Seeing less of us

FJMC initiative promotes better health for its members

By Jonathan D. Epstein

Ensuring the future health and vitality of FJMC International has been one of the core subjects animating discussion at conventions, retreats and other gatherings.

But Drs. Paul Davidson and Jake Sheff want to make sure that extends beyond just the organization down to each and every individual as well.

As co-chairs of FJMC’s revitalized health and wellness initiative, the two doctors at opposite ends of the United States are tasked with leading a new international effort to get men to be healthier.

In particular, they’re focusing on the challenge and threat of obesity, and the incumbent physical, mental and emotional difficulties that come with it.

“Our whole goal is to ensure that members of FJMC International have opportunities to improve their wellbeing, in general, and to support one another in that,” Davidson said.

Davidson and Sheff bring decades of expertise to the table.

A psychologist, Davidson has been working in the health field for 35 years, primarily in behavioral health and emotional well-being, with a specialty in dealing with obesity. He was the director of behavioral health services at two Boston hospitals in their bariatric surgery programs. He retired from psychology and hospital work just over three years ago, although he still does some consulting and coaching, and has written widely on weight-related topics.

Scheff, a native of Wisconsin, is a board-certified pediatrician in Portland, Ore. He is also a U.S. Air Force veteran, a certified mohel and a poet.

Together, they lead a committee that hopes to educate and encourage FJMC members about steps they can take to live a healthier lifestyle through physical exercise, better eating choices and habits, and general wellness techniques. The committee also includes Drs. Bob Braitman and Dale Levy, and works with other medical professionals and experts like Dr. Mitch Ross and Dr. Steven Mandel to provide resources, advice and information.

“It’s a pretty aggressive strategy to touch on a lot of elements of health and wellness, but we think we have a core who are interested in doing it,” Davidson said. “We also know there are many talented individuals, both clinicians and people who have overcome issues, who can provide information and encouragement.”

The notion of a health initiative germinated after Braitman, a past international president of FJMC from 2005-2007, looked around the room during his outgoing address at convention and saw many members “who didn’t look as healthy as he’d liked,” Davidson said. Weight was the clear issue.

Braitman famously said he was worried and “would like to see less of you.” That sparked the first effort nearly 20 years ago, although “it never achieved what we thought it might be able to do,” Davidson said.

But there’s been renewed interest since the last convention in Chicago in 2025. “I had many people come up to me and tell me what they’ve been doing,” Davidson said. “People are having some success now that they weren’t having before.”

Much of the focus for many people centers around GLP-1 weight-loss drugs or bariatric surgery, but there’s many other steps people can take even before those. The goal is to “engage guys in whatever would help them get to better health,” Davidson said.

FJMC kicked off the effort this year with the Wellness Warriors program, designed to engage men in physical exercise while partnering with the Obesity Action Coalition, an advocacy and education organization that Davidson already knew. The program wasn’t as successful as hoped for on the fundraising side, but for those who participated, he said, it “had a profound effect.”

Now the committee is moving beyond that, starting with their newly created bi-monthly magazine called “L’Chaim.” The online publication features articles about physical, emotional or spiritual well-being, as well as member stories and videos, recipes, and topics of interest from clubs and regions.

The team also plans to develop Hearing Men’s Voices programs related to wellness, and started a series of webinars in February, beginning with one by Ross, a cardiologist in Phoenix, discussing heart health issues. Dr. Seth Fineman, a physical therapist in Portland, Maine, will hold a bimonthly session on Zoom for people to ask health-related questions.

They also plan to work on developing or promoting programs targeted for use by clubs and regions to integrate health and wellness into regular routines. And they will work to enhance wellness offerings at regional and international gatherings.

“We really hope to raise the level of awareness and availability of wellness resources for those in attendance,” Davidson said.

Jonathan D. Epstein is editor and chair of the HaD’Var committee, chair of LDI 2027, vice president of the International Region and co-chair of the Abayudaya initiative.