From the Office of the New York Metropolitan Region FJMC President

Hello Hal,

My column this week is excerpted from Celebrate!

The Complete Jewish Holiday Handbook.

Jews in the Warsaw ghetto observed a modified seder on erev Pesach [Passover eve] 1943, the night of the start of the ill-fated heroic uprising. Even concentration camp inmates somehow scrounged up the barest essentials and prayed for the deliverance of their people and vanquishing of their oppressors.

In the post-World War II era, the theme of freedom became linked with the fate of displaced Soviet, Ethiopian, and other endangered communities of Jews whom we prayed would be liberated.

With its universal messages of freedom from oppression for all people, and its particularistic promises of protection for the people of Israel, Passover remains the most observed holiday among Diaspora Jews.

It is no accident that the Jewish people call themselves “Am Yisrael“–“the people of Israel”— rather than “Dat Yisrael,” or “the religion of Israel.” A sense of peoplehood has long been the defining characteristic of the Jews. Accordingly, the central experience of Jewish history–the only event that demands an annual retelling–is the exodus from Egypt.

On the everyday level, this focus on peoplehood is translated into an emphasis on the community as the primary organizing structure of Jewish life. Wherever Jews have lived, they have built synagogues, established communal organizations and created systems of communal governance.

FJMC’s mission of successfully involving Jewish Men in Jewish life continues on L’dor V’dor, from Generation to Generation.

Join us!

Explore our website: www.newyorkmetrofjmc.org for 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 and wishing you all a Zissen Pesach!

Shea Z. Lerner

New York Metropolitan Region President

The Original Shoah Yellow Candle App

Available now for both Android and iPhone users

Key Features and Functions:

• Featured Candle
• Interactive Lighting
• Flexible Remembrance
• Scheduled Lighting
• Support a Cause
• Educational Resources
• Social Sharing
• Digitally Lighting Candles for 24 Hours

Original Physical Shoah Yellow Candles are available

for purchase directly through the app.

Download the free iPhone or Android App today.

Join us in preserving the memory

of the past for a brighter future.

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:

Join us in empowering blind Jewish community members to engage

fully in their faith and communal life. Your generosity will not only enrich individual lives but also strengthen the bonds of our inclusive Jewish community.

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.

Unfortunately, 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.

• 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!!!

• Empower Inclusion: Your donation will directly fund the transcription

• Enhance Accessibility: By distributing copies free of charge to sight-impaired individuals

• Global Impact: With places to extend our reach to 70 countries.

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!

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!

From the Office of the FJMC International President

April 1, 2024

We read a lot lately about the decline in worshiping and in interest for religious institutions across all faiths. Attendance at services is down, churches and synagogues are merging or closing, young adults seem to have little interest in joining organizations of any nature, etc.

The leadership of FJMC could hide behind those statistics and watch as membership falls, but, we are growing! Due to our concerted effort to reach out to unaffiliated clubs, we have added 6 new clubs since the Convention in Philadelphia last summer!

We are blessed to have an excellent recruitment team who works tirelessly to spread the word about all that FJMC has to offer. Led by Danny Mandeau, Overall Chair of Expanding Clubs and Membership (dmandeau@fjmc.org), Assistant Chair Lester Shapiro, Rob Blitzer and Phil Margolis, the committee has made contact with many unaffiliated clubs and synagogues that don’t have a club but could maintain one. We’re confident that many more will join us shortly. If you know of any unaffiliated clubs or synagogues that don’t have a club but could maintain one, please let Danny know.

One of the main reasons that new clubs want to affiliate with us is that WE SUPPORT OUR CLUBS 100%! If they need new ideas or have challenges, we are there to listen and help. We even have a specialized group of very experienced members to assist the clubs - the 311 guys. If the streetlight near your house is out, or there’s a big pothole in your street, you dial 311 for assistance. If our clubs need some help, they contact the 311 guys and help is on the way. Fast and free! 

Send the call for help for your club to club.consultants@fjmc.org

The TRAINING we offer to our clubs and its leaders is second to none! We invite selected future leaders to a training session every year where they learn not only how to run their own club, but how to develop as a man, a leader and person. I learned skills that I use daily with my friends, my job, my children and spouse.



So, you can see that there are these and many more great reasons to be a part of FJMC. Go ahead, let others in on what you have already discovered - being affiliated with FJMC is the best thing you can do to insure the future vitality of your club!

