This post is part of a series highlighting the events and activities that took place from July 1 to July 6, 2025 at the FJMC Biennial Convention in Chicago, Illinois
Good Shabbos. The joy of Shabbat is multiplied at FJMC Convention in ways that can defy the imagination.
Saturday morning in Chicago began with a delicious breakfast followed by multiple Shabbat morning experiences including a traditional prayer service, a Shacharit Express service featuring “Just the Morning Prayers you can Sing”, a “Torah for Today” discussion on the Week’s Torah Portion facilitated by Orin Rotman, a “spirited” group walk through downtown Chicago, a discussion about how the Iran/Israel conflict is affecting you facilitated by Glenn Hauer and a second discussion facilitated by Marty Paley that asked the question, “Do you struggle with your own personal meaning of prayer and ritual? Is your definition of Shabbat observance different from the traditional davening?” This alternative, non-service service was a chance to express views and tell your fellow FJMCers what you might never tell your Rabbi, offering participants the opportunity to comment and share thoughts and feelings about important issues with your Convention compadres in a non-ritual setting. The 300+ Convention delegates then merged together as one Kehillah for a special Darchei Shalom D’var Torah featuring Keynote speaker Dr. Ori Soltes, Teaching Professor Georgetown University and Steve Dishler: Assistant VP of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish United Fund of Chicago followed by Haftorah, Musaf and a delicious Shabbos lunch.
FJMC is introducing a new initiative – “Darchei Shalom, A Path to Peace.” We have collaborated with several Turkish Muslim communities around North America to pilot this intercultural program. The Muslim communities with whom we are working follow the “Hizmet” philosophy of interfaith and intercultural dialogue, collaboration and cooperation as visioned by the movement’s founder Fethullah Gulen (deceased 10/20/2024). As Reb Zalman, z’”l, taught: “Dialogue does not happen when we are adversaries… through continued interfaith dialogue, understanding and cooperation; our community, and all of society will benefit.
The afternoon presented a myriad of choices. For those that connect to Shabbat through fresh air and sunshine, FJMC arranged a walking tour of Chicago including admission to the Chicago Art Museum. Back at the Sheraton, Convention delegates were given a choice of multiple Leadership and Training workshops beginning with ten different HMV style Darchei Shalom breakout sessions facilitated by FJMC members and members of Alliance for Shared Values (“ASV”), an organization of Turkish Muslims committed to social action and the doing of good deeds. These HMV sessions were designed to encourage and support interfaith/intercultural dialogue, co-operation and collaboration between Jewish and Muslim communities as a means to address anti-Semitism and Islamaphobia.
Shabbat afternoon continued with multiple workshops developed by the FJMC Foundation for Jewish Life Rabbi Joel S. Geffen Leadership Development Institute (LDI), including “FJMC Foundation Basics and How to Get Grant Money for Your Club and Region”, “The Lone Soldier Program” (an in depth look at a day in the life of a Lone soldier currently serving in the IDF and ways your club can support them while they are making this unselfish sacrifice to protect the state of Israel), “Combatting Antisemitism on GenZ”, “JMen: How to grow your club with new and younger men” and “The Abayudaya” (a talk about the recent FJMC visit to the Abayudaya Jewish community in Uganda and the Men’s Club there).
Other Geffen Institute workshops included “Zemirot – An informal Shabbat singing session” (for those who like to sing and learn new songs), the “Jewish Studio Project” (featuring art and crafts materials to tell our own stories as men), a “Hearing Women’s Voices” program featuring a clinical therapist and other women to discuss how our mothers have helped shape our lives, “Is Health and Wellness a Jewish Value” (a look at some Jewish sources concerning Health and Wellness), the “Young Family Initiative” which seeks to support and encourage the FJMC and its member clubs with strategies designed to attract and engage Jewish men in their 30s, 40s and 50s to ensure the future of clubs, synagogues and communities, “The Great Debate: Conditions for a Two State Solution”, “Two Radio Broadcasts – Two Visions for Israel” (The Israeli Declaration of Independence was made right before Shabbat on Friday May 15, 1948. The next day after Shabbat David Ben-Gurion and Menachim Begin took to the airways. The different views of Israel carry forward today and remain deeply rooted in different views of the Jewish State),
“Advocacy 101: Empowering Clubs to Combat Antisemitism”
Additional Shabbat afternoon breakout sessions included a “Book Discussion” (Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew), a presentation about “The Neve Hanna Children of Israel” (Learn about Neve Hana, the leadership and children, their mission and impact, values and principles), “Advocacy 101: Empowering Clubs to Combat Antisemitism”, “Hearing Men’s Voices 101”, “Masorti Olami” and a live Yoga lesson given by Yoga Loft Studios. Other sessions included “Affinity Groups: Genealogy, Israeli/Jewish Music & New Ideas”, a live version of “Taste of Genealogy” and “Taste of Israeli & Jewish Music” affinity groups and a look at new ideas as our 6th year of webinars begins, as well as a gathering of the FJMC Sports Affinity group led by Danny Mandeau and David Kravitz featuring special guest Orrin Schwarz, Sports Editor for the Daily Herald Media Group.
Shabbat afternoon concluded with a traditional Mincha service as well as an alternative Spiritual based discussion of selected topics, followed by a delicious Seudah Shlishi dinner. Following Maariv and an epic Havdalah Extravaganza, convention delegates were entertained by Jeff Bibik Hypnosis Experience. The evening concluded with a seemingly endless chorus of late night hospitality suites, snacks and a slightly inebriated group walk to Chicago’s famous Lou Malnati’s Pizza.
FJMC Convention is pure delight – Good Shabbos to all and to all a good night.
This message is brought to you by the Florida Region of FJMC International (FJMC). We are part of a confederation of over 200 Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods representing almost 20,000 members from 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://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. 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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