I am not a card player, nor have I played one on TV. But when my son Danny Rubin, the founder of the young men’s Giving Circle (now part of the Campaign division of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater), Nadiv, asked if I would be a dealer for their May 13 Texas Hold Em tournament at the JCC, of course I said yes. Then I wondered whether I could handle it.
Organizers sent me a couple videos to watch, and on the day of the event, all 11 dealers, including other novices, got a tutorial from former UJFT professional Alex Pomerantz, a poker maven who came back from Baltimore as a volunteer to oversee the Tournament.
Thanks to Danny and his enthusiastic fellows, who this night raised money for JCC Summer Camp, all was be-seder (in order). There were plenty of chips (for eating and betting), decks, drinks, and decorations. Thanks mostly to the Federation’s able Amy Zelenka and Alex, every state mandated “i” had been dotted and “t” crossed to assure the games were as kosher as the sliders and pretzels.
Eighty-five “gamblers” from Oyster Point and Ghent to Little Neck and the North End were there, hungry to play, each having and eventually anted up $100 for the opportunity (with early- stage options to add-on another $50 more to continue). They ranged in age from 30 to past 80 (that one a woman who made it to nearly the final round). Most of the competitors though were regulars from their own weekly games, relocating to Corporate Woods Drive for this one evening.
I took Table 7, not knowing who would fill my eight chairs. Thankfully my gamers, though intense, were patient with this rookie dealer, helping me allow the “blind” (google it) to unfold before dealing two cards to each participant, then overseeing a first round of wagering and “burning” a card before the “flop,” placing three face up on the table. More checking, posturing and raising followed before a second burn and eventually my reveal of two more cards, creating a “community” of choices, from which these card sharks would determine their best hand of five from seven, before bulling or bluffing their way to the pot. I watched and waited for each outcome, then readied a shuffled second deck to deal again.
As players flamed out, the tables consolidated, with Alex distributing survivors to open seats, including at my number seven. At last, the big winner of a $500 Amazon gift card, Dalton Gilder, was crowned champion. I was exhausted but thrilled, not just to have helped Danny, Sam Molofsky (Nadiv chair), his other Jewish gents, and the Summer Camp (which gleaned nearly $25,000 in proceeds), but to have been part of what should become an annual happening on the Sandler Family Campus.
The Hebrew meaning of Nadiv is “generosity” – appropriate, since each member donates at least $365 to the UJFT campaign annually “and does so gladly,” says Danny, “because of the many social, athletic, and other activities (like a yearly March Madness Bracket Challenge Pool).”
Texas Hold ‘Em though was their most ambitious undertaking yet, and the community responded, thanks to their love of the game, help from volunteers (including five BBYO’ers) and tolerance of first-time dealers, not yet ready for Rivers but clearly appreciated by the men of Nadiv.
