Submission #22083 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)
World Wide Wrap--Covid Style
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
World Wide Wrap

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Because we were the originators of the World Wide Wrap, we decided it was important to do everything we could to maintain our tradition of an in-person Wrap, even in the days of a Covid shutdown. We worked with Temple clergy and staff on a plan for a hybrid event, and we had an in-person minyan and program with many Zoom participants joining in.
The front entrance to Temple Israel has a large, covered area perfect for an in-person, socially distanced minyan. We connected a projector, screen, PA system, and camera so Zoom participants could see the minyannaires and Rabbi, and the in-person congregants could see those on the Zoom call. Each chair was distanced from others and had another chair to hold siddur, Tallit and Tefillin bags. The Rabbi shared a Tefillin presentation, and the Cantor shared a woman’s perspective on Zoom. We had first time wrappers joined by men who were attending their first in-person services in nearly a year. We had coffee and pre-packaged breakfast bags for participants. The Rabbi must have said 3-4 times how much he enjoyed getting to “actually pray with real people again.”
Attachments
Self Assessment
Perhaps the biggest impact of this program was building a stronger relationship between Men’s Club and our new Rabbi in his first year. He has been impressed with the lengths to which we have gone to maintain our traditions and to stay loyal to our goals of giving our men opportunities to build stronger relationships in a Jewish context. Providing an opportunity for “Sunday morning regulars” to get together in-person was also very impactful and appreciated.
You can't get much more involving of Jewish Men in Jewish Life than the World Wide Wrap! We continued to demonstrate our willingness to lead our kehillah in delivering safe, in-person Jewish programming using our Innovative thinking to build a stronger sense of Community.
When clubs flip the question from "why we can't" to "how can we" great things will happen!

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Original Program
Previous Submission
Yes
Bronze