December 4, 2024

The sunshine state is blessed to have dozens of diverse Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods. Today we will take a trip to the Florida panhandle and spotlight on the Shomrei Torah Men’s Club.

Shomrei Torah is an intimate, lay-led congregation in Tallahassee, Florida that dates back to 1976. They have no full-time clergy but occasionally have a guest Rabbi or Cantor visit. Members lead services, share and participate in life-long learning, educate children, carry on other shul programs, and support each other in times of joy and sadness. Shomrei Torah is the only congregation affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism in the corridor between Pensacola and Jacksonville.

The Shomrei Torah Men’s Club recently hosted a Kosher corned beef and pastrami sandwich sale. “We prepare, serve and sell between 100 and 150 kosher sandwiches, homemade cole slaw and a potato knish to our community“, said club president Sam Kimelman. “Most of the sales are to non-members in our community. There is no deli in Tallahassee, so this is the closest to a real deal. Our next one is scheduled for December 8“.

Synagogue Vice President Doug Kanz reports that the Shomrei Torah Men’s Club is alive and well. The Shomrei Torah Men’s Club prepares the weekly Shabbat Kiddush luncheon and sponsors gifts for Bar and Bat Mitzvah students. Looking ahead to Chanukah 5785, the Shomrei Torah Men’s Club will host a “Latke Bar” and Chanukah menorah lighting on Friday December 27. “We spark the Menorah at 5pm followed by fresh and hot, home-made latkes.  Men’s club prepares the latkes for this event and participates in a community-wide PJ Library gelt drop, co-sponsored by the Tallahassee Jewish federation, Temple Israel (reform) and Congregation Shomrei Torah (conservative)“, said Sam Kimelman. “We do a lot of cooking, including our weekly shabbat kiddush“. 

The Shomrei Torah Men’s Club generally gathers monthly for fellowship, food and an occasional poker game but there is always room for new faces at the table; please email President@ShomreiTorahOnline.org or OfficeAdmin@ShomreiTorahOnline.org for an invitation to the next Men’s Club meeting.

The 2024 Shomrei Torah Sukkah construction Men’s Club team (and two young helpers from the congregation)

Join the Shomrei Torah Men’s Club and be part of the future of Jewish life in Northwest Florida. Men’s Club President Sam Kimelman invites you to learn more about the Shomrei Torah Men’s Club of Tallahassee at https://www.shomreitorahonline.org/. For more information about the Shomrei Torah Men’s Club, please email Sam Kimelman at President@ShomreiTorahOnline.org or kimelman.sam@gmail.com or officeadmin@shomreitorahonline.org.

The Shomrei Torah Men’s Club of Tallahassee is a proud member of the Florida Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC). We are part of a confederation of over 200 Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods representing over 20,000 members across the United States, Canada, Latin America, and beyond. Learn more about how your Jewish Men’s Club or Brotherhood can affiliate with the FJMC at: https://fjmc.org/for-clubs/affiliating-with-the-fjmc/.

The Florida Region of FJMC serves the needs of affiliated Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods throughout the State of Florida. Get to know more about the FJMC Florida Region and our growing network of Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods at www.floridaregionfjmc.org and please visit and LIKE our Florida Region FJMC Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/FloridaRegionFJMC.

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