COMMITTEES MAKE OUR CONGREGATION WORK
B’nai Sholom’s programs and activities are planned and facilitated by many committees of congregants. Most of our committees are eager to welcome new members. We encourage all our congregants to participate in the efforts and activities of our committees. If you would like to, feel free to contact the committee chair about joining, sitting in on a meeting, or about participating in its activities (consult the directory for the phone number or email address or call the office). Most committees also have email distribution lists that allow committee members to share information outside of committee meetings. Through the email lists, you can be an active participant in a committee even if you cannot attend meetings.
What follows is a brief description of all of our current committees and their contact information.
Board of Trustees board@bnaisholom.albany.ny.us
Barbara Devore, President president@bnaisholom.albany.ny.us
Our Board meets the first Tuesday of the month, unless deferred by a holiday. Management and administration of the affairs, revenues, and property of the Congregation are vested in the Board, whose meetings are open to all the members of the Congregation. See our by-laws for more detail.
Administration Committee administration@bnaisholom.albany.ny.us
Libby Liebschutz, chair libbyliebschutz@gmail.com
The BSRC Administration and Personnel Committee is a standing committee that develops and recommends policies to the BSRC Board and oversees their administration to ensure clarity of purpose, equity of application, and fair and ethical treatment of its employees and in the conduct of its business.
Adult Education
Barney Horowitz, chair blh28@cornell.edu
Believing that “learning-learning-learning: that is the secret of Jewish survival” (Ahad Haam) and “the advancement of learning is the highest commandment” (Maimonides), the Adult Education Committee will endeavor to facilitate, coordinate and create educational programming for the B’nai Sholom community.
We will continue our weekly TORAH STUDY. The weekly Torah portion or other text will be discussed. No knowledge of Hebrew is needed or pre-supposed. Open to all, no reservations, no fees. Every Shabbat morning 9:30-11:00. Once monthly, we enjoy “extended Torah study” 9:30 – Noon with bagels, coffee and….
Bulletin Committee
Christine Blackman, chair office@bnaisholom.albany.ny.us
Our monthly bulletin is our primary means of communicating with the congregation. If you’d like to help lay out, produce, distribute, or otherwise create this important publication, please join us! And if you have a contribution for a specific bulletin, here are the submission deadlines for the coming year:
| Bulletin Date | Last Submission Date |
| December | November 8, 2017 |
| January | December 13, 2017 |
| February | January 10, 2018 |
| March | February 14, 2018 |
| April | March 14, 2018 |
| July | June 13, 2018 |
| August | July 11, 2018 |
| September | August 8, 2018 |
| October | Septemer 12, 2018 |
| November | October 10, 2018 |
| December | November 14, 2018 |
| January | December 12, 2018 |
| February | January 9, 2019 |
| March | February 13, 2019 |
| April | March 13, 2019 |
| May | April 10, 2019 |
| June | May 8, 2019 |
Caring Community
Terry Royne, Chair troyne49@gmail.com
B’nai Sholom’s Caring Community exists to help our congregants in times of crisis. Because unusual stresses, illness, or bereavement can strike at any time, it is important to know that we have people on whom we can depend. The Caring Community program has available, before the need arises, people willing and able to help. As new needs develop, the Caring Community will make every effort to meet them.
Congregants may need help and support when someone is sick or home-bound, a new baby arrives, someone is bereaved, there is an accident, tragedy, or other trauma. Meals can be made available when needed.
To request assistance, congregants simply call the synagogue office, the rabbi, or a member of the Caring Community Steering Committee. Allowing the Caring Community to give assistance provides its volunteers to opportunity to perform a mitzvah.
KIT (Keep In Touch), a project of the Caring Community
We would like to Keep In Touch with our young adults who are away from home at college, in military service, etc. Please e-mail or call with current addresses.
Cemetery Committee
Bill Schwartz taberdar@aol.com
B’nai Sholom’s cemetery is a picturesque and peaceful dedicated section of the Elmwood Hill Cemetery in Troy, New York. The Cemetery Committee coordinates cemetery activity, defines procedures and serves as a point of contact between synagogue members, area funeral directors, monument companies and cemetery staff. For information and to see pictures of the cemetery or to purchase a cemetery privilege, please contact the office.
Communications Committee
Chair: Ben Marvin bamarvin4574@gmail.com
Finance Committee
Joan Savitt, Finance VP and chair jnsavitt@yahoo.com
The Finance Committee monitors congregational income and expenses throughout the year and prepares the annual budget for consideration by the Board.
Fundraising Committee
Lois Gordon rgordon1@nycap.rr.com
The Fundraising Committee contributes to the synagogue’s budget by developing and implementing creative, practical, and interesting activities and events. Along with some tried and true annual activities, there are always new ideas presented and carried out. A traditional event is the sale of the Entertainment Book. There have been family activities, such as the Game Night and our Annual Concert. This year we will once again have our Purim baskets fundraiser and the Goods and Services Auction is every other year (even years). The committee is always looking for new members.
