Model Men’s Club Program Connecting with Israel

FJMC presents a model Men’s Club Program that your Clubs and Regions can do together. 

Wanting to do something to support Israel, the Three FJMC member Clubs in Cleveland, Ohio  – the Men’s Clubs of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation,  Park Synagogue – Anshe Emeth Beth Tefilo Congregation, and Shaarey Tikvah,  came together the Shabbat weekend of January 19, 2024, for a special Dinner and Dance Fundraiser in support of Israel to benefit Neve Hanna Children’s Home. Since Neve Hanna is 15.5 miles from the Gaza border, it was imperative that we build stronger fences and more safe rooms, increase security, and step up the therapies to overcome the trauma the children experienced in the months that followed the October 7th attacks.

Throughout the Shabbat weekend, Lisa Pollack, Executive Director of the American Friends of Neve Hanna, came to Cleveland and spoke with the congregations during services, and on Motzi Shabbat the Men’s Clubs gathered for a special Dinner Dance to benefit Neve Hanna. Over 250 members of the community attended and over $20,000 was raised.

The event created comradery amongst the three clubs and a large planning committee met every few weeks to plan the event.

The event was so successful, a second Dinner Dance is now scheduled for January 25, 2025. This is a program that a Men’s Club or group of Men’s Clubs could copy.  If you want more information, email Tom Sudow at .

Stephen Wertheim, President of the Shaarey Tikvah Men’s Club in Cleveland, following the dance, volunteered in Israel with his wife, Rena and spent a day visiting Neve Hanna and this was his reflection.

“We spent two and a half weeks volunteering in Israel ending with a visit to Neve Hanna – the highlight of our trip. We gratefully thank Antje Naujoks, PR Director at Neve Hanna for organizing our visit. After the October 7th attack, Shaarey Tikvah, Park, and B’nai Jeshurun Synagogue Men’s Clubs came together in Cleveland to raise funds for Neve Hanna just 15 miles from the Gaza border. Some of these children come from communities like Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Sderot that were under rocket fire even before October 7. What we saw at NH was a caring staff serving Jewish children whose families originated from Ethiopia, Russia, North Africa, and the Middle East. The children were happy and healthy. Neve Hanna has its own zoo and bakery, and a new lovely, modern playground. We ate lunch with one of the children’s group families. A high point for us was meeting Rabba Liron Levy, who as a teen met American Jews on the March of the Living in Poland. When we met her, she was teaching a B’nai Mitzvah class. The class was a cross-section of Israel’s ethnic Jewry. Rabba Liron explained that as a female she had to convince others that she was indeed a Rabbi and that it was okay for their daughters to have a Bat Mitzvah. Watching these children daven together was awe inspiring, and we were saddened that we would miss their B’nai Mitzvot ceremony. A ceremony that most of the doubting families were now attending. The work that the staff at Neve Hanna does is difficult, but the children we met were well taken care of in a beautiful and healthy environment. One feels that they are loved and cared for by true professionals.”