Men's Club Shabbat, Friday, June 15. Muhalo!!!

The crew at our Men's Club Shabbat in Hawaiians, circa 2010.

Those Agudath boys are at it again, bucking all convention with their Hawaiian shirts during the Men's Club Shabbat Dinner & Service. The dinner starts at 6 pm in the Adult Lounge with the service commencing at 8 in the Taubenfeld Chapel. (Cost of dinner is $18 for adults, $12 for kids 12 and under.)

During the service we will take time to install our new board, featuring new Club president Steve Jacobs. We'll also honor our Man of the Year Mike Chiaet and recognize the Jack Lippe Scholarship winner.

Don't forget to wear your Hawaiian shirt!

For more information contact Marty Schenker at marty-boy@comcast.net

Guys Night Out for March Madness

Bring on the Madness! Once again, the CAI Men's Club treks up Route 10 West to Miami Mike's Sports Zone for the first night of NCAA Tourney action! Thursday night, March 15, we'll assemble at this most awesome of East Hanover Sports Bars to dine, drink and root on our favorite teams...and those that we had moving on in our brackets. We gather at 7 pm.

Suggested fee is $20 to offset the cost of the bar tab. Contact club president Marty Schenker for more details: marty-boy@comcast.net

Men's Club Purim Kitchen Patrol - March 4

It's that time of year again. Purim. And that could mean only one thing. Hamantaschen. Okay, two things. Purim Festival at CAI. Come to think of it, three things. CAI Men's Club will be working the kitchen during the festival.

This is a great new member event. Nothing too serious. Just a bunch of guys cooking, laughing and serving good food to the congregation.

It's the most fun you'll have making a burger, dog, or the concotion we call "Haman's Revenge". Not exactly sure what's in it but the FDA has barely approved it for comsuption.

So join us in the kitchen on Sunday, March 4, 10:30 am (first shift). We'll be there till clean up at 3 pm.

Scott Kopen Family Fitness Fun Night - March 24

On Saturday night, March 24, the Men's Club will be hosting a very special event. Honoring the memory of our recently departed friend, brother and past Men's Club President Scott Kopen, the Club will be holding a Family Fitness Fun Night at Tiger Tennis and Fitness Club at 42 Fairfield Place in West Caldwell. Doors open at 7:30 and fees are as follows: $20 for individuals, $30 for couples, $40 for families.


All participants will be treated to a night of open court tennis play and tennis lessons, aerobics classes, weight training and other fitness activities. We'll also be raffling off some great items:

• Spa, hair and nail packages




• Nets tickets




• NHL fan bag package




• Museum access package




• Jan Press Photomedia Family Sitting




• Cloverleaf Tavern package




• Food and Beverage package




• Many more gifts!!!!




• Fan apparel package from Leezar Sports

(Raffle tickets will be sold at an additional cost to admission.)

Every dollar made will benefit pancreatic cancer research. For more information contact CAI club president Marty Schenker at marty-boy@comcast.net.

Builders Raise Another Great Sukkah

The Men's Club stared arriving around 9:30. By 10:50 the interior lights flickered on. People of Agudath Israel, we have a Sukkah for 2010. The temporary dwelling will be very active for the weeklong holiday starting on Thursday, September 22. Every committee, organization and club from the nursery school to the Sisterhood will be holding some kind of educational or culinary event in the Sukkah.

On Tuesday, September 28, 8 pm, the Men's Club will be hosting "Bourbon in the Booth" a follow-up to last year's wildly successful "Scotch in the Sukkah". Representatives from some of the bigger brand name bourbons will be on hand to teach about the crafting and tasting of this distinct whiskey. All CAI members and friends are welcome to this event, which has a $20 admission. All participants will receive a commemorative glass or flask while supplies last. Contact Mike Chiaet to RSVP or receive more info: mchiaet@gmail.com.