In Brotherhood,

Alan Budman

International President, 2023 - 2025

Help Us Grow! Please Pass Along To Leaders of Prospective Men's Clubs, Brotherhoods & Individual Members.

Discover how the energy and strong support of FJMC builds community, fosters leadership and strengthens

our clubs and congregations!

Dear Friend, 

Please join us on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 9pm ET for a no obligation, informative and interactive webinar on A Taste of FJMC.

Led by key organizational leaders, you will discover how

the energy and strong support of FJMC...

1. Builds Community

2. Encourages and Fosters Leadership

3. Strengthens Your Congregation

Register Now!

In brotherhood,

Danny Mandeau

Chair, FJMC Membership Expansion

email: dmandeau@fjmc.org

Lester Shapiro

Vice Chair, FJMC Membership Expansion

email: lshapiro@fjmc.org

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

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!

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

April 7 marks six months in captivity for 134 innocents 

Six Months In Captivity

March to Free the Hostages

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Washington, DC

2:30PM  Meet at Washington Monument

3:30PM  Rally at Lincoln Memorial (Program TBC)

Six Months, They Are Out Of Time

Sunday, April 7, 2024,

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

The United Nations

E 47th St, New York City

Join us for an island-wide gathering, marking our deep connection to the people of Israel. Experience an evening filled with faith, harmony, and hope, featuring song and prayers led by Cantors, Rabbis, Choirs, and Community Leaders.

FREE to the community. To register: rebrand.ly/SongandSolidarity

For more information on how you can support Israel, go to: LongIslandSupportsIsrael.org

This event is brought to you by:

AJC Long Island

Congregation Simchat HaLev

Dix Hills Jewish Center

East Northport Jewish Center

Hadassah Nassau

Hadassah Suffolk

JCCA

Jericho Jewish Center

Jewish Community Relations Council - Long Island (JCRC-LI)

Kehillath Shalom Synagogue

Makom NY

Melville Jewish Center - Melville JC

Merrick Jewish Center

Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center

Midway Jewish Center

North Shore Synagogue

PJ Library

Plainview Jewish Center

Randie Waldbaum Malinsky Center for Israel

StandWithUs

Temple Beth Am The Reform Jewish Congregation of Merrick and Bellmore

Temple Beth-El of Great Neck

Temple Beth Sholom - Roslyn Heights, NY

Temple Beth Torah Melville (TBT)

Temple Chaverim, Plainview NY

Temple Or Elohim Familyhood, ACRC

UJA-Federation of New York

Woodbury Jewish Center

Suffolk County Board of Rabbis

Temple Beth David

Temple Beth Shalom Smithtown

Midway Jewish Center

330 S. Oyster Bay Road

Syosset, NY 11791

www.mjc.org

Phone: (516) 938-8390

Men's Club Invites You To

Scotch, Steak & Seder

Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 5:30pm

$54 per person

RSVP via email by April 5th.

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.

THE FJMC Walking Challenge will begin on April 21, 2024 (Passover) and finish on June 10, 2024 (Shavuot).

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.

Clubs will begin registering members in April 

• A Friendly Challenge: Compete with other FJMC Men's Clubs on the Israel Walking Challenge Leaderboard!

• Learn more about Israel: As you virtually walk throughout Israel, each city will have a picture and some educational information about that city.

• Don't Enjoy Walking!? No Problem: Going to the gym, cutting the grass or playing ball with your children all count towards your active minutes which can be converted to steps on the FJMC portal!

• Want To Learn More About Staying Healthy?: Check out the Learning Center to find stretching exercises, hydration tips, and many more videos to help you in your wellness journey! 

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

Neurologic Conditions Leading Cause

of Health Illness, Disability Globally by Jessica Nye, PhD

“The findings in this study have important health service and policy implications and serve as evidence that global neurological health loss has been under-recognized and is increasing and unevenly distributed geographically and socioeconomically.”

(medicalbag.com) Conditions affecting the nervous system, including stroke and Alzheimer disease (AD) and other dementias, are the leading cause of overall disease burden worldwide, necessitating effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies. These are the findings of a study published in The Lancet Neurology.

Neurodevelopmental disorders, age-related neurodegeneration, and emergent conditions, such as COVID-19 and Zika virus, are all disorders that affect the nervous system. The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the regional, national, and global burden of 15 neurologic conditions in 2015 and 2016, but did not include certain important neurologic conditions.

Click here to read the article in its entirety!

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

Reaching over 25,000 Families

New York Metro Region GESHER Newsletter

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.