Fifteen years ago, FJMC International gathered a cadre of over 50 younger men from across North America to come to Baltimore for the Rabbi Joel S. Geffen Leadership Development Institute, as part of a special track of future leaders.
At the time, LDI consisted only of the international Executive Committee and Regional Leaders, with no Emerging Leaders track for up-and-coming club officers.
But FJMC recognized the need to identify, recruit and cultivate the next generation of the organization’s membership into its future leaders. That was the role of this group, Hador Habah – the next generation. And many of them are in FJMC’s top ranks today, or rising up the ladder.
“It rubbed off on us,” said Mark Givarz, a member of that first Hador Habah class. “Think of all the great leaders that came out of that program.”
Mark Givarz
This year, at the suggestion of previous class member Rob Blitzer, FJMC is bringing back Hador Habah, to bring a new cohort of younger guys to LDI to learn about men’s clubs and FJMC. Specifically, the organization wants to identify men under age 50, who may or may not already be club leaders, and may not even have much exposure to FJMC, but have the potential to grow and a desire to gain new experience.
“We basically built a bench, and this is an attempt to build a bench even deeper,” said Givarz, who is now co-chairing the new track this year at LDI with Dr. Jake Sheff. “What this is all about is reaching deeper into finding guys that are just beginning to work in the men’s clubs.”
FJMC Past-President and LDI co-founder Norm Kurtz, at LDI.
The goal is to strengthen the future base, encourage their participation and engagement with their clubs and FJMC International, create a new group of ambassadors for FJMC, and build camaraderie and relationships that will last a lifetime. Participants will learn about FJMC programs and resources, while getting connected with mentors.
“It’s an opportunity for them to meet us and learn about FJMC,” Givarz said. “FJMC is in the process of reinventing ourselves and making us relevant for the future. The way to make ourselves relevant is to find out what the men of the future want.”
As with the Regional and Emerging leaders, the Hador Habah will have a separate track at LDI, mostly focused on entry-level material and getting to know each other. Unlike the last time, however, this group will be smaller, ideally with one designee from each region (up to 15 in all).
“Our effort is not going to be as big and bold as back then, but we believe we can still have an important impact,” Givarz said.
David Singer
Ideal candidates are men in their late 30s to early 40s, but ranging up to 50, who are active in their club and beginning to show leadership potential but not yet involved at the regional or national level. They also must not have previously attended LDI.
The FJMC Foundation for Jewish Life will cover all program costs for participants, including room and board for double-occupancy rooms, and up to $250 of travel reimbursement.
FJMC is asking for nominees from each region, to be selected by the regional presidents. Candidates may be nominated by anyone through a special online portal, by emailing Givarz at or Sheff at , or by recommending names directly to regional presidents. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 14.
“They’re out there. We’ve just got to appeal to them,” Givarz said. “We want these younger guys to be potentially exposed and build those relationships that will serve them well, not just in their synagogue worlds but in the rest of their worlds.”
LDI, which is chaired this year by David Singer, with Jon Medwin as vice-chair, will be held Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 2026, at the Pearlstone Retreat Center outside Baltimore.
Jonathan D. Epstein is editor of HaD’Var, immediate past-president of the Tri-State Region and vice president of the International Region
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