led organizations, like Hillel on college campuses, provides the opportunity for young Jews to feel the power of solidarity.
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Visit Israel in person For many young Jews, experiencing Israel firsthand can be a transformative way to connect with their heritage and bolster their solidarity. There are many organizations that offer safe travel programs to Israel for young adults.
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Affiliate with organizations like FJMC whose mission is to involve Jewish “Men in Jewish Life"
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Light the Yellow Candle of Remembrance provided by FJMC on Sunday evening, May 5 and make it a focal point of your home.
YOM HASHOAH is a call to action. We must never forget the pain of the Holocaust, and we must use this knowledge to actively fight against hate in all its forms. By investing in education, encouraging activism and fostering a strong sense of Jewish identity, we can empower the next generation to build a future where “Never Again” truly holds meaning.
By supporting our Annual Chaverim Kol Israel Man of the Year/Youth of the Year being held on May 19 and honoring strong leaders in our communities and the next generation of leadership, we stand in unison and exclaim Am Yisrael Chai; The People of Israel Live!
Explore our website: www.newyorkmetrofjmc.org for more details and a comprehensive listing of affiliated clubs, latest news, and upcoming programming across the region.
Your feedback and suggestions are invaluable; feel free to reach out to me at szlerner@optonline.net or 516-840-5464.
In Friendship,
Shea Z. Lerner
New York Metropolitan Region President
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“Jews survived all the defeats, expulsions, persecutions and pogroms, the centuries in which they were regarded as a pariah people, even the Holocaust itself, because they never gave up the faith that one day they would be free to live as Jews without fear.”
— Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
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Light your Shoah Yellow Candles
Sunday Evening, May 5th
The FJMC Shoah Yellow Candle Program builds a link in the chain of memory by continuing to memorialize Holocaust victims and stand against Antisemitism and all forms of hatred against Jews.
Sharing Light For Remembrance by using the Shoah Yellow Candle is not just a moment in time but a timeless movement that we should never forget. The tool of light - through candle sharing – will shine truth on everyone it touches.
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Download Free Yellow Candle App | |
ADL: Combatting Antisemitism | |
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Not On My Campus
(ADL) As the semester comes to an end, our campuses are facing serious disruptions and a troubling increase in antisemitism. Urge university leaders to protect students’ rights to a safe end to the semester and meaningful graduation.
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Midway Jewish Center
330 S. Oyster Bay Road
Syosset, NY 11791
www.mjc.org
Phone: (516) 938-8390
Midway Jewish Center
Shabbat of Inclusion
Friday, May 17, 2024 at 6pm
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Dix Hills Jewish Center
555 Vanderbilt Pkwy
Dix Hills, NY 11746
www.dhjc.org
Phone: (631) 499-6644
Never Again Is NOW!
Yom HaShoah 2024 Commemoration
Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 7pm
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Plainview JC
95 Floral Drive West
Plainview, NY 11803
www.plainviewjewishcenter.org
Phone: (516) 938-8610
Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day
Sunday, May 5, 2024
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Congregation Shaaray Shalom
711 Dogwood Avenue
West Hempstead, NY 11552
www.shaarayshalom.org
Phone: (516) 481-7448
Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day
Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 7pm
Register here to attend in person or via zoom
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North Shore Jewish Center
385 Old Town Road
Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776
www.northshorejewishcenter.org
Phone: (631) 928-3737
NSJC Softball League
North Shore Jewish Center Men's Club
hopes to revive our softball league this spring.
We hope to begin on or around May.
Download the flyer for further details and fill out the contact form.
If you are interested please send your contact information to Hillel Krieger at 917-703-4696 or Eric Kutnowsky at 631-831-9452 or email us at NSJCsoftball@gmail.com and let us know your name, phone and email address.
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Friday - Sunday, June 7-9, 2024
Please Join us at our Quad Region Retreat as we
Celebrate our Brotherhood
with the Hudson Valley, Northern New Jersey
and Middle Atlantic Regions!
Camp Zeke 31 Barry Watson Way, Lakewood, PA 18439
Retreat Registration: *$150 per person
Cost to Attend: $400 pp., Dbl. Occ.
Stipends Awarded by NYM Region: $250 pp.
Total Out of Pocket Cost: ONLY $150
Open to all NY Metro affiliated and paid club members!
Register NOW!
