Men's Club - July
Admittedly I don’t read much for recreational purposes given that reading was what I needed to do professionally, but the opening paragraph from “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens could be used to sum up the pandemic year we all experienced: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
While the underlying meaning which prompted Dickens to write these words might best be left to PJTC’s Social Justice Committee to discuss it’s present day relevance, I find the plain words fairly describe the year PJTC Men’s Club had. While we all know people who suffered economically, emotionally or physically (the worst of times), Men’s Club became a new standard bearer in outreach and programming, paid homage to births and continued celebrating mitzvahs (the best of times). We waived dues for last year hoping to bring a bit of relief to those in need that still wanted to participate, but generosity came through and many of you made voluntary donations/dues payment (thank you!). We joined arms with the PJTC Social Hall (so remarkably produced by Judy and Phil Callahan), Jason Moss and the Jewish Federation, LBSRS, B’nai Simcha, USY and Sisterhood to co-host and co-sponsor events of interest and community involvement. We stood out in the parking lot with masks and gloves on to welcome students and families back for the school year, we delivered food during Passover and boxed meals for our Service to Community program, we were there for the Rabbi’s installation, produced an engaging Veterans Day program, and along with Sisterhood, presented a memorial plaque in honor of Robert Brown. Chanukah goodie bags and jelly donuts were distributed (gloves and masks on!) in December, and in the New Year we hosted a presentation on NASA’s Mars Mission and the newly launched Ohr Tamid Society. Our year ended with a timely Town Hall with Congressmember Adam Schiff and the situation in Israel, a night honoring Marcia Alper and Terry Tornek as recipients of the Service to Community Award who were both feted by officials from Federal (Congress member Judy Chu) State (Senator Anthony Portantino and Assembly member Chris Holden) and Local (Supervisor Kathryn Barger) offices. We are there for every B’nai Mitzvah to present a Yad and finally we had PJTC’s first in person gathering (aside from Shabbat services) at our Installation of the New Board that took place on June 27, 2021. Welcome home!
2021-22 will see a return of our very popular NFL football pool, in-person programming, our (previously) annual Man of the Year Award and we hope to present the second Joshua Pais Lifetime Achievement Award to a deserving and remarkable community member.
To our members, current and future, I thank you now on behalf of the youth in our Jewish Community. Your kindness and generosity helped bring a bit of light in a dark time. We want to continue doing so and we hope you’ll help to make that happen by joining Men’s Club and participating in our events. Let’s all endeavor to make this “the best of times."
Click on this link to join now: https://givingtools.com/give/389/40
by Fred Rotenberg, Men's Club President
