According to the latest US Census data, Florida is one of the fastest growing regions of the country. The Florida Region of FJMC is also growing and we are proud to officially announce that the Temple Beth Shalom Palm Coast Men’s Club has joined the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs.
Palm Coast, Florida is on the I-95 corridor halfway between St. Augustine and Ormond Beach. Full of beautiful natural beaches, north Florida vegetation, mossy oak trees and palm trees. Palm Coast offers a dozen beautiful parks, 130+ miles of connecting trails and paths for walking/bicycling, abundant fishing and boating, beaches, intercoastal life and world-class tennis and golf. A1A in our county is limited to 2 lanes with no commercial hotels nor chain restaurants. Beach life is interspersed by natural preserves and state parks. Palm Coast was founded in 1969 by the ITT Corporation, which owned the land at the time. The company envisioned Palm Coast as a master-planned community that would attract retirees and vacationers. The first homes in Palm Coast were constructed in 1970, and the community quickly began to grow.
Temple Beth Shalom (TBS) was founded in 1973 with a history that parallels the growth of the region. TBS celebrated their 50th Anniversary in November 2023 highlighted by a formal country club dinner with our Mayor, community dignitaries and area Rabbis in attendance. TBS Rabbi Tashman has extensive experience in both Reform and Conservative congregations in Tampa Bay, Atlanta and Woodstock, NY; he orients weekly TBS Shabbat Services in a learning environment incorporating the various traditions of our congregants’ former affiliations from other areas of the country. Administratively, with only a part time office staffer, TBS relies on volunteers for a large magnitude of day-to-day operations including office assistance, kitchen, grounds and communications. This has been ongoing since 1973.
Temple Beth Shalom, known as “the little shul in the woods”, is a non-denominational, egalitarian, spiritual community that welcomes everyone and encourages diversity as well as a vibrant, participatory house of worship that embraces the practices of traditional Judaism. TBS members come from a diverse background of Jewish practice and traditions, from Orthodox to Reform, but they come together to pray and to study, embrace each other’s company and sharing good food and many laughs. If you want to connect to Jewish life with a vibrant, participatory congregation, you belong here.
Incoming Men’s Club President Jay Givarz describes the TBS Men’s Club as a dedicated support source of the day to the operations Temple Beth Shalom with past spurted programming success over the decades. Jay Givarz, a former Club President of Congregation Etz Chaim in Marietta, GA as well as a 20 year prior career in Jewish Communal Service from Hillel through congregations in Atlanta, Tampa Bay and St. Louis. Jay looks forward to expanding Men’s Club into a “programming club” with opportunities for Jewish learning and leadership of Jewish Culture to the greater Palm Coast community as well with other area FJMC Men’s Clubs.
Over the next couple of months TBS Men’s Club will be assisting with the Chanukah Dinner, Tu B’shvat Tree Planting and Seder, Purim Activities and even a mid week Hol Hamoed Pesach Matzah Brei breakfast. We are looking forward to invigorating speakers and other learning and leadership opportunities both within and outside of the Temple’s walls.
On Sunday December 8 at 5:45pm the TBS Men’s Club will “strike” while the iron is hot without a moment to “spare” with a family friendly evening of bowling at Palm Coast Lanes for only $10 bucks including bowling shoe rental. Everyone is invited to come out and meet the guys, roll some balls and knock down pins at Palm Coast Lanes on Old Kings Road. Please RSVP to Hakol@TBSPalmCoast.org.
The fun continues on Sunday, December 22 with a TBS Men’s Club Picnic in the Park at the Florida Agricultural Learning Center at 7900 Old Kings Road North in Palm Coast. Bring the kids & grandkids & join the TBS Men’s Club for a tour of the Florida Agricultural Learning Center museum & historic buildings, followed by a kosher BBQ lunch (veggie option available). RSVP to the front office at (386) 445-3006. Cost is $12 for the tour & a suggested $8 for lunch.
Please join Men’s Club for a Havdalah and Hanukkah party on Saturday night December 28; . Men’s Club has been asked to help set up and assist.
Men’s Club President Jay Givarz and first lady Mimi invite Men’s Club (and spouse or a friend) to their home for a New Year’s Day Brunch, January 1st 10:30am to 2pm, to watch the Rose Bowl Parade or sit out on the deck and recoup from a late New Year’s Eve and welcome in the first day of 2025. We need to know if you are coming so we can put your name at the gate. Mimosa’s, strong coffee, Bagels and Lox and the fixings will be served. Just text me at 678-522-2343 or email JayGivarz@gmail.com.
On Sunday morning, Jan 19, 2025, the Men’s Club will host a Brunch and Learn at Temple Beth Shalom, open to the whole community. Around 9:35am we will have an optional Sunday morning service and we will roll into our program beginning at 10am. Special guest speaker Ray Leonard will make an in person presentation of his recently published book “The Sons of Srol”. The book starts with the story of how an area encompassing portions of Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Belarus became home to over 80% of Europe’s Jews by the end of the 1700’s. The Abramajtys family thrived here until growing antisemitism in the Russian empire drove them to emigrate at the end of the 19th century. The sons of Srol Abramajtys took different courses, one to the United States and one to France. The book tells the stories of these two branches, from growth in New York and Chicago to the worldwide battlefields of the second world war and in France, the devastating effects of the Nazi occupation in 1940-44. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.
Looking ahead, mark your calendar (July 3 to July 6, 2025) and make a plan to join the Temple Beth Shalom Palm Coast / Florida Region FJMC delegation to attend the FJMC International Biennial Convention in Chicago; more information coming soon. Jay’s brother, Mark Givarz, is the Convention’s Chairman.
To help or get more involved with any TBS Men’s Club programs, please contact any of our club leaders: Jay Givarz President, Jerry King Treasurer, Harry Goldschein FJMC Representative, or Jonathan Hubbert Secretary. The TBS Palm Coast Men’s Club holds a monthly business meeting; fresh faces and ideas are always welcome; email Men’s Club President Jay Givarz at JayGivarz@gmail.com for an invite to the next meeting. For more information about the TBS Palm Coast Men’s Club, please visit https://www.tbspalmcoast.org/ or the TBS Palm Coast Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/TBSPalmCoast/ or email TBS Men’s Club President Jay Givarz at: JayGivarz@gmail.com.
The Florida Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs warmly welcomes the Temple Beth Shalom Palm Coast Men’s Club to the FJMC family.
Florida Region FJMC serves the needs of affiliated Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods throughout the State of Florida. Learn more about the FJMC Florida Region and our growing network of Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods at: www.floridaregionfjmc.org and please visit & LIKE our Facebook Group at: www.facebook.com/FloridaRegionFJMC.
The FJMC is 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 how YOUR Jewish Men’s Club or Brotherhood can affiliate with the FJMC at: https://fjmc.org/for-clubs/affiliating-with-the-fjmc/.
About Post Author
