Congregation Kol Ami of Tampa is a kehillah (community) dedicated to innovation and tradition resulting in an inclusive, multi-generational community committed to improving ourselves and the world through ritual, educational, and social activities consistent with contemporary Conservative Judaism. The Brotherhood is an integral arm of Kol Ami and each year, the Brotherhood engages and connects with membership through a variety of educational and social events.
Recent Brotherhood programs and events included participation in the 5785 FJMC World Wide Wrap, hosting the FJMC Sefer Haftarah and distribution of FJMC Shoah Yellow Candles™. Other Brotherhood programs of note included a Brazilian Ju Jitzu (BJJ) self defense class led by Brotherhood member Johnny Weisser, “Brotherhood Hangout” at the Tampa Tap Room, Cigars & Spirits Night at Corona Cigars and a Hearing Men’s Voices program on the theme “Meet My Father”. The Kol Ami Brotherhood also honored long-time Brotherhood member Mitch Weiss as recipient of the (6th Annual) 2025 Mike Korenvaes Man of the Year award.
Summer 2025 began on a high note when the Brotherhood was front and center at the 2025 FJMC International Biennial Convention in Chicago, where outgoing Brotherhood President Jon Zimmer was named the Florida Region FJMC Ma’asim Tovim Award honoree. Not to brag, but the Brotherhood of Kol Ami was also honored to receive a GOLD FJMC Torch Award for their outstanding programming. Kol Hakavod and thank you to Jon Zimmer who helped to lead and grow the Brotherhood of Kol Ami, passing the baton of leadership to Yoav Rappaport as incoming 2025-2027 Brotherhood of Kol Ami President.
The Brotherhood of Kol Ami is planning for an exciting summer and beyond beginning with a Brotherhood Kick-off Breakfast on Sunday morning August 24 in the Kol Ami Social Hall featuring guest speaker Ronnie Lane. We will serve a full breakfast and hear from Ronnie about the upcoming NFL season. Ronnie Lane aka Ronnie “Night Train” Lane is a forty-year radio vet of the Tampa Bay Market. Ronnie has worked in radio, covering music and sports talk. Over those 40 years Ronnie has interviewed music stars such as Celine Dion, Vanessa Williams, Garth Brooks, and others. While working in sports radio, Ronnie has covered Super Bowls, World Series, and more. He also hosted a nationally broadcast Major League Baseball show on Sirius XM radio in Washington D.C. from 2005-2008.
The next installment of Kol Ami’s award winning Brotherhood TXOKO Cooking class will take place on Tuesday evening September 9. This hands on program will have a culinary focus on the culturally rich region of the Caucasus—encompassing Georgia, Armenia, Russia, the Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula – a region currently disputed between Russia and Ukraine. Remember that we are NOT focusing on the politics of this region, but rather the culinary traditions.
The Caucasus has long been a crossroads of civilizations, where Greek, Persian, Turkic, Slavic, and indigenous Caucasian cultures have all left their mark. The term “Caucasian” originally referred to the native peoples of this mountainous area—such as those from Chechnya and Georgia—and is unrelated to its modern usage in describing people of European descent. Due to the isolated nature of the Caucasus Mountains, Jewish communities here evolved with distinct customs and traditions. Jews have lived in Georgia and Armenia since the time of the First Diaspora, following the Babylonian and Persian exiles after the destruction of the First Temple. Among them are the Mountain Jews and the Gruzinim (Georgian Jews), who don’t fit neatly into the Ashkenazi or Sephardic categories. Some of their practices align more closely with Mizrahi traditions, especially in cuisine, where Persian influences shine through. While Mountain Jews and Gruzinim share some cultural roots, the Gruzinim developed independently, shaped by their isolation in the Caucasus and distinct from both Persian-influenced Mountain Jews and the Ashkenazi communities that arrived over the past two centuries. Another unique Jewish tradition thrived in Crimea: Karaite Judaism. Karaite Jews spoke a Turkic language (Kipchak, or Tatar) and followed a form of Judaism that emphasized the written Torah and Tanakh, largely rejecting the Oral Torah and Talmudic interpretation. The name “Karaite” derives from the Hebrew root ארק (“to read”). Although many Karaites have since assimilated into other Jewish or regional cultures, their legacy remains a fascinating part of Jewish diversity. The Jewish culinary tapestry of the Caucasus is just as diverse as its history. With contributions from Mountain Jews, Ashkenazi Jews, Karaites, and even Sephardic influences from the Ottoman Empire, the region offers a rich blend of traditions that have come together under various Russian empires to form a singular, vibrant cuisine. Expect bold but not overly spicy flavors—think dill, cilantro, paprika, eggplant, and chickpeas. We’ll be savoring Khinkali, Georgia’s legendary soup dumplings that may remind you of giant dim sum, along with familiar Ashkenazi staples like Kasha Varnishkes and Rugelach. We’ll also enjoy Shashlik, the southern Russian take on skewered beef or lamb, reminiscent of shish kebabs. Today, Georgia is considered a culinary powerhouse in many former Soviet states, much as Italy is to the U.S. The blend of ancient Jewish heritage and contemporary Georgian gastronomy promises a meal to remember with some Armenian dish to enjoy from its neighbor. So bring your appetite—and your sense of adventure—as we celebrate another joyful simcha in the Txoko. For more information about the TXOKO Cooking Class and to register contact TXOKO Coordinator Glenn Yancey at TxokoKolAmi@gmail.com.
Looking ahead, please save the dates for an upcoming Brotherhood hang out night on September 18 and Brotherhood Steaks in the Sukkah on October 9; more information coming soon.
The Brotherhood of Kol Ami holds a monthly Board meeting and new faces and ideas are always welcome; please email incoming Brotherhood President Yoav Rappaport at yodie3@yahoo.com for more information or an invitation to the next meeting.
Men’s Club is Brotherhood and the Brotherhood of Kol Ami is the place to be. Learn more about the Brotherhood at https://www.kolami.org/brotherhood.html and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kolamitampa/. For more information about the Kol Ami Brotherhood, please email Brotherhood President Yoav Rappaport at brotherhood.kolami@gmail.com.
The Brotherhood of Kol Ami (Tampa) is a proud member of the Florida Region of FJMC International (FJMC), a confederation of over 200 Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods 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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