For more information: JAY STEINMETZ
Cell: 516-435-5278 or JaySteinmetz56@gmail.com
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Celebrate the Man and Youth of the Year | |
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New York Metropolitan Region
Federation Jewish Men's Clubs presents:
40th Annual Honoree
Recognition Program
Elaborate Brunch for Honorees and Family
Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 11:00 am
Plainview Jewish Center
95 Floral Drive
Plainview, NY 11803
The New York Metropolitan Region Honors
Les Agisim
New York Metro Regional Man of the Year
Help the New York Metropolitan Region meet its goals by
supporting these worthy honorees with an Ad in our Annual Journal.
Go to the website, click on the honoree name to learn
about their accomplishments and contributions within the
Men’s Club, synagogue and community and to place an ad.
You will find many advertising opportunities on our sponsorship page.
Support your Man of the Year and Youth of the Year
by placing an Ad in their honor!
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Build Muscle at Any Age With Our Max Muscle at 50 Program
(Men's Health) THE OLDER YOU get, the narrative says, the more challenging it becomes to pack on muscle and strength. But no, that doesn't need to stop you from becoming the best version of yourself.
This program provides all the training tools you need to muscle up to any age!
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Dayenu is building a movement of American Jews confronting the climate crisis with spiritual audacity and bold political action. We mobilize Jewish support for climate solutions, build our collective power, and raise up a spiritual, religious, and moral voice in the national and global movements confronting the climate crisis.
Take Action:
Join us in saying “Dayenu: We have had enough!” Join the movement
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FJMC Club Israel Walking Challenge
Health and Wellness
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THE FJMC Walking Challenge will begin on April 21, 2024 (Passover) and finish on June 10, 2024 (Shavuot).
Registration is now open!
During your 7-week journey from Haifa to Jerusalem, you will visit a number of cities in Israel including Hadera, Netanya, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Sderot.
You have all heard about The Walking Challenge Through Israel as part of FJMC’s Wellness Initiative. Now is the time to sign up, register and build a robust team from your club.
Attached are instructions for sign up either through a mobile app or the online portal.
Please take a look at these attachments:
For more information about how your Men's Club can participate, send an email to wellness@fjmc.org
In Brotherhood,
Dr. Bob Braitman
Chair, FJMC Health and Wellness Committee
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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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Yom HaShoah Commemoration
Monday, May 6, 2024
6:00 pm / Pre-Event Reception
7:00 pm / Commemoration
PAS Clergy and Guest Scott Miller
To mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, join us for memorial prayers, music, participation by PAS teens, and remarks from our clergy. We will also hear from Scott Miller, co-author of Refuge Denied: The St. Louis Passengers and the Holocaust in dialogue with Rabbi Zuckerman. All in the community are invited to attend a pre-event reception hosted by Pauline and Milt Zablow.
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Sutton Place Synagogue
225 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
www.spsnyc.org
Phone: (212) 593-3300
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Women's League Shabbat
Saturday, May 4, 2024
9:15am - 3:05pm
Members of our SPS Women’s League (and daughters) will lead the entire Shabbat service.
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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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Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz: Live and In Residence
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
7pm - 8pm
Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz, an educator and facilitator of Jewish communal music, supports those who seek to deepen, sharpen, and unlock their practice of empowered song and prayer. Deborah will interweave song and Torah as she leads Shabbat services and three inspiring workshops. All are welcome.
Click here for further information!
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Chicago Shabbaton
Register NOW!
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Why wait for 2025?
Come to Chicagoland
May 16-19, 2024
Take part in the FJMC 2024 Shabbaton, Thursday May 16 to Sunday May 19, 2024 at the Hilton Chicago Northbrook.
Come join all your old friends and make new ones at the beautiful Hilton Chicago/Northbrook. Our jam-packed weekend includes a Chicago Architecture River Cruise, sneak peak tour of the Sheraton Grand Chicago, site of our 2025 Convention, a wonderful Shabbat together again with great guest speakers and a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field (depending on MLB 2024 Schedule)…and loads of fun for everyone!
Registration is NOW open!
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Chicago Convention on your mind? | |
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Chicago Convention on your mind!?
Get a head start by enrolling in the convenient
FJMC Installment plan!
Registration is now open!
Up to 12 convenient monthly payments from your credit card, and refundable if you change your mind. Click here to enroll now!
