Men’s Night Out focuses on mini-topics

ALYSSA SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER aschmitt@cjn.org | @AlyssaSchmitCJN

While women and girls filled Landerhaven’s halls in Mayfield Heights to make challah, a group of men gathered at the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland in Beachwood as part of the Cleveland Shabbos Project for its first Men’s Night Out Oct. 25.

The night was organized by Ari Jaffe, a member of Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood, who felt it was important to have community expressions of education and preparation for Shabbat. Because the challah bake is only open to women, Jaffe said he wanted an event that would appeal to men. He said the night wasn’t designed for boys because beer was being served.

About 20 men attended to hear six rabbis who each gave a 10-minute presentation focused on different aspects of Shabbos. Topics ranged from preparing for Shabbat and the essence of Shabbos to examining what is work and the significance behind shalom aleichem. The six rabbis who spoke were Rabbi Binyamin Blau of Green Road Synagogue, Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum of Jewish Learning

Connection in University Heights, Rabbi Avery Joel, head of school at Fuchs Mizrachi School in Beachwood, Rabbi Pinchas Landis of Partners in Torah of Cleveland, Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike and Rabbi Arieh Friedner of Cleveland NCSY.

“There are many different ways in celebrating and recognizing shabbat and each of the rabbis who presented offered a different perspective,” Jaffe said. “I hope it was a quality educational event and a good experience and a really nice way on Thursday evening to begin their own preparation for Shabbat.”

Brian Fox, whose wife Cheryl is Cleveland Shabbos Project chairperson, came to support the event and wanted to hear the different perspectives the rabbis brought. He said he enjoyed the format of brief 10-minute talks and compared it to a TED talk, which can be brief educational talks published online.

“It’s 10-minute talks, they’re short and to the point,” said Fox, a member of Green Road Synagogue. “I thought they were meaningful and it forces the speaker to really get to the meat of the subject quickly.”

While not as many men attended as expected, Jaffe sees a benefit for hosting it and plans to continue the event next year. After the talks concluded, the men could play basketball or volleyball.

“We