At right, Men's Club President Marty Schenker assists with organizing some of the roofing beams. At left, the team of builders puts it all together.

The Sukkah will come down on Sunday morning, October 3 at 9:45. All new members are welcome to help with this important project.

Ushers Needed for High Holy Days

While we'd love to have Usher, the R&B sensation, join us, we're pretty sure he's got other plans for the high holy days. So, if you are a member of Agudath Israel and would like to assist the Men's Club in its ushering program, please contact organizer Ken Levitt at kenlevittnj@hotmail.com.

Duties include keeping order in the synagogue during the rabbi's sermon and while the ark is open, helping congregants find seats, and making sure each member has a mahzor. Shifts last no more than one hour.

Save the Date: Bourbon in the Booth on September 28

Celebrate Sukkot. With bourbon!

Following up on last year's wildly successful Scotch in the Sukkah event, the Men's Club is back with "Bourbon in the Booth". Join us on Tuesday, September 28, 7:45 for a tutorial and sampling of fine bourbons.

Cover is $20 and all paticipants will receive a commemorative glass while supplies last. Light snacks will be served. Participants must be 21 years of age or older.

Contact club president Marty Schenker for more info: marty-boy@comcast.net

Men's Club General Meeting: Tuesday, August 10

The first general meeting of the Men's Club for the 2010-2011 programming year - and the first in the Marty Schenker administration - will be on Tuesday, August 10, 8 pm at Marty's home in West Caldwell.

On the agenda:


*Ushering for the high holy days.


*Sukkah building and take down


*Bourbon in the Booth Sukkah event


*October speaker event


All new members and their ideas are welcome.





For directions to Marty's house please contact him at marty-boy@comcast.net

4th Straight Quality Club Award for CAI Men's Club

The Agudath Israel Men's Club is proud to announce that it has been awarded its fourth-straight Quality Club Award from the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs (FJMC). In order to be bestowed with this honor, a local club must meet five of eight criteria on the international level and 10 of 15 at the Regional and Club Level. Holding a Men's Club Shabbat, providing service to the synagogue and community, having a succession plan and taking part in FJMC sponsored events are just some of the requirements.

"We put up one of our best showings ever to win the award this year," said Adam Shandler, recent past president, now adviser of the Club. "We hit on six of eight criteria for international consideration and 12 of 16 regional/club requirements. If only I could be that accurate on the basketball court." Shandler added, "Winning this award takes a lot of hard work and strong leadership. It was a great team effort and the Club should be very proud of what it accomplished this year."

New Hawaiian Shirt Tradition a Big Hit at Men's Club Shabbat

Last Friday night, June 18, the Agudath Israel Men's Club introduced a new tradition with resounding applause. We all wore Hawaiian shirts while leading the annual Men's Club Shabbat. "I thought this would be a rather memorable last act of legislation," said outgoing president Adam Shandler. "I checked with Rabbi Hammerman (our executive director) and Cantor Caplan and got both their blessings."

In addition to the vibrant dress code there was also vibrant davening. With the accompaniment of Cantor Caplan and the angelic sounds of the Neshama Choir, the Men's Club came through with another special night. Accentuating the service was the presentation of the Frank Nathanson Man of the Year Award to Larry Dodyk, the Jack Lippe Scholarship to Yotam Tubul and the installation of the new Men's Club Board for 2010-2012. Marty Schenker will serve as the new President, Marc Weinstein is the club's new VP and Steve Eitman and Steve Jacobs retain their roles as Treasurer and Secretary, respectively. We wish all our new board members the best of luck in their posts.

Scott Kopen, the man behind the scenes, did another impeccable job chairing this event.

Pictured are some of the Men's Club members prior to the service, showing off their best Hawaiian shirts. Left to right: Lee Gladstein, Mel Berkowitz, Ken Levitt, Mike Chiaet, Harvey Hershkowitz, Scott Kopen, Adam Shandler, Steve Jacobs, Marty Schenker and Marc Weinstein.