In Brotherhood,
Mark Givarz
Jay Steinmetz
Rick Wronzberg
Danny Mandeau
Mitch Ross
and the rest of the Convention Team!
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Reaching over 25,000 Families
New York Metro Region Newsletter
We are now accepting ads beginning January 2024.
For further information and rates, email Lisa Pollack at assistant@fjmc.org
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FJMC Inclusion and Imagine Life Guidebook | |
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Please download FJMC’s INCLUSION RESOURCE GUIDEBOOK, which will take you step by step through understanding and implementing inclusion practices in your clubs and synagogues, helping you to help us grow this initiative while enhancing our Jewish communities.
FJMC is very excited about this initiative and looks forward to your involvement.
And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. We are here for you.
Wishing you brotherhood and acceptance,
Stephe Sturman, FJMC Inclusion Chair ssturman@fjmc.org
Mitch Ross, FJMC Imagine Life Chair
mrossaz@gmail.com
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AN FJMC INCLUSION COMMITTEE INITIATIVE
Support the Lev Shalem Mahzor in Braille
Donate Now!!!
Your gift of $18 or more will make a real impact!!!
Empower Blind Jewish Community Members:
The Jewish Federation for the Blind (JFB) urgently seeks the support of the FJMC, to bring the Lev Shalem Mahzor into Braille by the Jewish Braille Institute (JBI), a nonprofit funded solely by donations.
The high cost of transcription poses a significant challenge:
- The Mahzor Lev Shalem requires transcription into 14-16 Braille volumes, with weekday editions condensed to 10-12 volumes.
- Initial production costs amount to $30,000 for the transcription with subsequent copies costing approximately $700 each to produce.
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JBI makes these available for congregants who need, free of charge.
- All funding for this critical initiative comes solely from individuals and foundations, without any government support.
Your support can make a tangible difference!!!
This link will take you to the FJMC sponsored donation page of JBI. Thanks in advance, for your support of this worthwhile project. www.jbilibrary.org/fjmc
For inquiries or to contribute, please contact:
Stephe Sturman, FJMC Inclusion Initiative Chair at ssturman@fjmc.org
Read and download the full press release!
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Rabbi Menachem Creditor wrote "Olam Chesed Yibaneh" after 9/11 and is seen performing in a 2021 Youtube video. (Screenshot) | |
After Yale protest, prominent Rabbi reiterates demand that anti-Israel activists not sing his song
(JTA) — A New York Rabbi is reiterating his call for his music not to be sung by anti-Israel demonstrators, after students at Yale University used his song during protests there. Rabbi Menachem Creditor said he was “distraught” to learn that “Olam Chesed Yibaneh,” a song he wrote after 9/11 that has become a mainstay at progressive Jewish activists, was sung at the conclusion of a Seder held by the anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace on Yale’s campus. Yale is one of dozens of schools where anti-Israel protest encampments have sprung up in recent weeks.
Click here to read the article!
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The postcards returned to Lublin in an April 2024 ceremony included ones addressed to its head, Rabbi Meir Schapiro. (Courtesy Monika Tarajko) | |
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LUBLIN, Poland (JTA) — When Karla McCabe was a child in East Germany in the 1970s and ‘80s, she knew her grandfather had been a German soldier in World War II. But exactly what he did during those years was not a topic of discussion in her family.
Click here to read the article!
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Chef Guy Vankin, surrounded by the dishes and drinks he serves at his new vegan kosher restaurant, Siete. (Courtesy City Roots Hospitality, design by Mollie Suss) | |
Siete, the latest NYC eatery from trailblazing Israeli vegan chef Guy Vaknin, promises ‘a vibrant journey through Mexico’
(New York Jewish Week) — Chef Guy Vaknin may not be a household name, but if you’ve dined at a vegan restaurant in New York City in recent years, there’s a good chance the establishment was one of his. Now, he’s added Mexican cuisine to the list: Earlier this month, Vaknin opened Siete, a new vegan eatery promising “a vibrant culinary journey through Mexico” in the Flatiron District.
Click here to read the article!
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Dean Kremer, left, and Max Fried, right, are among the best Jewish players in the MLB. (Getty Images) | |
The Jewish Sport Report: For Max Fried and Dean Kremer’s Passover dominance, dayenu
(JTA) — We’re excited to be back from our Passover hiatus with the latest Jewish sports news. Let’s jump right in.
