Submission #28297 by Brotherhood of Temple Beth Tzedek - Buffalo, NY (1226)

Submission information
jepstein's picture
Submitted by jepstein
Sun, 2023-04-23 11:09
68.133.19.214
2023
I have read the 2023 Torch Awards Program Guidelines.
Club Name
Brotherhood of Temple Beth Tzedek - Buffalo, NY (1226)
Latkes & Lomein
Club Representative
Person completing form
Dr. Jeff Shore
Jonathan
Epstein
Club President at time of convention if known at this time
Jonathan
Epstein
Club President Now
Jonathan
Epstein
Family and Youth Programming

Page 1

This program was designed to bring our synagogue community together (including families) for afternoon of great food, great fun and great camaraderie on Sunday, Dec. 25, when everything else was closed. We combined homemade latkes and homemade lo mein, to bring together the Chanukah tradition with the classic "eat-Chinese-food-on-Christmas," and also provided TVs to watch football as well as children's movies in two different rooms. (Note: This was originally scheduled for Dec. 25, but had to be rescheduled for Jan. 1, because Buffalo got hit with a massive blizzard.)
Our plan was to provide food and entertainment for our members, their spouses and their families on Dec. 25, utilizing the skills of our members. As noted above, we had to pivot our planning when Buffalo was hit by an unusual massive blizzard the weekend of Dec. 25 that shut down the entire region. So we postponed it a week and did the same program on Jan. 1 instead. All food was homemade in the synagogue kitchen, under supervision, except for some store-bought desserts. One of our members led and directed the latkes, while another did the same for the lo mein. We set out tables in our interior community courtyard, set up a pair of big-screen televisions (one on a cart in the courtyard and one that is stationary and used for Zoom services in our minyan room) for entertainment (we watched football games on one and connected to Disney-Plus for children's movies on the other). We had over three-dozen attendees, all of whom had a great time.
Attachments
Self Assessment
The program was definitely a success. We had over three-dozen people in attendance, of all ages, enjoying the food and friendship and entertainment. It brought community together, and showcased Brotherhood as the organizer. It was also marketed outside of our synagogue and brought in a few people from another congregation. And we made a profit.
This supports the Community element of the FJMC tagline, and brought Jewish men together for relationship-building, under the framework of celebrating Chanukah.

Page 2

Original Program
Previous Submission
Yes
Honorable Mention