Aloha Means "Good Shabbos" this Friday night

This Friday night, June 18, the CAI Men's Club will be leading Shabbat services in the main sanctuary, starting at 8 pm. Being this is a Men's Club event we have decided to start a new tradition in our unique and inimitable style.

We will be wearing Hawaiian shirts.

Those interested in joining us for services are more than welcome. Just make sure your shirt has sunset, seagulls or swaying palm trees...or the rabbi may ask you to leave for not following halacha.

FJMC Sefer Haftorah Comes to CAI June 9

The Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs (FJMC) Sefer Haftorah makes its annual visit to Congregation Agudath Israel this week. CAI's Men's Club will host the scroll from Wednesday, June 9 to next Wednesday June 16 before handing it off to Temple Beth Shalom's Club in Livingston.

The scroll, first commissioned by the FJMC in 2003, includes every Haftorah and makes its way around the country every year. Last February, the Sefer made an appearance at the Torch-award winning David Schenker talk. This year the Sefer will be on display at the bar mitzvah of Alex Nathan. Alex's father Randy is a big supporter of the Men's Club and contributes to our programming.

In addition to reading haftorah portions from the sefer, the scroll serves as a reminder that anyone can purchase their own scroll or have a personally meaningful haftorah inscribed. Simply contact international@fjmc.org or consult the Sefer Haftorah page on the FJMC website.

Men's Club Shabbat - Friday, June 18th

We welcome all members of Congregation Agudath Israel, and the North Jersey Jewish Community at large, to join the Men's Club of CAI as they lead Friday night Shabbat services. The Men's Club receives this annual honor on Friday night, June 18, 8 pm.

In addition to the prayer service, there will be some additional pomp and circumstance. We will be awarding the Jack Lippe Scholarship to a deserving, graduating high school senior. We will also be honoring the Men's Club Man of the Year, Larry Dodyk, pictured second from right. The evening will wrap with the induction of the new Men's Club board. Oneg and schnapps following services.

Come out and support this award winning Men's Club and contact Scott Kopen if you would like to volunteer to take on a part: scottkopen@comcast.net

Bocian Takes Texas Hold 'Em Crown, May 5th

Art Bocian (pictured, middle) won the Men's Club's Spring 2010 Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament on May 5th, earning his second career title. Newcomer Saul Gutterman (right) came in second and Harriet Sepinwall, (at left) a mainstay at these tournaments, took home her first career trophy with a 3rd place showing.

Always one of our most popular events, the Texas Hold 'Em Tournament brought out a nice crowd. (Could be the free pizza that brings 'em out...or the big deal of winning the coveted Hold 'Em Trophy!) The poker tournament is the last social program of the calendar year. Another tournament will return in the fall.

Special thanks to the event organizers: Harvey Hershkowitz, Larry Dodyk and Adam Shandler, and of course, all the players who came out and enjoyed the game!

Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament - May 5

The Agudath Israel Men's Club will be holding the second and final Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament of its programming calendar on Wednesday, May 5 at 8 pm.




A $20 buy-in gets you poker chips and a pizza and soft drink dinner. Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 finishers and there will be a consolation game with a poker-related prize. All Agudath Israel members, as well as their family members and friends from outside of the community, are welcome. All players must be 18 years of age or older.

In our fall tournament, the Steve Eitman, Carl Schaerf, and Dave Kerner finished 1, 2 and 3. Larry Dodyk was our consolation tournament winner.

For more information contact club president Adam Shandler at adshandler@gmail.com.

Topics on Tap: Pluralism in Israel an eye-opener

On Wednesday, April 21, the Men's Club hosted its second discussion of the season in its Topics on Tap program. The subject was Pluralism in Israel and the discussion centered around Israel's quandary of Who is Jew by way of the legal standards set forth during the Jewish state's inception. Michael Jay, our rabbinic intern and moderator for this event, gave a thorough and astute history of how the Rabbinate came to power as the state of Israel was being formed under David Ben-Gurion. And how not much has changed in the definition of who a Jew is because of the stringent laws governing marriage.

