2007 2009 FJMC Torch Awards Entry Document TSMC Overall Activities 2007-2009 In the Best Overall Activities Category Temple Sinai Men s Club #551 Dresher, PA Part I Identification Information Submission Identifier Code: TA09-055 Full Title for Entry: TSMC Overall Activities 2007-2009 Entry Category: Best Overall Activities Contact Persons to be listed on Torch Award CD: Email address to be listed on Torch Award CD: mensclub@tsinai.com Club number & Club name: #551 Temple Sinai Men s Club Number of club members: 131 Synagogue name, city, and state: Temple Sinai, Dresher, PA Club President Name (at time of entry): Club President Name (at time of convention): Person preparing entry: Email address of person preparing entry: pwb7@cornell.edu Date of entry submission: March 29, 2009
Part II Summary Information Temple Sinai Men s Club is one of the arms of our synagogue serving our congregation and community in the Suburban Philadelphia Area. We recognize the need to provide programming enriching the Religious, Entertainment, and Financial needs of our synagogue and our local community and have put together a rich collection of events and services. Part III Self Assessment of Entry 1. Explain presentation and documentation completeness These are not a comprehensive list of sponsored events, but a sampling of the many facets of synagogue life touched by the Temple Sinai Men s Club. Each event is accompanied by a description and some with a thumbnail picture or poster. Our website (http://mensclub.tsinai.com/) has a TSMC scrapbook containing additional pictures and posters from more of our events. Since this is an Overall Activities category, complete details of every event is not provided, if more information is needed about any event, contact us at mensclub@tsinai.com. 2. Achievements of program goals, publicity, marketing, and advanced planning Based on the number of well attended and profitable events, we fully achieved our goals through publicity, marketing and advanced planning. 3. How does the program enhance the image of FJMC, region and/or your club A successful club with high achievements could only increase the visibility and esteem of all club members. 4. Include information so other clubs can use this program By including descriptions of our events as well as posters, other clubs could duplicate similar programs. Full size posters and more detailed information is available through our email at mensclub@tsinai.com. 5. What is the program s value in club building number of named members participating vs. club size and synagogue size The more ideas for programming, the more members join and participate. Some members join to help with our catering Men In The Kitchen, some play Texas Hold em or softball, and some produced a Holocaust video and religious programming. With a congregational size of about 500 families, there is a diversity of interests. The Temple Sinai Men s Club provides a forum for each member to chair an event that meets their talents and interests. Since synagogue membership is not a requirement for TSMC membership, several members have been pulled into the men s club activities and gone on to join the synagogue. 6. Identification of source of program or practice and description of unique aspects. Help us understand where it came from.
We ve been programming successfully for many years but ideas continue to evolve from members, FJMC conventions and publications, and our congregation. 7. Identification of this program as an adaption of previous Torch Award entry or other program. Awards will be given for implementations that are particularly effective. The original sources of the programs will be most pleased to know that their efforts have borne fruit. This overall is an adaptation and combination of all previous programs. Part IV Entry Document Temple Sinai Men s Club is one of the arms of our synagogue serving our congregation and community in the Suburban Philadelphia Area. We recognize the need to provide programming enriching the Religious, Entertainment, and Financial needs of our synagogue and our local community and have put together a rich collection of events and services. Religious Services Men in the Kitchen MITK crosses the boundaries of religious, financial, and community services. As a group, we have catered over 110 events and served 12,000 people over the last 2 years. On average, more than one event every week. With a core group of 10-15, this one activity keeps us more active than any other men s club in the FJMC. Started as a way to keep the congregation together during simchas, MITK offers low cost, kosher catering with the requirement that the entire congregation be included with the invited guests for any meal. Starting with providing extended Kiddush, we proved so popular that we expanded to full Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and even weddings. We ve also catered an MAR meeting steak dinner, a simcha at another synagogue, and provide Shiva platters. Not only does this provide a valuable service, but is also a major fund raiser for the club. To keep costs down, we ve developed relationships with local suppliers of kosher fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, bakeries, and restaurant equipment. We ve developed a system of purchasing, billing, collections. We provide