JCM Hosts a Day of Golf on Par with the Pros

INWOOD, NY [CHI] — “We don’t usually have kosher hotdogs here!” exclaimed Ira Weinstein yesterday, dressed in his finest golf attire. Indeed, although Weinstein, President of Reds Pools and Patios, plays at the Inwood Country Club often, yesterday’s game of golf took on an unexpected form.

The Jewish Children’s Museum’s welcomed over a hundred businessmen and friends for their Premiere Golf Celebration, a day of serious golf, abundant food, and prizes.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

With the forecast predicting an 80 percent chance of rain, all the Rabbis were counting on some divine intervention. At around ten in the morning, the event’s official advent, they had reason to be optimistic when the clouds began to part.

Just in time for brunch, the group arrived at the Club’s entrance hall, and received a JCM gift package, including a JCM golf jacket, hat, gift certificates, and more. With the knowledge that their game of golf was directly supporting an extraordinary cause, all attendees were in a giving mood, as many purchased tickets for the JCM Raffle, which boasted impressive prizes from an iPod to a cruise for two.

For JCM Executive Director Rabbi Yerachmiel Benjaminson, his excitement was, well, a little different. He wasn’t afraid to admit his lack of golf experience when he exclaimed, “I’m learning how to play golf today!”

But before anyone hit the green, a magnificent brunch drew the players into the ballroom. “What would you like in your omelet, sir?” greeted a woman frying eggs. Blintzes, French toast, fruits, cheeses, an assortment of pastries, and – of course – bagels and lox were all on display for the taking. “With all this food, who wants to play golf?” one attendee joked.

But the real fun began on the driving range.

When the organizer of the outing, JCM’s Mendel Spalter, took his chance and hit a mediocre shot, he turned to Michael Goldberg, a silver dinner sponsor, and said, “Not bad for a Rabbi, eh?” Ed Schlussel, who had been watching Spalter’s showcase, decided to poke fun at the young Rabbi. “Stick to your day job!” he joked, and Spalter couldn’t help but laugh.

Meanwhile, the conversation between Rabbis and businessmen turned to prayer, cholent (a traditional Jewish Sabbath food), and synagogue. When everyone was ready to get into their carts and hit the course, the Inwood Club starter went over the day’s game plan – the two closest four holes get a playoff – and said, “Enjoy the green and the camaraderie,” and pointing to the heavens, added, “and G-d’s blessing that there’s no rain.”

The groups were off, as the day took a serious and competitive tone. But throughout the playing, all eyes were on the goal in a different regard. After his ball landed five feet from the flare, Steve Lasser, a guest of an honoree said, “Today, I’m supporting a great cause.”

A food station at the course’s center was constantly barbequing hot dogs and hamburgers, frying chicken, and providing a space for players to unwind, socialize, and refresh. One player joked, “This is a Jewish event. There should be food at every hole!”

Perhaps a highlight for many attendees was the image of Rabbis flying around in carts, handing out beers.

After five hours on the course, the players returned to the club house just as excited as when they started out. They were delighted to receive printed and framed pictures of their golfing group in action.

Drinks and sushi at the club’s bar provided the perfect setting to share the day’s wins and losses, and meet and greet new friends. For those who wanted to join in the evening prayer, the Rabbis held a quick prayer service while the sun set on the course outside.

After an hour of music, drinks, and laughter, the ballroom doors opened. A fancy feast of salads, fish, steak, and more food than the eye could behold led the players to their seats. Sam Stern, a friend of the Museum and the dinner’s MC, opened the evening by asking the Rabbis, “What Bracha (blessing) did you guys make to get such perfect weather today?!” He then announced the golf tournament winners, as tables erupted in applause.

Rabbi Benjaminson wittily began his speech by joking, “Man, am I tired…and, no, not from playing golf! I was on a golf cart all day!” He then went on to compare golf to the Jewish Children’s Museum, both sharing the necessity for an intense focus on the goal to achieve true success. He thanked all the players for being vital supporters in providing an open place for people of all backgrounds to come learn about Judaism.

Alan Green, the event chairman, addressed the group by holding up his just-received picture. “It looks like we had a great time…and a lot of franks!” Green became more serious as he explained how his involvement in the event was previously beyond his imagination, until JCM’s Mendel Spalter had met him and insisted on bringing him Matzah for Pesach. “With Chabad,” said Green, “before you know what’s happening, they get you involved in doing good things.”

A video presentation and the announcement of raffle winners closed the evening. As they headed out, many players approached the JCM Rabbis, sharing jokes and words of thanks. “This was an absolutely memorable day,” one player told Rabbi Benjaminson.

Weinstein approached Rabbi Benjaminson to shake his hand and tell him, “I want you to know, I’ve been a member of this club for five years now, and this is the first day I was actually proud to be here.”