Click here to read the article!
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America's Jewish Women:
A History from Colonial Times
to Today
Thursday, May 30, 2024
at 8:00PM on Zoom
What does it mean to be a Jewish woman in America? In a gripping historical narrative, Pamela S. Nadell weaves together the stories of a diverse group of extraordinary people—from the colonial-era matriarch Grace Nathan and her great-granddaughter, poet Emma Lazarus, to labor organizer Bessie Hillman and the great justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to scores of other activists, workers, wives, and mothers who helped carve out a Jewish American identity.
Click Here to register!
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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
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Yom HaShoah Commemoration
Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 7pm
Being held at Temple Israel of Great Neck
108 Old Mill Road
Guest Speaker: Arnold Newfield
Sponsored by Temple Israel of Great Neck, Congregation L'Dor V'Dor
and Temple Beth-El of Great Neck
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Shelter Rock Jewish Center
272 Shelter Rock Road
Roslyn, NY 11576
www.srjc.org
Phone: (516) 741-4305
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Do A Knitzvah
Tuesdays at 11am
May 7 & June 4, 2024
In conjunction with the Sid Jacobson JCC, Sisterhood is knitting and crocheting 8" squares to create blankets for hospitals in the area.
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Download Free Yellow Candle App | |
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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
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Very Competitive Rates
For further information and rates, email Lisa Pollack at assistant@fjmc.org
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Exhibit curated by: Netanel Saso and Yoni Vendriger | |
Israeli Artists Project
Invites you to the
Opening Reception of the
“AViV Group Exhibition”
Moshava Art Gallery
45 West 8th Street, NYC
Thursday, May 9, 2024
6PM-9PM
Everyone is invited to stop by, meet the artists and enjoy wine and live Jazz.
The exhibit will be up May 9 - May 31 on Monday and Wednesday, 2PM - 5 PM and will feature the works of 20 local Israeli artists.
All works are for sale. A percentage of each work sold will be donated to help Israelis in need following the October 7th attacks.
Free admission. RSVP here.
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Steven Skybell as Herr Schultz and Bebe Neuwirth as Fraulein Schneider in "Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club" at the August Wilson Theatre. (Marc Brenner) | |
Steven Skybell’s Jewish story shines at the heart of Broadway’s ‘Cabaret’ revival
(JTA) — When guests arrive at the August Wilson Theatre to see the latest revival of “Cabaret” on Broadway, they’re not greeted at the front doors, where they might have entered the last two summers to see “Funny Girl.” Instead, they’re guided through a dark, narrow side entrance renovated to look like the seedy underground Kit Kat Club of 1930s Berlin, where the show takes place...
Click here to read the article!
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Affinity Groups & Webinars | |
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Join us for Torah Talks
Thursday, May 2, 2024
at 7:30pm ET
With Norm Kurtz and Benny Sommerfeld
Register here!
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Join us for Yiddish Lite!
Beginner's Yiddish Group
Alternate Tuesday Evenings
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
at 8pm ET
Hosted by Al Davis
Register here!
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Join us for Israeli & Jewish Music
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
at 9pm ET
Register here!
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Join us for Yiddish Alive!
Advanced Yiddish Group
Monday, May 13, 2024
at 8pm ET
Hosted by Jeffrey Newton, Joe Rotstein,
Esther Scheer and Barry Wagner
Register here!
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Join us for Pride and Prejudice
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
at 8pm ET
Quarterly Dialogue led by Stephe Sturman, Inclusion Chair
Register here!
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We invite you to
check out our
new NY Metro website
www.newyorkmetrofjmc.org
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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Reaching over 25,000 Families
New York Metro Region GESHER Newsletter
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FJMC is the choice of Jewish Men!
Be a part of tomorrow’s future...TODAY!
FJMC has been a progressive, vocal leader in the Jewish world for many years and we want to keep it as a reliable voice for years to come.
"FJMC has taught me leadership skills that I've been able to use in my job, relationship skills I use in my family, and organizational skills that I use in every part of my life."
- a current donor
Our donors are united in our desire to support FJMC on an ongoing, monthly basis.
We ask for a small gift each month to help us provide training for our Club and Regional Leadership, to continue our outreach to all Jewish men and our great programs. Your unwavering support makes a tremendous difference.
Without the FJMC, valuable Jewish programming might never occur. FJMC needs your financial support.
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