Submission #22084 by Temple Israel Men'S Club - Charlotte, NC (1709)
I have read the 2021 Torch Awards Program Guidelines.
Best Overall Activities
Best Overall Programming
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This year our Men's Club Shabbat theme was "Growth after Trauma," and our long-time member Dan Biber delivered a great sermon that talked about our People's history of making the most of bad situations dating back to our time as slaves in Egypt. There have been good things to come from our time of Covid, and a transition to a new Men's Club approach and energy has been one of those things.
Ten years ago in my first term as Club president, I started gently hounding a young, otherwise engaged dad to get involved with Club leadership. I followed all the tips from Rabbi Simon's book, but Josh kept telling me he didn't have time. "When I'm not traveling so much for business and I have more time, I'll get involved." Fast forward to our Covid shutdown. He didn't have to travel as much and his business wasn't as demanding, and he was stuck by his own words. We spent the last year working together so he could learn how to successfully run a Men's Club--he learned the value and intricacies of FJMC, he attended LDI, he learned how to navigate synagogue politics and work with the staff, and perhaps most importantly, he brought other young dads along with him. We hammered home that when we focus on providing opportunities to build stronger relationships in a Jewish context, we can do really great things. Soon after Convention he will be our next president, and he says that if something doesn't provide an opportunity for deeper meaning and stronger connections, the Men's Club won't be involved. This is truly the way to use Leadership-Innovation-Community to do what we're supposed to do. Beginning with a formal Board Orientation session through both micro and macro events, Temple Israel's Men's Club has had a truly outstanding year. That we have accomplished all we have while teaching the next group of guys to take over makes our success even sweeter.
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Original Program