November 14, 2024

The Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation (SOJC) serves the spiritual and social needs of the diverse Jewish community of the greater Orlando area. SOJC offers a meaningful Jewish experience with participatory, energetic and egalitarian services and a robust portfolio of Jewish adult education opportunities, multiple Jewish Youth Groups (3rd-5th grade, 6th-8th grade and 9th-12th grade), as well as monthly social, cultural and community action programs and events.

Men’s Club’s mission is to bring together the men of the congregation to share in social, cultural, educational, and service-oriented activities and events within the synagogue and the Southwest Orlando community. This mission is accomplished through a combination of social gatherings, leadership, tzedakah, and tikkun olam. SOJC’s Men’s Club meets monthly for a wide spectrum of activities and provides services for SOJC including the provision of ushers and preparation for High Holy Day services, the facilitation of Mitzvah Days on which indoor and outdoor maintenance of the temple grounds is conducted, and the annual construction of the SOJC sukkah. The Men’s Club also coordinates the congregation’s participation in the annual Worldwide Wrap tefillin program conducted simultaneously around the world through the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs. We often meet for lunches, dinners, game nights, and movie nights, and are looking forward to inviting speakers on issues such as home and personal safety, health and fitness, and other quality of life issues to improve our daily lives in the Southwest Orlando community. We welcome new members and new ideas, so if there’s an activity or program you’d like to see, let us know!

Looking ahead to 5785 and beyond, the Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation Men’s Club is planning a full slate of programming and activities and they want you to join in the fun.

The SOJC Men’s Club

SOJC Men’s Club President Mitch Katcher reports recent club events included an evening of Thursday Night Football to cheer on the Dallas Cowboys vs. N.Y. Giants and an adults-only evening of “Spirits in the Sukkah”. On November 10 members of Men’s Club planted three new trees at SOJC in the morning and then conducted one of our Mitzvah Days; preparing sandwiches and care packages to be distributed to the homeless in Orlando later that afternoon. On November 26 the SOJC Men’s Club will meet for a 2025 planning meeting as well as pizza and a poker game to follow. On December 8 the SOJC Men’s Club we will meet at Gators Dockside in O-Town West at noon for and NFL get-together. On December 25 the SOJC Men’s Club will take part in Mitzvah Day, delivering food to the homeless in Orlando.

Looking ahead to 2025, on January 18 the SOJC Men’s Club will be facilitating a joint Jewish Bingo Night with the SOJC Sisterhood (which I hope will qualify us for a FJMC Torch Award) and on February 2 we are sponsoring a SOJC Family outing to an Orlando Solar Bears hockey game at the Kia Center in Orlando. 

On Superbowl Sunday February 9, 2025 the SOJC Men’s Club will take 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.

The Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation Men’s Club Shabbat will be on Friday evening May 9 and will include a festive Oneg Shabbat in honor of Mothers Day. Looking ahead, please save the dates Thursday July 3 to Sunday July 6, 2025 and be part of the SOJC Men’s Club delegation to attend the FJMC International Biennial Convention in Chicago !! More information coming soon.

Mitch Katcher

SOJC Men’s Club President Mitch Katcher invites you to learn more about the Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation Men’s Club at: https://www.sojc.org/copy-of-usy and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/southwestorlandojewishcongregation. For more information about Men’s Club, please email SOJC at office@sojc.org or Mitch Katcher at: mensclub@SOJC.org.

The Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation (SOJC) 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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