Submission #28094 by Temple Sinai Men's Club - Middletown, NY (1858)

Submission information
Submitted by Hal Marcus
Sat, 2023-03-18 11:16
67.243.96.238
2023
I have read the 2023 Torch Awards Program Guidelines.
Club Name
Temple Sinai Men's Club - Middletown, NY (1858)
Hall of Remembrance Program
Club Representative
Person completing form
Dr. Jeff Shore
Hal
Marcus
Club President at time of convention if known at this time
Hal
Marcus
Club President Now
Hal
Marcus
Jewish Observance

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The Hall of Remembrance is a Temple Sinai Men's Club program for honoring those of blessed memory of loved ones. The program creates a beautiful and touching physical focal point in the Synagogue lobby during Yom Kippur and Yom Hashoah. Yahrzeit candles are personalized with the names of those being remembered, as well as the name(s) of those honoring their memory. There is one honoree per yahrzeit along with up to three names of those honoring their memory. The candle label also includes the Temple Sinai Men’s Club logo, identifying it as a Temple Sinai Men’s Club project.
The Hall of Remembrance is a Temple Sinai Men's Club program for honoring those of blessed memory of loved ones. The program creates a beautiful and touching physical focal point in the Synagogue lobby during Yom Kippur and Yom Hashoah. Yahrzeit candles are personalized with the names of those being remembered, as well as the name(s) of those honoring their memory. There is one honoree per yahrzeit along with up to three names of those honoring their memory. The candle label also includes the Temple Sinai Men’s Club logo, identifying it as a Temple Sinai Men’s Club project. We use LED tea lights for safety and economy. The LED candle batteries last up to 100 hours. The Hall of Remembrance is installed any time before Kol Nidre, Yom HaShoah or any other Yizkor event where it will be promoted, and the LED tea lights are turned on shortly before the holiday or event begins, so it is illuminated when people begin arriving. After the end of Yom Kippur or other program the candles are turned off, labels removed, glasses wiped with alcohol to remove any adhesive residue and they are ready for their next use. If someone asks, we let them take their candles home, but we do not actively promote that. We are promoting “sponsoring” rather than “buying” the memorial candles. We promote the candles at $10 for one, $18 for two and $5 each additional above two. They cost less than $1.00 to produce initially, and are reused, so there is an excellent fundraising potential. We also promote the program through social media. If you would like more information or have any questions, please feel free to contact Hal Marcus at hmarc57@yahoo.com.
Attachments
Self Assessment
The reception and response from the Temple Sinai congregation to the Hall of Remembrance Program for both Yom Kippur and Yom Hashoah has been tremendous. Candle purchases have averages between $900 and $1000 for each ceremony. The inserts of 2 names from people who have died during the Holocaust in the Yom Hashoah Candle packets with a request to read their names on Yon Hashoah as they light the candles has received much appreciation from members who have lost family members during the Holocaust. Seeing their loved ones names on the candle glasses amongst several other Temple Member's relatives on one table also gives the impression of unity. Members have said that their loved one's memory is among many loved ones and that they are not recognized alone. Since first introduced in 2017, this program has been a success and reportedly is being duplicated in other synagogues around the country.
The observances of Yom Kippur and Yom Hashoah, two ongoing memorials recognized each year, continues to remind us that loved ones and people who died during the Holocaust are not forgotten. As those who have survived the Holocaust are aging out, we need to continue to recognize this tragic and historic event so that we make sure it never happens again. The Hall of Remembrance is just that kind of program we need to do this. It is also a way of bringing the Jewish Community closer together, especially in lieu of the Hate crimes directed toward the Jewish Community. This program perpetuates leadership and innovation, while involving the entire Jewish Community in its mission and purpose.
I hope the Hall of Remembrance program will become one of the FJMC's premier programs to unite the Jewish Community in its efforts to "Never Forget" our Jewish heritage and Jewish roots.

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An adaptation or enhancement of a previous Torch Award entry TAxx-xxxx|
Hall of Remembrance adaptation & update
Previous Submission
Yes
Gold