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Do You Hear It?
Elul is approaching. In less than two weeks, we'll be firing the starting gun to mark the beginning of the Season of Repentance.
That sound you hear in the distance is not a gun, though. It is the shofar, the ancient ram's horn trumpet of our people. Beginning on the first day of Elul, the shofar is sounded every weekday at the conclusion of the morning service - the familiar tekiah, sh'varim, teruah that constitutes a millennia-old wake up call to the Jewish soul.
Elul is approaching, and soon we will be making preparations for the Jewish holiday season... for next month, in Tishrei, the yomim tovim fall thick and fast, one after the other: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah. And that's when most of our Men's Clubs start getting busy. Is your club ready for 5775?
This issue of HaShofar is packed with plenty of articles that we hope you will find useful and informative. As always, we welcome your submissions and your constructive input. Let us know how best to serve your needs and those of your Club.
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In This Issue
Myles' Musings: Israel on my mind
The Shmittah Year: Humans in Balance with the Earth
M5: the Men's Club Mar-Cheshvan Monday Morning Minyan
Cycling for the Environment & Sustainable Communities in Israel & Beyond
The 2014-15 Torch Awards Program
Taking the Plunge: Men in the Mikvah
The Midwest Region Biennial Retreat: A Recap
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Myles' Musings: Israel on my mind
"I'm usually a pretty optimistic guy, but for the past several weeks events in Israel and for Jews in the rest of the world have been disheartening and frustrating, to say the least. As Israel pursued its legitimate right and moral responsibility to defend itself against the continuous barrage of Hamas rocket attacks with Operation Protective Edge, the world seems to have gone mad. Here's my take on the situation..." Read more |
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The Shmittah Year: Humans in Balance with the Earth
"Shmittah - literally translated as the "year of release," and widely known as the Sabbatical Year - is a biblical Jewish tradition, which, once every seven years, simultaneously re-adjusted agriculture and commerce to ensure an equitable, just and healthy society. The year of Shmittah was a time when agricultural lands were collectively left fallow. The Earth is not merely a resource to be used and abused. If we want to live on the land, it is our responsibility to let it rest."
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M5: the Men's Club Mar-Cheshvan Monday Morning Minyan
"As Jewish months go, Cheshvan doesn't have a lot going for it. ...there's not a single holiday or special occasion in the entire month. No wonder we call it Mar-Cheshvan - 'Bitter Cheshvan.'
"But it doesn't have to be that way. We Men's Club guys can change it." Read more |
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Cycling for the Environment & Sustainable Communities in Israel & Beyond
The FJMC Shomrei Ha'aretz "Guardians of the Land" program is an initiative that provides environmentally related programming and materials to congregations and their families, with one of its objectives to encourage support for Israel's environmental efforts. This year one of FJMC's leaders, Mark Druy, along with his Minutemenschen team, will be participating in a bike ride from Jersulaem to Eilat in November 2014 on behalf of the Arava Institute & Hazon. Our support of their ride through Indiegogo helps the Arava Institute and Hazon solve serious environmental issues facing Israel and its neighbors... and also helps fund the FJMC Foundation for Jewish Life. |
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The 2014-15 Torch Awards Program
The FJMC invites you to participate in the 2015 Torch Awards Program. The goal of issuing Torch Awards is to encourage the development of innovative programming. In addition, we recognize those clubs that develop quality programming, build community and support the growth and development of leadership teams. Bring International recognition to your club today by creating and documenting your innovative programs now! You've got to be in it to win it! |
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Taking the Plunge: Men in the Mikvah
It's not just for the ladies: More and more Jewish men are discovering the spiritual cleansing and purification of the Mikvah in a spa-like environment that is private and clean as well as being darn right luxurious. Read more |
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The Midwest Region Biennial Retreat: A Recap
"The Midwest Region's biennial Retreat was held from Friday, May 2 to Sunday, May 4, 2014. For the first time ever, the venue was the beautiful Starved Rock State Park in La Salle / Peru, Illinois, just a two hour drive from Chicago and St. Louis. Forty Men's Club members from throughout the Region attended this year's Retreat, including a number of 'first timers.'"
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Back Issues
Missing an issue of HaShofar? Just go to our Archive for a list of available back issues. |
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 [email protected] and we'll do our best to squeeze them in.
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Contact [email protected].
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