Mentschen Writers

Jacob Artson is a student who lives in Southern California.

Bob Braitman is a Past International President of FJMC, past Chair of the Leadership Council for Conservative Judaism, and chairs the Editorial Board for CJ: Kolot-Voices of Conservative Judaism. Bob created the widely acclaimed “Hearing Men’s Voices” series providing opportunities for men to express themselves about issues including fathers and sons, men’s health, work and worth, spirituality and the difficult issue of dealing with intermarriage in our families and communities. Bob also spearheaded the latest FJMC “signature initiative, Shomrei HaGuf”-a focus on Men’s Health and Wellness. Bob’s fascination with our liturgy has been demonstrated in his famous “minyan in the Grove” which welcomes men into the subtleties of the practices and meanings of our daily prayers.

Harvey Braunstein sells Life, Health, Disability Income and Long Term Care insurance. After serving as President of the Westchester Jewish Center (Mamaroneck, NY) Brotherhood for 5 long and seemingly endless years, he graduated to Co-Chair what has become known nationally as the “FJMC Keruv Initiative”. This initiative has become understood within the Conservative Jewish Movement to be THE leader in thinking about issues of interfaith marriage; and training and educating both lay men and women, as well as Rabbis, to think and program constructively for their congregations and synagogues and institutions. About 30 years ago, Steve Goodman (“City of New Orleans”) wrote a song called, “The 20^th Century is almost over”. Harvey believes that without continuous and intelligent intermediation, it will take far less than 80 years to write the same song about the 21^st century.

Neal Brinn is the Men’s Club President at Temple Israel, Norfolk, VA. Neal is an avid Torah reader and enjoys writing a weekly Torah column for his synagogue entitled, “Men’s Club Corner”. He has one son, Evan, who is nine years old. Neal has been serving in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer for the past 14 years. During his service he has served on four ships and has been stationed on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon. Neal graduated from Cornell University in 1996 with a degree in Computer Science and obtained a masters degree from Bryant College in 2002 in Information Systems.

Paul Davidson is passionate about his family, his Judaism, his career and FJMC. Growing up in an actively involved Jewish household, Paul went on to teach religious school for more than 20 years. His own education spanned the gamut as he graduated from Brandeis University and later received his doctorate at Brigham Young University. He is a practicing Clinical Psychologist and was recently named Director of the Department of Psychiatry for Boston’s Carney Hospital. He is currently the President of his Brotherhood and serves on the Board of Directors for his congregation. Paul has been committed to spreading the Hearing Men’s Voices program nationally. He is happily married and is the proud father of two teenagers.

Arnold M. Eisen, one of the world’s foremost experts on American Judaism, is the seventh chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary. Since his appointment in 2007, he has increased JTS’s impact on the communities it serves by transforming the education of religious leadership for Conservative Judaism; articulating a new vision for JTS; guiding the formulation of a strategic plan to implement that vision; and developing innovative programs in synagogue arts and practices, adult education, pastoral care, Jewish thought, interreligious dialogue, and the arts. Chancellor Eisen has become a leading voice for Judaism and the “vital religious center” of North America.

Ken Forman has practiced law in North Miami Beach, FL for 29 years. He and his wife live in a home in a suburb of Ft. Lauderdale that seems far too empty since their four daughters have left the nest. Ken spends his spare time figuring out how to pay off four Bat Mitzvahs, four college educations and four weddings.

Aaron Goldberg is the Associate Vice President of the International Division for Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. In this capacity, Aaron is responsible for Hillel’s operations outside the U.S. which is comprised of 50 Hillel’s in 14 countries and on 4 continents. When he is not traveling, Aaron resides in Jerusalem, Israel with is wife and son. Prior to his appointment, Aaron served as the Acting Director of the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC)-a national coalition of over 30 Jewish agencies committed to promoting Israel education and advocacy on campus.

Aren Horowitz is currently the Vice President for Club Programming for the Western Region of the FJMC and past president of his synagogue’s Men’s Club. He has served as Youth Committee chairman for two different synagogues, helping to run vibrant programs. Aren’s favorite Jewish topics are Torah, liturgy and the process of supporting the mourner. He has run a Learner’s Minyan, taught Torah and Haftarah reading skills and been an active member of a Chevra Kadisha. Aren is a software consultant and lives in Albuquerque, NM with his wife and four children.

