As an Olam Tikvah Men’s Club Board Member and Social Action Chair, Eric Rothberg drew on his skills as a professional training facilitator to launch the Hearing Men’s Voices program at Olam Tikvah in early 2012. He continued his efforts after becoming Club Co-President in June 2012. Former Club President (and regional Mentschen leader) Bruce Gordon also helped Eric get started with the program and actively participated in the sessions.

The two series of discussions included the following topics:

I. HMV Program for February-March 2012: Our Jewish Journeys and Our Families
A. Session One: Our Jewish Journeys (Facilitator Guide and Participant Handout)
B. Session Two: Our Fathers Ourselves and Our Families’ Spiritual Journeys

II. HMV Program for December 2012-May 2013: Being a Jewish Male Role Model Series
A. Session One: Ethical Speech (Participant Handout; Speech guidance separate attachment)
B. Session Two: Juggling Family, Work, and Communal Responsibilities
C. Session Three: Ethics in the Workplace

These sessions were conducted in a traditional HMV format, either in meeting rooms or lounges at the synagogue, or in Eric’s home. Attendance ranged from 6 – 15 per session, with total participation of about 20 men, most of whom had not participated in HMV programs before.

The most significant of these sessions from the reaction of participants was the session on Ethical Speech, which focused on experiences dealing with gossip and negative speech, lessons learned from these experiences, and practical daily guidance that Judaism offers on how to use speech for constructive purposes. Publicity materials, as well as handout for this and all the other sessions, as well as facilitator materials are attached to this award submission. Simply put, this program can be replicated by any club following the basic rules of HMV sessions and using these materials either directly, or adapted to specific club circumstances or interests.