The Men’s Club of Beth Israel

January 2026

Greetings to members of the Men’s Club, our Sisterhood, and all of the members of our Beth Israel family. 

As we remember the year 2025, we also are looking forward optimistically to what the new year of 2026 will bring us.  As a youngster in the Roxborough    section of Philadelphia, I remember pots and pans banging outside on New Year’s Eve.  I remember waking up on the morning of January 1^st to watch on TV the Philadelphia Mummers’ Parade, still going strong after all of these years, and, especially the String Bands (my family’s favorite was the Polish-American String Band).  And watching football games, especially the Rose Bowl, on our small    black-and-white television.  The Men’s Club hopes that you, too, have great memories of past years, and good plans and hopes for good times for this new year of 2026.

  On Wednesday, December 3^rd, our Men’s Club Board held its Annual Organization Meeting, following the election results of our membership meeting held on November 19^th.  We are excited to announce the results of this meeting.  The following Board       members were elected to these positions:

Stephen Tabin, President, Steve Blesofsky, Vice President of Programming; Paul Grossman,  Secretary; Ed Blecher, Vice President of    Membership; Jeff Beller, Treasurer; Les Zwain, Executive Vice President; and Barry Ross, Vice  President-At-Large.  Congratulations, all!

  On Sunday, December 14^th, we celebrated the first night of Hanukkah in the afternoon with an extra large gathering of congregants and friends.  After noting the sad events happening at a Hanukkah party in Australia that day, we were not deterred to celebrate.  We had plenty of latkes, Hanukkah-themed M&Ms, chocolate gelt, Dunkin Munchkins, iced tea, and     coffee.  We had a Hanukkah book read-along, and sing-alongs–including a real-life singing and spinning dreidel.  At the end of the party, President Ricki     Bauman and Men’s Club President Stephen Tabin gathered over 35 people outside to light the first    candle on our Bernie Katz Memorial Menorah.

  Our Bagels & Discovery program will be held on Sunday, January 18^th in our Social Hall, at 10:30 am.  We again present our “Create Your Own Bagel     Bundle” with sliced plain bagels, lox, cream cheese, whitefish salad, with sides of sliced tomatoes and  onions, coffee, OJ, and hot tea.  The Men’s Club  welcomes Harvey Scolnick, a retired air traffic controller who will speak on the topic: “The Stress & Life of an Air Traffic Controller.”  We anticipate a large crowd, so join us by RSVPing today.  See Page 6 of this issue of the Shalom News for details.  Our new check-in policy went well.  We all entered through the sanctuary door, got our hand-written nametags and raffle tickets, and immediately proceeded though our hallway to the Social Hall to take your seat.  We have a NO RESERVED SEAT policy that is continuing.  Bring your guests with you.  And we will institute this policy again.  We then socialize and help ourselves to coffee, hot tea, and OJ.  There is no  eating until after the Motzi.  Please plan ahead and do not wait until the last minute to send in your check. Thank you.

  The Men’s Club Board joins me in wishing you a great new year, filled with lots of hope and happiness and good health.  We hope that the year 2026 brings great joy and wonderful visits with your friends and family.

Stay Safe and Stay Healthy,
Stephen