Submission #22072 by Temple Israel Men'S Club - Charlotte, NC (1709)

I have read the 2021 Torch Awards Program Guidelines.
Club Name
Temple Israel Men'S Club - Charlotte, NC (1709)
A Taste of Kentucky
Club Representative
Person completing form
Michael
Eisner
Club President at time of convention if known at this time
Michael
Eisner
Club President Now
Michael
Eisner
Health and Wellness

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This was a "hybrid" event with both Zoom participants and in-person, socially distanced small groups at several homes for a guided bourbon tasting with speakers including our new Rabbi who had just moved from Louisville! Each "pod" had the same bourbons and food pairings. Rabbi Wolk started with a bracha and then discussed the Jewishness of bourbon, both halachically and from a business perspective in Kentucky, a member discussed his extensive bourbon collection along with how to taste it, and a third member talked about the technical aspects of bourbon and how it's made.
In addition to building stronger relationships in the Jewish context of study and camaraderie, we raised more than $300 for our new Rabbi’s depleted discretionary fund. We gave people the choice of buying their own bourbon and tuning in through Zoom (many did) or joining a small group at several members’ homes. We charged everyone the same $20. We had one member choose the bourbons for tasting, another procure the airplane bottle samples, another yet buy the food, and yet another design the promotional flyer. Many members made phone calls to other members with personal invitations.
Attachments
Self Assessment
This was an excellent early relationship builder with our new Rabbi. He saw how much Men’s Club wants to make him feel welcome and to give him the opportunity to make friends in a new town. He was appreciative of the donation, and we enjoyed beginning to get to know him on a less formal level.
this event was more about Community than Leadership or Innovation, and putting bourbon into a very Jewish context was both enlightening and inspiring.
This would be an ideal Sukkot event or part of Men's Club Shabbat (Saturday night).

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Original Program
Previous Submission
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