It is now time for you to complete your 2025-2026 Quality Club Award application.  To qualify for a Quality Club Award (QCA), you must review the criteria on the FJMC website that spells out the requirements. You must then explain in the narrative section how your club has achieved the standard of a Quality Club.  

To access the QCA criteria you must select Annual Activities/Awards from the FJMC page https://fjmc.org/.  Then select the photograph that says Quality Club Award.  In the first sentence you will see a "Click Here" link to access the application.  You must sign in first to reach the application.  Before you access the application, go to the bottom of the "In This Section" blue box on the right. Scroll down to the bottom and click " Quality Club Award Criteria"  

As elucidated on the FJMC QCA page:  the Quality Club Award represents excellence and shows it to your club members and congregation; few clubs meet these high standards. Most of the criteria listed represent what your club has already completed or is still in the process of completing.  There are six Mandatory requirements and three categories of Optional requirements. Clubs must complete at least ten of these 21 Optional requirements with at least 1 requirement per category. Special recognition will be made to clubs that complete all 21 optional requirements, which will make a total of 27 completed criteria. It is very important to please remember to definitely have your club’s FJMC dues paid and your Chaverot list updated; both are under the Mandatory criteria. 

Keep in mind that beginning this year, there is an additional requirement in the Mandatory category (Combating Antisemitism), and one additional choice in the Optional category (Supporting Israel). The deadline for application is June 22, 2026. It can be sent earlier if completed before that date.   

Each year, clubs should be aware of the QCA criteria to assist with planning for the QCA over the course of the next upcoming season.  The criteria also provide guidance and assistance with the club’s program planning.  

Good luck to all clubs submitting for the QCA. We usually have a large number of applications to review.  Therefore, please, to avoid delay in receiving your wall plaques and or plates marking the QCA achievement for this year, double check your applications for accuracy in fulfilling the criteria. 

FJMC Quality Club Award Committee

Robert Cohen, Chair
Scott Vineberg, Member
Seth Goldberg, Member

The Ross Health & Wellness Fund supports programs that promote men’s health and wellness, including preventive care, early disease detection, mental health support, and health education. Eligible programs may include club-level initiatives, regional speakers or events, and international programming at FJMC gatherings.

Please download the following:
Ross HW Fund Grant Application
Ross HW Fund Guidelines

Grant applications should be submitted by June 1, 2026, to be considered in the first round of grants. Email your application to the Health and Wellness Committee at health@fjmc.org 

(jtsa.edu/news) April 30, 2026 — New York, NY — The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), one of the world’s preeminent centers of Jewish higher education, and the intellectual and spiritual center of Conservative Judaism, today announced that its Board of Trustees has named Rabbi Mike Uram as its ninth Chancellor. He will succeed Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz, who, as previously announced, is stepping down at the end of the 2025-26 academic year and will transition to Chancellor Emerita, while remaining a member of the faculty.

All episodes can be found on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, iTunes, Amazon Music/Audible, iHeartRadio and PodChaser or on your podcast player with the RSS code: https://feed.podbean. com/mamasboysfjmc/feed.xml.

FJMC International brings you Shalom Brothers! with Rabbi Noam Raucher, Executive Director!

Parashat Emor:
Delivered on Friday, May 1, 2026
Iyar 15 5786

Check back on the website, on Friday afternoon, for this week's parashat, Behar-Bechukotai.

We regret to inform you of the passing of Alan Nissenbaum, past officer of the New England Region, a revered leader of Temple Emanuel Brotherhood, and frequent attendee at FJMC International conventions.

Alan Nissenbaum, 78, passed away on May 3, 2026, at his home in Newton, Massachusetts. 

We extend our sincerest condolences to his wife, Ellen Zarrow-Nissenbaum, and the entire Nissenbaum Family. We pray that they be comforted among the mourners of Zion, and Jerusalem.

May the legacy of Alan Nissenbaum be a source of blessing and comfort to all who knew and loved him. May his memory be for a blessing.

Messages of love and condolence may be sent to the Nissenbaum Family.

Contributions may be made in Alan Nissenbaum's memory to the FJMC International.

B’Shalom,
Bruce Tomar
International President, 2025 - 2027

We look forward to receiving your comments and suggestions. We also seek your support and input by supplying ideas and articles for future editions. Please contact us at feedback-HaDvar@fjmc.org

Back issues of Ha D'var can be found here.

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Questions, letters to the editor and submissions are emailed to Jerry Brodsky at jbrodsky@fjmc.org

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