The mission of the Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club is to perpetuate the ideals of Conservative Judaism of Temple Israel & Central Florida and to support its Educational, Spiritual, Social, Recreational, Adult and Youth Programming. Men’s Club activities include religious and social programs for the congregation, Religious School functions, fund raising, supporting and co-sponsoring events with the Women of Temple Israel. The Temple Israel Men’s Club has a bowling league and sponsors a monthly, first Monday poker game at Temple Israel.
Each year, the Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club organizes a diverse array of engaging programming and well attended events. Recent past program highlights include a Hearing Men’s Voices program: “How Can We Live in a More Spiritual World”, a Whiskey and Bourbon tasting program, a group hike at Little Big Econ State Forest at the Barr Sty Trailhead, an Introduction to Scuba program, a Kosher Wine Tasting Experience, classic 8-Bit arcade night at Arcade Winter Springs and an evening of “targeted learning” Decision Tactical in Sanford, to name a few.
The Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club entered calendar year 2025 by installing two NEW co-Presidents Greg Alman and David Shames, and hosting a LIVE Florida Region FJMC Regional Club meeting and Leadership Training event. Twenty five leaders representing fourteen different Florida Region FJMC Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods were in attendance (and even more online) for a half day of learning, round table discussions and training. “The camaraderie was enjoyable, the presentations were informative and interesting, and breakfast and lunch were delicious“, said Natan Brener, the immediate past President of Temple Israel Men’s Club.
Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club hosted three major programs / events during the month of February, beginning with a Shabbaton at Lake Louisa Park. “Our Men’s Club had a fantastic Shabbaton, with lots of davening, hiking, eating and amazing camaraderie!“, said Greg Alman. “Thank you to all sixteen participants, in particular David Magness & Natan Brener for all their planning.“
On Superbowl Sunday, the Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club took part in the FJMC World Wide Wrap, an international, coordinated minyan encouraging Jewish men and women to learn about and participate in one of the basic commandments in the Torah: the wrapping of tefillin. “Thank you to our Men’s Club members, Rabbi Neely, our morning minyan regulars and our MAGAL parents & students who took part in the World Wide Wrap this morning“, said Greg Alman. “It was a great learning experience!“
February also marked the month that the FJMC Sefer Haftarah World Tour came to Temple Israel Orlando (February 19 to 26, 2025) for a week of learning and celebration, where the handwritten parchment scroll was incorporated into weekly Shabbat service.
The FJMC Sefer Haftarah Scroll contains a collection of every Haftarah read during the year, including those from holidays and Rosh Chodesh. The Haftarot are scripted by a sofer on a parchment scroll in the same manner as a Torah. In fact, when rolled up and covered by its mantle, the Haftarah scroll looks exactly like a Torah scroll but not as thick. But unlike a Torah, the Haftarah scroll contains vowels and the trop. In addition, there are dedications of the various Haftarot in English and Hebrew. Since it was first unveiled during the 2003 FJMC Biennial Convention in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, the FJMC Sefer Haftarah scroll has travelled around North America to Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods, to regional retreats and to FJMC conventions., visiting synagogues from West Coast to East Coast, from Florida to Canada. At services, it is treated very much like a Torah. It is housed in the Ark, undressed and redressed like a Torah, and carried around the congregation in the Torah procession. For more information about the FJMC Sefer Haftarah project visit: https://fjmc.org/for-clubs/sefer-haftarah/.
Looking ahead, on Monday April 7 @ 7:00 PM the Temple Israel Men’s Club will host Poker Night, a friendly game of poker and more! Everyone welcome! $10. Beer and snacks provided. RSVP to michael.danoff@gmail.com.
As time marches forward, it is our task to remember and teach about the Shoah. Each year, our Men’s Club distributes FJMC Shoah Yellow Candles™ to the Temple Israel Orlando family of families. On the night of Yom HaShoah, the candles are lit to shine a light of memory, a light of education, and a light that we will never forget. Participation in this program helps to keep the memory of the Shoah alive and to remember what could happen if we don’t stand up for ourselves. Yom HaShoah begins at sundown Wednesday April 23, 2025 / 27 Nisan 5785. Please join us in a moment of solidarity for our six million brothers and sisters that were lost in the Shoah.
Save the Dates: Thursday July 3 to Sunday July 6, 2025 to be part of the Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club / Florida Region FJMC delegation to attend the FJMC International Biennial Convention in Chicago !! For more information about 2025 FJMC International Convention and to register, visit: https://convention.fjmc.org/2025-chicago/.
Men’s Club Co-Presidents Greg Alman and David Shames invite you to learn more about the Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club on their New Website: https://templeisraelorlando.org/mens-club/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TempleIsraelOrlando. For more information about the Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club, please email 5785 Men’s Club Co-Presidents Greg Alman at Galman18@gmail.com or David Shames at Shamesd55@gmail.com, or TempleIsrael@TiFlorida.org with the subject line MEN’S CLUB INQUIRY.
The Temple Israel Orlando Men’s Club is a proud member of the Florida Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC). We serve 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/.
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