Michael walked us through segments of the acclaimed DVD documentary "Faces of Israel", a mosaic of people representing various levels of observance and their take on the matter. Our participants followed up with comments of their own. Many were in disbelief that a country as progressive as Israel still maintains its 1948 stance with regard to marriage, conversion and matrilineal descent, especially when so many of its citizens - observant or not - want to identify as Jews.

The Men's Club would like to thank Michael for his wonderful insights and smooth handling of such controversial subject matter. Thanks also to the committee that put this program together: Harvey Herskowitz, Ken Levitt, Steve Jacobs, Marty Schenker and Adam Shandler.

CAI and NNJR Enjoy Nets' Jewish Family Night

On Wednesday night, March 24 over 100 members and affiliates of the NNJR and Congregation Agudath Israel attended Jewish Family Night at the Izod Center. The crowd was treated to a hotly contested battle between New Jersey's team and the visiting Sacramento Kings. The Kings have several international players on their roster, including Omri Casspi, the first Israeli to play in the NBA. While Omri only tallied 2 points on the night - a layup in the closing seconds - the painted faces with Stars of David and waving Israeli flags signaled a great sense of pride for his presence in this truly global league.

Among the highlights of the evening, the HaZamir Choir, led in part by CAI's own Cantor Joel Caplan, sang during halftime. After the game, members of our party shot around on the Izod Center court and took a few pics in the process. Oh, and did we fail to mention that the Nets won - 93-79 - for their 8th win on the year?!

The event was a fundraiser for NOAM, the Masorti Olami's youth progam in Israel. We'd like to thank Abner Neufeld of the Nets for all of his attentive support of our program and the heavy representation of aliterative rabbis from our congregation - Savits, Saltzman and Silverstein. (Yes, rabbis, not a law firm.)

Thanks to the Candle Packers on March 23

The Men's Club of Congregation Agudath Israel would like to thank all of its members who came out to pack the Yom Hashoah yellow remembrance candles for delivery on Tuesday night, March 23. Tasks included assembly of boxes and filling those boxes with the candles themselves, an info card and donation envelope, and labeling for delivery. The candles have been sent out so congregants should be receiving them shortly. Remember to light your Yom Hashoah candle on Sunday, April 11, and say a prayer for the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.

This program is organized by the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs. Gary Kabler did us proud as chair of this program for our club for yet another year.

Yom Hashoah Candle Packing Night - Tuesday, March 23

Join the Men's Club on Tuesday night, March 23, as we pack and prepare Yom Hashoah Candles for distribution to our congregation. This program, led by the Northern New Jersey Region of Jewish Men's Clubs, raises funds and awareness of one of the most diabolical periods in Jewish history. Do not let the 6 million be forgotten!

We will assemble in the youth lounge, CAI basement, at 8 pm. Contact Gary Kabler for more information: gkabler@comcast.net

Guys Night Out a Blast on March 18

Ohio's upset of Georgetown was the highlight on the big screen. In the bar, it was the 22 CAI Men's Club members enjoying a night of great food, drink, and of course, college basketball at Miami Mike's in East Hanover. Held on Thursday night, March 24 to watch the first night of NCAA Tourney action, Guys Night Out for March Madness is one of those winning events that we've sponsored four years running.

Agudath Israel had a basketball celebration of its own, honoring members of the 2009-10 team that returned to the playoffs after a winless 2008-2009. Team members in attendance included Israel Mazjner, Greg Adelsberg, Steve Eitman, Adam Shandler and Marc Weinstein.

The Men's Club would like to thank all the guys who came out for the event, with special kudos to Larry Dodyk, pictured with Miami Mike, for his tremendous organization.