By Norwin Merens
Long recognized for its beach resorts, theme parks, vast coastline and sunny climate – despite the occasional hurricane – Florida is a popular destination for retirees and seasonal vacations, while offering a rich history.
Part of that history focuses on the impact that a group of Jewish men, possessing a visionary and entrepreneurial spirit, had more than 60 years ago in the formation of FJMC International’s Florida Region.
Today, the Florida Region addresses the needs of 23 affiliated Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods located throughout the state. To be more responsive to its growing and diverse network of member clubs, the Region divides the Sunshine State into geographic sub-regions. A regional vice president is assigned to each sub-region to facilitate inter-club communication and regional interaction with each club.
Showing the regional colors at Jewish Heritage Night with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The clubs located in each Florida sub-region are identified below:
North Florida – Congregation Shomrei Torah, Tallahassee;
Central Florida – Temple Beth Shalom, Palm Coast; Congregation B’nai Torah, Ormond Beach; Temple Beth Sholom, Melbourne; Congregation Ohev Shalom, Maitland; Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation and Temple Israel Men’s Club, Winter Springs;
West Florida – Congregation Beth Shalom, Clearwater; Temple Emanuel aka Jewish Men’s Club of Polk County, Lakeland; Congregation B’nai Israel Mitzvah Men’s Club, St. Petersburg; Temple Beth Sholom Men’s Club, Sarasota; and Brotherhood of Congregation Kol Ami, Tampa;
South Florida: Palm Beach County – Temple Beth Torah Brotherhood, Wellington; Temple Beth El, West Palm Beach; Congregation B’nai Torah Men’s Club, Boca Raton; Temple Beth David Men’s Club, Palm Beach Gardens; and Temple Torat Emet Men’s Club, Boynton Beach;
South Florida: Broward County – Temple Beth Am Men’s Club, Margate; and Temple Beth Torah Sha’aray Tzedek Men’s Club, Tamarac;
South Florida: Miami-Dade County – Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center Men’s Club, Aventura; Congregation Beth Moshe Men’s Club, North Miami; Beth Torah Benny Roc Campus BTAY Men’s Club, North Miami; and Congregation Dor Chadash Men’s Club, Miami.
Florida Region, led by President Jon Zimmer in front left, at the convention in Chicago last summer.
Jon Zimmer currently serves as FJMC Florida Region president. He is a member and past president of the Brotherhood of Congregation Kol Ami in Tampa. He became involved by volunteering for his synagogue and as a security volunteer. Zimmer credits the late Mike Korenvaes and Barry Dvorchik at Kol Ami for asking him to take an active role with its men group.
“Barry took our club out of dormancy, renamed it a Brotherhood, and asked me to serve as president elect, ensuring we had a succession plan,” Zimmer said.
Within a short time, Zimmer was charged with creating two of the club’s most popular annual events: a Craft Beer Night at one of the local breweries in the Tampa area for a tasting and tour. He also helped create and manage the FJMC Torch Award entry for its Firearm Safety Day, known as “Lox and Loaded.” Brotherhood members, women and young adults learned how to safely practice using a firearm. Both Congregation Kol Ami Brotherhood programs have continued for seven years and counting.
Zimmer acknowledges his good friend and former Florida Region President Blake Lenett for getting him involved in the Region. Upon joining the region board, he chaired the Yellow Candle program for a few years, providing a source of pride for him as the son of a Holocaust survivor.
“When my friend and mentor Ed Kochman asked me to serve as the Region’s president-elect, I was very appreciative and learned much from his guidance as well as Blake’s,” Zimmer said of Kochman, immediate past-president of the region. He also credited Elliott Davis, regional past president, and Allan Gottesman, past president of FJMC International, for their advice and wisdom.
The Florida Region’s website has been managed for many years by Rich Nebb as webmaster, social media coordinator and content resource. Nebb communicates with all of the region’s clubs, posts upcoming club events and other timely information and prepares an online feature to highlight each synagogue and men’s group annually.
A regional presentation on antisemitism
The Florida Region’s signature programs are its annual Yellow Candle effort in observance of Yom HaShoah and the World Wide Wrap event scheduled each year to coincide with the Super Bowl. The Region strives to get as many of its clubs involved in purchasing candles while ensuring that the memory of those who perished during the Shoah remains a priority.
According to Zimmer, the World Wide Wrap is a relatively easy program to coordinate and encourages children and young adults to get involved in the mitzvah of laying tefillin. This ritual develops camaraderie and ensures spiritual growth for all regions. It’s important to have as many FJMC clubs involved throughout Florida and internationally as possible involved with FJMC’s annual World Wide Wrap initiative, first established in 2001.
Looking ahead, the Florida Region is now planning its next Shabbaton for Feb. 20-22, 2026, at Temple Beth Shalom in Palm Coast and the nearby Hilton Garden Inn. To learn more and/or get involved, email: .
See related stories about the adventures of brothers Mark and Jay Givarz at Congregation B’nai Torah Men’s Club in Ormond Beach and Temple Beth Shalom in Palm Coast.
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The B’nai Torah Men’s Club Brunch and Shoot program.
Florida Region Torch Awards Presented at FJMC’s Chicago Convention — 2023-25
Certificate Award Recipients
The Florida Region also received a Silver Award for the Regional Participation Award, which is presented to a region with the highest percentage of clubs submitting at least one application for a Torch Award.
Norwin Merens is a HaD’Var Contributor.
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