Submission #15809 by Neveh Shalom Men'S Club - Portland, OR (1097)

I have read the 2021 Torch Awards Program Guidelines.
Club Name
Neveh Shalom Men'S Club - Portland, OR (1097)
Jewish Soul Food, Scotch, and Spirituality in the Sukkah
Club Representative
Person completing form
Mitch
Elovitz
Club President at time of convention if known at this time
Mitch
Elovitz
Club President Now
Mitch
Elovitz
Hearing Men’s Voices

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The overall goal of the program is to encourage the Men's Club community to become more involved in fulfilling the mitzvah of celebrating Sukkot. The program consisted of 5 distinct components. They were: 1) Building a sukkah, 2) Praying in a sukkah, 3) Eating in a sukkah, 4) Sharing in a sukkah, 5) Taking down a sukkah.
On 9/30/17, we built our synagogue's sukkah, then, on 10/4/17, we had our first annual Scotch, Jewish Soul Food, and Skach night. With kosher catering from one of our members, Holy Smokes barbecue which included kosher brisket, beans, and greens, and scotch brought in by our members, we celebrated Sukkot by eating and sharing together in Mitch Elovitz's sukkah. We shared or participated in a HMV session entitled "Jewish holiday home observance" and discussed how we celebrated Jewish holidays as a child and how we do this currently. This was also a Keruv program, as we have a good representation of Jews by choice. We followed this up with a similar program on 9/27/18. Both programs were free BBQ and pot luck and we drew 30+ members each time. Everyone went home happy and full in their hearts and bellies!
Attachments
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Self Assessment
The value of this program in club building is immeasurable. Men can't bowl alone, and need a sense of community and sharing and places to be with other men. This is essential in our lives today. In particular, with Synagogues clinging to members and people not joining anything like they used to, we can impact our membership by keeping our men involved after their children have left the nest or beyond Bar and Bat Mitzvah age, a critical time when we often lose members.
This greatly impacts or helps to Involve Jewish Men in Jewish Life by giving men the opportunity to perform a great mitzvah: eating and praying in the Sukkah and also creates a bond of sharing personal experiences with other men, which forms a personal connection and keeps them involved in Jewish Life. Leadership: this program has the potential to cultivate new leaders by bringing us together and giving us the opportunity to share personal experiences.
Innovation: This program combines prayer, mitzvah, HMV, and fun.
Community: This program builds and sustains community building.
This is a fun, worthwhile program!

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Original Program
Previous Submission
Yes