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May 2022 Brotherhood Message

ALL THINGS MUST PASS
I am writing on behalf of Bob Olshan due to the passing of his father-in-law Jerry Cohen on April 10. Jerry was a past Man-of-the-Year and I consider him one of my best friends. He was one of the first to welcome me to Kol Rinah. He will be greatly missed.
 
The Midwest Region FJMC retreat is May 13-15 in Bloomington, Ill. The retreat is open to all Brotherhood members and member “wannabes.” If you are on the fence about Brotherhood membership, consider attending the retreat and learn first-hand what we are all about. Want to go? Contact me for details at
darthzaydah@gmail.com.
 
We want to thank all who donated to the Yom HaShoah Yellow Candle program. (It’s not too late to donate.) Don’t forget to light your candle at sundown April 27.
This May 18th is our annual Lag B’Omer celebration in Shaw Park. The committee is hard at work to make it bigger than ever.
 
L’DOR V’ DOR
I’d like to share part of my speech delivered at Brotherhood Shabbat.
Our Brotherhood produces some wonderful events, but our worker bees are getting up there in age. The Brotherhood is well represented by men in their 70s.
It’s not your father’s Brotherhood anymore ‒ it’s your GRANDFATHER’S Brotherhood. And we just are not attuned to what younger men want
or expect.
 
We need some new people, to change that dynamic, but we are struggling to recruit younger members and officers, especially a president. Kol Rinah has a lot of men of all ages; in fact, Kol Rinah has 86 men under the age of sixty.
With a good deal of head scratching and some wise thinking from Rabbi Arnow, we have come to realize that in addition to being out of tune with younger men’s needs, we have gotten off track with our mission’s EMPHASIS to involve MEN in Jewish life. So now, Brotherhood is embarking on a rejuvenation!
 
In the tradition of men’s clubs, one generation would follow in the footsteps of the passing generation. In the spirit of l’dor v’ dor, the clubs would pass the leadership on to the next generation to manage the club and activities as that new generation saw fit. The time has come to pass the leadership of Kol Rinah’s Brotherhood to the next generation.
 
To help with this passing we are introducing Decade Captains to help shepard the men in their respective decade. We are planning focus groups comprised of the next generations with a goal to create innovative programs that appeal to younger men. This transfer requires volunteers. So, gentlemen, please be prepared to say, “Yes,” when we call you.
B’Shalom,
Max Brown
Honorary President
Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784