HaShofar - February 2014

February 2014 / Adar I 5774

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Mentschen The Unraveller Myles' Musings

Happy Leap Year!

Thanks to the joyful post-Biblical holiday of Purim, Adar is traditionally the month when narrischkeit - foolishness - reigns supreme. Why settle for a single April Fool's Day when you can have a whole month of silliness?

But it gets better. Since this is a leap year in the Hebrew calendar, we get a whole extra month of Adar. Yes, that's two months of tomfoolery for the price of one!

Why not a single leap day - why a whole month? It's because the Hebrew calendar is not simply a solar calendar like the Gregorian (secular) calendar. It's lunisolar: Months correspond to the phases of the Moon (Rosh Chodesh is always on the new moon), but the year corresponds to the solar year. That way, we always have Pesach in the spring and Rosh Hashanah in the fall... an important consideration if you're living in an agricultural society.

As we get ready to celebrate Purim (next month!), don't forget to register your club's Men's Club Shabbat program on the FJMC website. Stand up and be counted!

As always, we welcome your submissions and your constructive input. Let us know how best to serve your needs and those of your Club.

In This Issue

Myles' Musings - Our First Six Months

Men's Club Shabbat:
Frequently Asked Questions

HaDor HaBah:
Involving the Next Generation of Jewish Leaders

World Wide Wrap Wrap-Up

FJMC Classifieds

Meet Our Officers:
Stan Greenspan, Vice President

Myles' Musings:
Our First Six Months

"...We're now six months into our two-year term. You may recall that at Convention and in my first Blog, I described three focus areas that we planned to work aggressively during this administration: growth, club support, and programming. Here's how we're doing thus far..."

Read more

Men's Club Shabbat:
Frequently Asked Questions

Men's Club Shabbat is an opportunity for Men's Club members to lead Shabbat services, engage club members as leaders, and expand their comfort level by asking them to do something they have not done before - like reading Torah or leading a Hebrew reading. It's a great way to showcase your Club in front of your Congregation.

Read more

Get the new Men's Club Shabbat Program Guide!

HaDor HaBah:
Involving the Next Generation of Jewish Leaders

To assure the education of the next generations, we are reaching out to young adult men in our community. Find out how some Men's Clubs have "figured it out" - read about successful programs that involve the next generation.

World Wide Wrap Wrap-Up

The World Wide Wrap is one of FJMC's signature programs. The 2014 Wrap was very successful, with a 30% increase in the number of participating clubs. Orin Rotman, 2014-15 Wrap chair, reports...

Read more

FJMC Classifieds

If someone in your club or region has a skill which isn't being used by your Men's Club, but that person might be willing to use that skill on behalf of FJMC, here is a way to get involved. We've posted a list of jobs which need to be filled, and who to contact to speak about volunteering. New areas of responsibility are posted weekly, so check back frequently.

Meet Our Officers: Stan Greenspan, Vice President

One of the creators of the International Kiddush Club, Stan believes in putting the FUN in fundraising.

Quick Links

Have something of interest to your fellow Men's Clubs? Send it to HaShofar!

HaShofar is another way that FJMC is keeping the flow of information moving between clubs and the international organization. We want to keep you informed on:

+ What we do to support our 20,000 members

+ What FJMC does to address Conservative/Masorti issues

+ What our Clubs and Regions are doing that everyone can benefit from

The only way we can let everyone else know what's happening is if we hear from you first! Send your submissions to HaShofar editor Steve Krodman at steve.elisson@gmail.com and we'll do our best to squeeze them in.

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