Submission #16247 by Beth Shalom Men'S Club - Clearwater, FL (1328)

I have read the 2021 Torch Awards Program Guidelines.
Club Name
Beth Shalom Men'S Club - Clearwater, FL (1328)
Jewish Film Festival Yom Hashoah Remembrance Program
Club Representative
Person completing form
Blake
Lenett
Club President at time of convention if known at this time
Jeff
Liss
Club President Now
Jeff
Liss
Yom HaShoah / Yellow Candle

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The goal of this program was to bring the Jewish community together by collaborating with the local Jewish Film Festival in a Holocaust Remembrance program. All attendees received an FJMC Yellow Candle and were encouraged to light their candle in observance of Yom Hashoah. The program consisted of six elements: 1) Distribution of Yellow Candles as attendees arrived, 2) Explanation of the Yellow Candle Program by the FJMC Regional VP, 3) Introduction of the Movie by the Film Festival representative, 4) Showing of Movie in an appropriate and secure venue, 5) Dessert Reception following the movie, and 6) Collection of Candle Donations to support the FJMC.
On March 22, 2018, the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival held a community event at the Central Park Performing Arts Center in Largo, FL. Tampa Bay synagogues (Conservative and Reform) were invited to participate in this event which included a Holocaust remembrance movie followed by a dessert reception. The movie shown was “The Last Suit” (directed by Pablo Solarz) about Abraham Bursztein (played by Miguel Ángel Solá), a relatable 88-year-old man on the brink of being placed into a retirement home by his children in Buenos Aires. The resourceful Holocaust survivor leaves the day before moving in and goes on an incredible journey to Europe to find the man who saved his life at Auschwitz.

The event was co-sponsored by the Gasperilla Film Festival, the Glazer JCC, the TOP Organization, the Jewish Federation of Pinellas and Pasco Counties, and the FJMC. All Men’s Clubs and Synagogues that agreed to participate were recognized in the marketing materials and at the event. Both FJMC and MRJ Florida Region participated in the event. All attendees of the event received a Yellow Candle and a letter from the FJMC Regional VP explaining the program. The Yellow Candles program was also introduced to the group prior to the showing of the movie. All contributions received from the Yellow Candles were donated back to the FJMC Florida Region.

See pictures here:
https://1drv.ms/f/s!All6i8Io6Jr5xFXhfKNzErubZHcl

See video on You Tube:
https://youtu.be/IQbyclACGsE
Attachments
Self Assessment
Movie Night with the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival was a great success. More than 250 people came together from seven different synagogues for this event. Guys from both FJMC and MRJ were there. The seven clubs/shuls that participated were: Congregation Beth Shalom (Affiliated), Temple B'nai Israel (MRJ), Congregation B'nai Israel (Affiliated), Temple Beth El, (MRJ), Congregation Kol Ami (Affiliated), Congregation Rodeph Sholom (Not Affiliated), and Temple Ahavat Shalom (MRJ). Yasher Koach to Blake Lenett, Mike White, David Pelzman, Jeff Liss and all seven of the groups who participated as one.
This unique event allowed us to bring all of the Tampa Bay Men's Clubs and Brotherhoods together along with the entire Jewish Community for a night of remembrance.
FJMC Regional VP Blake Lenett was able to promote the Yellow Candles program to the entire group and encouraged everyone to light the candles they received on Yom HaShoah to remember the six million who perished. Clubs that don’t already distribute Yellow Candles were also encouraged to start their own programs to support this important FJMC initiative.
Here are two videos. The first is a short overview (2 min). The second includes remarks from the two speakers (8 min).
https://youtu.be/IQbyclACGsE
https://youtu.be/PUX2kf5fj6c

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Original Program
Previous Submission
Yes