Noah Horowitz lives in Sharon, MA which was the closest he could come to living in Israel without yet making the leap. He is the eastern half of the Horowitz contingent. In many ways, he still is the “Me too” to his older brother Aren, since much of what he passionately believes in Judaically is exactly the same. By being actively involved in the synagogue, Youth organizations, local charities and lifelong seeker, he hopes to prove Einstein’s axiom, “setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means.” He is married to an equally active spouse and is extremely proud of his son, recently elected to the New England Region USY Executive Board and envious that said soon will be “Wheeling” across America with USY.

Stu Kaplan was instrumental in reforming the Men’s Club at Congregation Beth Sholom in Teaneck, NJ in the late 80s and connecting it with FJMC. Since that time he has been a Vice President and President of the synagogue and after finishing those terms became President of his club for two terms.  He is an FJMC club and regional consultant, and was on the FJMC Keruv committee at its formation. He has participated in many FJMC training sessions and has conducted FJMC workshops for regions, clubs and at conventions. Stu was President of the NNJR from 2004-2006. Professionally, he was a mainframe computer programmer and analyst and consultant is on the verge of retirement. He has three adult children and three grandsons. He and wife Rochelle, having celebrated their silver anniversary ten years ago, live in Teaneck, NJ

Jeff Kolodney is a Pediatrician in Norwood and Franklin, Massachusetts.

A recent Bar Mitzvah, Josh Nathanson is 13 years old.  In addition to being a serious student, specializing in mathematics, he is an avid bodybuilder and swimmer, as well as a red/black belt in kung fu.

Martin Paley is a committed Jew blessed with a loving wife and two daughters. He lives in West Newton, MA and is willing to help anybody going through a similar experience detailed in his Mentschen article.

Alex Romano works in the motion picture industry doing visual effects and editing and is currently doing the final digital editing/assembly of many of today’s biggest feature films. His favorite work is with movies that have real meaning and redeeming social values. He lives in the suburbs north of Los Angeles with his wife of 28+ years and two beautiful daughters. As a member of Temple Aliyah, he is President of the Men’s Club.

Gene Sacks has been deeply involved in all things Jewish from childhood. While President of his River Edge, NJ synagogue youth group, he organized three years of Hamentachen sales, raising sufficient funds to donate a Torah to Temple Shalom. His only claim to fame was running against, and losing to, Steve Roberts (Cokie’s husband) for Treasurer of JFTY. Steve went on to Harvard, then to an illustrious career as a journalist and TV commentator while Gene went to Rutgers, then to Med School and surgical residency. He retired in Nashville after a career in General Surgery. Along the way, he was President of his Sammy Chapter at Rutgers, Chazzan at Temple Israel in Staunton, VA, President of West End Synagogue in Nashville, President of WES Men’s Club, founding member of Anshei Darom (SE) Region of FJMC and one of the founders and President of Ramah Darom. He has served on numerous boards, most recently the FJMC Foundation for Jewish Life, and has been an FJMC National Keruv consultant. He and his wife, Ruthi, of 43 years, gave up raising Emus on their Brentwood, TN farm to devote more time to their golf game. They have a daughter and three wonderful grandchildren.

Charles Savenor serves as the Director of Kehilla Enrichment for United Synagogue. He lives in New York with his wife, Julie, and two boys, Joseph and Benjamin. He writes a blog on fatherhood at www.familyinorbit.com.

Charles Simon is Executive Director of FJMC. He is also the author of “Building a Successful Volunteer Culture: Finding Meaning in Service in the Jewish Community” published by Jewish Lights Publishing.

Art Spar is a marketing executive who pioneered the development of the on-line consumer communities used by business planners in the fashion industry. His consumer panels were used by Wal-Mart, Levi-Strauss, Gap, Liz Claiborne, JC Penney, Sears, Target, Hanesbrands, Macy’s and others to understand customers and discover opportunities for growth. Art also launched and edited a monthly on-line magazine, Fashion Trends, for the apparel industry. Art has served as a Men’s Club President, synagogue President, FJMC regional Vice President, FJMC Keruv consultant, FJMC representative to the JTS Chancellor search committee, and he co-chaired a Keruv commission for the Leadership Council of Conservative Judaism.

Morey Waltuck was born and raised in Rochester, NY and graduated from the University of Rochester. He was a Vice President of a medical company and has had a career developing ophthalmic and other scientific instruments. Twenty-five years ago, Morey was the fourth President of his Brotherhood. He was Chairman of the Brotherhood auction for many years and is always active in Brotherhood activities. Morey belongs to a group of friends that have challenged each other with puzzles for many years. Morey lives in Foxboro, MA with his wife Mary. The two have traveled to every continent except Australia. Don’t ask them about their trip to Antarctica unless you have an hour to spare!