This post is part of a series highlighting the events and activities that took place at the FJMC Biennial Convention in Philadelphia, PA.
Greetings from Philadelphia Marriott, the host venue of the 2023 FJMC Biennial Convention. Today was the first full day of business for the FJMC Convention, starting with Shacharit at 7:30am; and video recording sessions from various Regional Ma’asim Tovim award honorees continued.
After Shacharit, Thursday morning’s pre-convention and family programming offered a choice of three unique experiences. First up was a 10 mile leisurely, scenic bike ride along the Schuylkill River and picturesque Boathouse Row.
FJMC also organized a trip to “The Stoogeum”, the world’s first and largest museum of Three Stooges memorabilia. Containing close to 100,000 pieces of Stoogeabilia, the 10,000 square-foot “Stoogeum” includes a vast array of artifacts celebrating the legacy of this legendary comedy team, showcasing artifacts from 1918 to the present, including several interactive displays and an 85-seat movie theater.
Fine art aficionados enjoyed a docent-led tour of “The Barnes Foundation Art Museum”, featuring one of the world’s most important collections of impressionist, post-impressionist and modern paintings including works by Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso, Van Gogh and Modigliani – displayed alongside African masks, native American jewelry, Greek antiquities, and decorative metalwork.
The afternoon began with a series of Regional Caucuses, including the historic moment when Ed Kockman of Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach became the first person to become President of two distinct Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs’ Regions. Ed was the Past President of the Middle Atlantic Region and today Ed was installed as President of the FJMC Florida Region. Yasher Koach Ed.
The Convention agenda continued with the first of several Plenary Sessions, an FJMC Board of Directors Meeting and remarks from FJMC Executive Director Rabbi Noam Raucher, followed by a spirited Mincha as well as an alternative Study Session.
The official FJMC Convention 2023 Opening Ceremony began at 3pm, followed by Keynote Speaker(s) Frederic L. Bloch, Senior Vice President and Chief Growth Officer of the Anti-Defamation League on the topic “Fighting Anti Semitism, Bias and Extremism” and Eric Rubin, Executive Director of Project Max on the topic “Antisemitism, Racism and Intolerance in Sports”. The afternoon continued with eight separately facilitated breakout sessions featuring discussions and actionable ways our Clubs and Synagogues can combat antisemitism.
Thursday evenings dinner included a Distinguished Service Award presentation by outgoing FJMC International President Allan Kahan to Peter Gotlieb (Northern NJ Region), Richard Gray (New England Region) and Joe Swerdlow (Middle Atlantic Region) followed by a spirited Birkat Hamazon with a rainbow of different color regional Ruach rags that FJMC Convention is known for.
Maariv services concluded with presentation of Ma’asim Tovim awards, the highest recognition a Region can give to one of its members. Late night festivities included a Charity Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament, a Mah Jongg meetup, swim races, a golf putting contest and an endless corridor of happy hour hospitality suites.
Looking ahead, Friday’s agenda highlights include an early morning health walk, Shacharit micrography as an artistic interpretation of prayer, a guided tour of the Museum of the American Revolution, High Tea at “The Dandelion,” a Stephen Starr restaurant, a myriad of breakout sessions and keynote speakers, Torch Award presentations, FJMC Officer Installations, Kabbalat Shabbat and the long awaited meeting of the International Kiddush Club.
This message is brought to you by the Florida Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC). We are part of a global confederation of over 200 Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods representing over 20,000 members across the United States, Canada, Latin America and beyond. Learn more about how your Men’s Club or Brotherhood can affiliate at: https://www.fjmc.org/content/affiliating-fjmc.
The Florida Region of FJMC serves the needs of affiliated Men’s clubs and Brotherhoods throughout the State of Florida. Our mission is to involve Jewish Men in Jewish Life by fostering fellowship and camaraderie between Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods in the Florida Region, inspiring interest and involvement in Jewish worship, Jewish studies, Tikkun Olam and ensuring the success of new and existing leaders of our Florida Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods.
If you are not yet affiliated with the Federation, then today is the day to join us. Get to know more about the Florida Region of FJMC and our growing network of dynamic Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods on our website www.FloridaRegionFJMC.org and please visit and LIKE our Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/FloridaRegionFJMC.
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