key men with TSMC credit cards and set up accounts at a variety of vendors so any congregation member can help pick-up fresh supplies all around Philadelphia. The purchasing, billing, paying, food preparation, and clean-up activities involve many men s club and congregation members. Our Men In The Kitchen activity has allowed members, who might not otherwise be able to afford a kosher affair at the synagogue, invite the entire congregation to their simcha. MITK has become a backbone of synagogue events! High Holiday Ushering The Men s Club organizes volunteers to provide ushers during High Holiday services. Men s Club Shabbat MC members organized and led a full Shabbat morning service and, of course, provided an extended Kiddush by MITK. Nursing Home Services We provide a monthly Shabbat service at a local nursing home for the last 20 years and have expanded to a weekly service at an assisted living center. Build-a-Pair and World Wide Wrap We have provided BAP tefillin for our entire religious school (100 students) over the last two years. Helping them perform this mitzvah and then
join us in the World Wide Wrap was some of their first exposure to wrapping tefillin. Keruv We have a Keruv Program which included Keruv Korner and preparation of the welcoming brochure. We also have attended training and have a Regional and Club Consultant in our club. Financial Support Donations We make monetary contributions to the synagogue as well as provide free catering. We purchased 100 Build-A-Pair kits for the religious school and provided them with DirecTV satellite TV service for their programming needs. We funded the USY to redecorate their lounge. We contributed to the Jewish Boy Scout Troop so they could purchase cooking supplies. We provide money and labor to Project HOPE (Helping Our People Everywhere, a Passover food distribution program for the B nai B rith) Coffee We installed a automatic Flavia coffee machine stocked with kosher coffees and tea in a synagogue lounge. This provides a natural setting to sit and socialize after dropping the kids off at Hebrew School. Although we don t break even on donations for each cup, we make up for it in quantity! Roses from Israel We provide roses from Israel for all the holidays. Yom HaShoah DVD Oral History Our members helped produce and distribute a DVD for the Holocaust Remembrance Program. This unique project helped teach the religious school students well enough that they could ask meaningful questions to Survivors in our congregation. A curriculum is being developed and the DVD will be provided to parochial and public schools around the country to be used in their Holocaust programming. Entertainment Texas Hold em We sponsor poker tournaments several times a year another fun and profitable venture. Baseball We sponsor the Men s Club softball team every year (and pick up new members). Comedy Night We arranged a comedy show through a local talent agency. The evening included wine and cheese and was well attended. Sporting events We have outings to a Phillies game and a local AAA farm team. Last year we joined with another synagogue and rented a bus to get to the game. Menorah Mania We sponsored a contest for Hebrew School students to build a chanukiah. The winners received gift cards to a local book store. Community Mitzvah Mania: Rebuilding Philly A group of men s club and synagogue volunteers went to South Philly to repair the home of an elderly man in coordination with a Federation
supported Mitzvah Day around Philly. We cleaned out debris and trash, replaced batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, repaired an oven, cabinets, front door, and lighting, painted metal cabinets, doors, windows and home fa_ade. The home owner was exceedingly appreciative of our efforts and time. Without this day of volunteerism, many homes would fall into disrepair, putting the safety and comfort of one more Jewish family in jeopardy. Political speakers Provided a forum for local candidates to state their positions. Local celebrities Entertaining brunch featuring a local sportscaster College Outreach We work with the Sisterhood to buy, package, and send goodies to congregant s college age students during Passover and Chanukah each year. Simcha Cards We send every Men s Club member a birthday and anniversary card. These are not a comprehensive list of sponsored events, but merely a sampling of the many facets of synagogue life touched by the Temple Sinai Men s Club. What makes us unique is the variety of men with diverse interest and skills to organize and plan each event. By pairing new member chairmen with experienced past chairs, we continually train new leadership to plan and execute events. This level of activities requires a lot of planning and a lot of support. By effectively using emails and our website, we have improved our club communication. The Men s Club calendar is online, payments for dues, roses, and events can be done through our website. Also on our website (http://mensclub.tsinai.com/), we have a TSMC scrapbook containing pictures and posters from many of our events and ultimately will contain an archive of full details of each event s planning. If more information is needed about any event, look for the scrapbook on the left side of our website or contact us at mensclub@tsinai.com..