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.

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

Bringin' Down The Sukkah

It was windy. It was rainy. It was cold. But all of that was not enough to stop the Agudath Israel Men's Club from dismantling the Sukkah on the morning of Sunday, October 18. Under the direction of Gary Kabler, Al Mahler and Mike Chiaet the panels, wood and bamboo schach got stored with east. Thanks to the ten or so men that came up to help with this effort.

It's always a little sad to bring down a festive shelter like the Sukkah. It brought a lot of joy and usefulness to the congregation during Sukkot and we're looking forward to more great events in the Booth in 2010.

General Men's Club Meeting, Tuesday, October 13

The CAI Men's Club will hold it's October meeting on Tuesday, October 13 at 8 pm. We will meet in the CAI conference rooms. On the agenda:

-Review of Scotch in the Sukkah Event
-Organization of Sukkah dismantling
-Topics on Tap Event for Tuesday, November 10
-Man of the Year Dinner for Wednesday, November 11
-Marshalls and Marchers for the CAI Walk for Israel

All new and prospective members, and their great ideas, are welcome. Contact club president Adam Shandler at mensclubcai@gmail.com for more information.

Scotch in the Sukkah Review

There are many Men's Clubs in the NNJR that host a Scotch Tasting in the Sukkah. But how many of them can say they have the Glenlivet ambassador, straight from Scotland, to provide insights as to how great Scotch is distilled?

On Thursday, October 8th, 35 very thirsty members of CAI made this event a huge success. Upon arrival, participants received a Men's Club branded Scotch glass and listened as Greg Pongracz from Sunrise Cellars discussed the crafting of single malt Scotch. Following Greg's presentation, Rickie Crawford, the Glenlivet Ambassador (pictured, below right) very passionately talked about the qualities in each of the Scotches displayed. Not to get you salivating, but Glenlivet provided a 15-year-old bottle, a 16 Nadurra, an 18 (very popular among the group), a 21 and a 25. No Glenlivet bottles made it out of the Sukkah alive. There were some leftovers of other whiskys which were enjoyed at CAI's Simchat Torah celebration on Saturday, but admittedly, "without Rickie and Greg's insights it just wasn't the same."

Marty Schenker and Mike Chiaet did an exceptional job bringing this event to life and the club would like to extend special thanks to Ned Gladstein, owner of Sunrise Cellars, for donating all the Scotch and for securing our presenters for the evening. Alfie Mahler should also get a pat on the back for donating a box of tasty cigars.

If you missed this event, don't worry. We're already dreaming up ways to make it better next year.

Pictured are CAI Men's Club President Adam Shandler, event co-chair Mike Chaiet, Glenlivet Ambassador Rickie Crawford, Glenlivet Field Sales Manager Fred Fischer, event co-chair Marty Schenker and Sunrise Cellars rep Greg Pongracz.

Rain, Schmain...The Sukkah Is Up (and it's good!)

The rain came down but the Sukkah went up on the morning of Sunday, September 27. In spite of the challenges of inclement weather, a short window with Kol Nidre that night and some really good football games to get home to, the Men's Club raised the Sukkah in just under an hour-and-a-half. (It seems to get quicker every year!)

The Sukkah will play host to several Agudath Israel events, many of them sponsored by the youth and school programs. The Men's Club will take center stage in the Booth on Thursday, October 8, 8 pm, when it hosts its first annual "Scotch in the Sukkah" event. The cover charge of $18 gets participants a Scotch tasting, seminar from a Scotch Maven and a commemorative glass. Additonal glasses can be purchased from the Men's Club for a discounted price of $6.00.

Marty Schenker, Men's Club VP is co-chairing this event and can be reached at marty-boy@comcast.net.

Special thanks to our Sukkah builders, with special yasher koaches going to event chair Gary Kabler (pictured, catching raindrops with his tongue) and our foremen Mike Chiaet and Alfie Mahler, who brought the good drill.

Scotch! In the Sukkah! On October 8th!

First, we ask that you join the Men's Club as we raise the Sukkah on Sunday morning, September 27 at 10:30 am. Then on Thursday, October 8th, 8 pm, come join us for a brand new event!

Scotch in the Sukkah! Sip wonderful scotches of distinct flavors. Hear how they're made from a Scotch Maven. Schmooze with old friends and make new ones! The $18 cover charge gets you the tasting and a commemorative Scotch glass. (Additional glasses will be sold at a discount.) Other refreshments will be served. You don't have to be a Scotch drinker to enjoy this event!

