Big CAI Presence at 2009 Man of the Year Dinner

On Wednesday night, November 11, the Northern New Jersey Region of Jewish Men's Clubs held its annual Man of the Year Dinner at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston. Eight clubs from the Northern sector of the region were represented, and Congregation Agudath Israel of Caldwell was featured prominently.

Our 2009 club honoree was Larry Dodyk. Larry, a recent past co-president now serving as club adviser, partnered with Scott Kopen to keep our club vibrant while CAI went through a two-year building renovation. His enthusiasm with events like the speaker's breakfast, family picnic and participation on our two championship basketball teams was very much needed during our time of diaspora.

Austin Mahler was CAI's Youth of the Year, a new concept for the dinner. Austin could always be counted on to help us put up and take down the Sukkah. As his mitzvah project, Austin catalogued and organized every volume for easy access in the shul library. An imminent Eagle Scout (who had his board review the morning of this blog entry), Austin is a senior at Newark Academy in Livingston. He is the son of Alfie, an active club member, and Jeannette Mahler.

The superstar of the night was Harvey Hershkowitz. Introduced by our own Rabbi Alan Silverstein as a man whose committment to Israeli causes goes unmatched, Harvey accepted his honor with grace, humility - and the best part - a short speech! Especially the last part about eating! Harvey, who was a three-year president of CAI Men's Club from 2004-2007, serves on the NNJR board as its Vice President.

Thirty-seven people from the CAI circle were in attendance, including the family of Austin Mahler and Larry's co-workers from PricewaterhouseCoopers. Congratulations to all of our award recipients!

Topics on Tap Recap

Rabbinic Intern Michael Jay was a hit as moderator of his first Topics on Tap event!

On Tuesday, November 10th, the Men's Club hosted 30 congregants who took part in our first current events discussion group of the calendar year. Formerly known as Torah on Tap and held at Cloverleaf Tavern, the program with the new name moved on campus to Agudath Israel's library. Amidst the ancient texts and the classic Jewish literature, participants dined on pizza and snacks and drank cool refreshing beer while discussing the topic "Barack and Bibi: Can We Really Be Friends?"

Michael did a masterful job of kicking off the talk with a commentary on the week's parsha before seguing into a history of American presidents' relationship with Israel. Then the floor - and floodgates - were open for dialogue. It was hard for participants not to draw comparisons betweeen the tepid Obama-Netanyahu relationship and those of U.S. and Israeli leaders of the past. Many were critical of the President's non-committal stance on the Jewish state, and his foreign policy in general, despite the administrative support he receives from Jewish members of his staff. That said, in the eng the group agreed that it is still early in the relationship and hoped to see more of a bridge built between the two nations.

The Men's Club would like thank Michael for his superb, well researched presentation and the Topics on Tap Committe of Harvey Hershkowitz, Ken Levitt and Adam Shandler. We would also like to recognize Metrowest Youth Shaliach from Israel Yotam Zach for attending and offering the perspective of a young Israeli.

The Club is considering adding another Topics on Tap event for 2010 and is open to ideas. Current events that affect world or American Jewry and the state of Israel tend to be of most interest.

(Pictured above are Israel Committee Co-Chairman Harvey Hershkowitz, Rabbinic Intern Michael Jay and Men's Club President Adam Shandler.)

CAI Walk for Israel

Once again, the CAI Walk for Israel was a huge success! The annual event brought great awareness to the cause of solidarity for Israel and wonderful visibility to Congregation Agudath Israel. The marchers looked great walking around town in their dark green shirts. Am Yisrael Chai!

The CAI Men's Club would like to acknowledge the following synagogue members for volunteering to be marshals: Larry Dodyk, Avi Eisen, Derek Fields, Alan Gerberg, Asa Gladstein, Mitchell Gladstein, Scott Kopen, Ken Levitt, and Diane Reidenberg. Lee Gladstein and Harvey Hershkowitz should also be commended for leading the Israel Committe and organizing this important project.

Topics on Tap Event, Tuesday, November 10

Rabbinic Intern Michael Jay (pictured at left) will be the new moderator of our Topics on Tap (formerly Torah on Tap) current events discussion series. Michael debuts his skills on Tuesday night, November 10, 8 pm, with the topic "Barak and Bibi: Can We Really Be Friends?"

The format is simple. Michael will "set the table" of the relationship between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu and participants are asked to weigh in. So come with great questions and insights and settle in for a stimulating evening.

There is no admission for this event and pizza, beer and soda will be served. Contact CAI Men's Club President Adam Shandler for more details: adam@adshandler.com

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.