Then, on Sunday, October 18, kindly help us in taking down the Sukkah. Meeting time is 10:00 am.

Men's Club Meeting - Tuesday, September 8, 8 pm

The next general meeting of the CAI Men's Club will take place on Tuesday night, September 8th at 8 pm. We will meet in the CAI conference rooms.

On the agenda:

*Finalizing details for the Sept. 15 speaking event with Yotam Zach

*Voting on CAI Men's Club logo

*Selecting a Man of the Year and Youth of the Year for the NNJR MOY Dinner in November

*Sukkah Building Update

*Scotch in the Sukkah Planning Update

Contact club president Adam Shandler if you'd like more info: adshandler@gmail.com or mensclubcai@gmail.com

General Meeting of the Men's Club - Tuesday, August 11

The next general meeting of the CAI Men's Club will be held on Tuesday night, August 11 in the synagogue conference rooms. We'll start at 8 pm.





On the agenda:


*Discussion of the tentative 2009-10 programming calendar, including discussion of our first program for September.


*Presentation of the Torch and Quality Club Awards


*The new CAI Men's Club logo.


*High Holiday Ushering


*Sukkah building and dismantling (and scotch in the Sukkah!)



For more information please contact club president Adam Shandler at 973-325-2849 or adshandler@gmail.com. (We promise our meeting will be more productive than the one in the Dilbert cartoon, above!)

Men's Club Sets Tentative Programming Calendar for 2009-10

At the community-wide calendar meeting on Monday, June 22nd, the CAI Men's Club scheduled a series of events for 2009-10. Among the highlights are the return of two Texas Hold 'Em poker Tournaments, a scotch-tasting in the Sukkah, and another lecture from the Washington Institute's David Schenker. Some of our "old reliables" remain on the calendar, such as our annual blood drive, NCAA Tournament Party at Miami Mike's and Men's Club Shabbat. The calendar of events, as it stands, is listed below. Some events and dates are subject to change.

As always, the Agudath Israel Men's Club will hold its general meetings on the second Tuesday of every month unless it conflicts with a holiday.

Tuesday, September 15, 8 pm - Torah on Tap or Guest Speaker

Sunday, September 27, 12 pm - Sukkah Raising (after High Holiday Appeal)

Thursday, October 8, 7:45 pm - Scotch Tasting in the Sukkah (pictured)

Sunday, October 18, 10:00 am - Sukkah Dismantling

Wednesday, November 11, 8:00 pm - Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament

MAN OF THE YEAR DINNER - NNJR - TBD

Tuesday, December 15, 8:00 pm - TBD (Possible Networking Night or Speaker)

Sunday, January 10, 9:00 am - Annual Blood Drive

Sunday, February 7, 10:00 am - World Wide Wrap

Tuesday, February 9, 8:00 pm - David Schenker Lecture (Tentatively)

Sunday, February 28, 8:00 am - Purm Fest Set-Up, followed by Purim Fest at 12 pm

Thursday, March 18, 7:00 pm - Guys Night Out for the NCAA Tournament

YOM HASHOAH CANDLE PACKING - TBD

Wednesday, April 21, 8:00 pm - Torah/Topics on Tap Discussion

Wednesday, May 5, 8:00 pm - Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament (pictured

Friday, June 18, 6:30/8:00 pm - Men's Club Shabbat Dinner and Service with Neshama Choir

Men's Club to Attend Calendar Meeting June 22nd

Members of the CAI Men's Club will be present at the June 22nd calendar meeting at Agudath Israel. The meeting will begin at 7:45 pm.

At the Men's Club General Meeting held on June 9th, which was the last of the 2008-09 programming year, the club agreed on hosting some of its traditionally strong events for 2009-10, but will also be experimenting with some new programming. At the June 22nd meeting the Men's Club will schedule its twice-annual Texas Hold 'Em Tournament, Annual Blood Drive, Torah on Tap events and Men's Club Shabbat, among others. New for upcoming year will be Scotch Tasting in the Sukkah, a possible tour of the new Giants/Jets Stadium and a Hanukkah Party-Networking Night combo at Mr. Chu's Vegetarian Cuisine.

If you would like to join the Men's Club at this meeting, or would like to contribute an idea, contact club president Adam Shandler: adshandler@gmail.com