Historian
Bettina Stoller, chair bfstoller@gmail.com
If you’d like to help with this effort, contact Bettina!
Hospitality Committee
Linda Strohl lstrohl3772@gmail.com
Want to host an Oneg Shabbat? Call Linda (785-3772). Click here for Oneg Guidelines
House Committee
Phil Teumim, Chair teumim@aol.com
The house committee works to maintain and improve the synagogue’s physical facilities, inside and outside.
Judaica Shop
(looking for a chair!)
The Judaica Shop offers to the members of the B’nai Sholom family a variety of ritual objects and other Jewish-theme items. We do this to encourage hiddur mitzvah (the beautification of the performance of mitzvot) and reinforce Jewish identity. Congregants may purchase items on display whenever the Temple Office is open. Other hours will be posted in our bulletin.
Legacy Campaign
chair, Mimi Bruce mbrucemd53@gmail.com
A committee of 6 people whose mission is to educate and encourage congregants concerning the value of providing for the future of B’nai Sholom through planned giving
Library Committee
(looking for a chair!)
The Library Committee is a group of B’nai Sholom congregants that sets policy for, oversees and manages the Library and its collection to stimulate interest in, and ensure access to, a vibrant collection of Judaic resources for the membership and the Jewish community.
B’nai Sholom’s Library is available to congregants whenever the building is open. Most, but not all materials circulate. Please be sure to sign out all circulating materials. Please return all materials promptly.
Membership Committee
Marti Teumim, mteumim@gmail.com
The Membership Committee develops programs to encourage unaffiliated members of the Jewish community to get to know how B’nai Sholom can meet their spiritual needs. The Committee also sponsors a series of special events for current members, to help them get to know other congregants, to celebrate life cycle events, and to assist them with spiritual, emotional, and practical support.
Typical events planned throughout the year include:
- Rosh Hashanah luncheons
- New Member Shabbat followed by a pot luck dinner
- Longevity Shabbat (for families with 18 years of membership)
- Volunteer Shabbat
- Graduating Senior Shabbat
The Committee welcomes new members, especially those with young children and those who are empty nesters!
Member Events Committee
Bettina Stoller, chair bfstoller@gmail.com
Nominating Committee
Jodi Kerper, chair jodi_kerper@yahoo.com
The Nominating Committee presents candidates for officer and trustee positions to the congregation and Board for consideration and election. The Nominating Committee’s composition and mandate is described in our bylaws.
Religious School Committee
Mark Silverbush, chair msilver6@nycap.rr.com
The Religious School Committee advocates, sets policy for, and supports the congregation’s religious school. It is the committee’s goal to ensure an education program that provides students with knowledge and understanding of Jewish history, tradition, values, and practices in order to promote Jewish identity, participation in the Jewish community, and a life-long love of learning.
The committee addresses matters that impact the effective running of the religious school including teacher training and support, recruitment and retention of students, communication with parents and ways to enhance students’ engagement in Jewish education beyond their Sunday school classes. This year we will be addressing, among other issues, ways to influence our students to remain active in the religious school after their B’nai Mitzvah, with a focus on fostering that vision throughout their schooling.
Members are welcome to attend committee meetings to voice concerns, present ideas or to become more aware of our issues and process. We meet at 7:30 pm, on the second Thursday of each month.
Ritual Committee
Melissa Putterman-Hoffmann, Chair ghoffma1@nycap.rr.com
The Ritual Committee serves to maintain and enhance the spiritual life of the Congregation. In fulfillment of this goal, the Committee’s efforts include:
- Aiding the Rabbi in formatting services for the festivals,
- In consultation with the Rabbi, proposing policy involving life-cycle events;
- Preparation for festival events e.g. Tu Bishevat and Purim;
- Composing and/or formatting services for special occasions
- Recruitment of lay readers for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Scholarship Committee
Martha Rozett, Chair rozett@albany.edu
The Scholarship Committee is responsible for allocating student scholarships to Jewish overnight camps and summer Israel trips. The committee does not meet regularly, but only as needed to set policy for the scholarships. The committee solicits applications in early January and meets shortly thereafter to distribute available scholarship funds.
New members are welcome!
Social Action Committee
Becky Marvin & Valerie Tabak rmarvin@nycap.rr.com walksing53@aol.com
The Social Action Committee educates the congregation and community about social issues from a Reform Jewish perspective, and provides congregants’ opportunities to be involved in direct action to better our community and the world. Activities include presenting educational materials and programs related to these areas, informing pubic officials about Reform Jewish positions on current issues and legislation, and encouraging congregational engagement in associated activities.
The Social Action Committee has recently focused on:
- Supporting childhood literacy in under-served areas
- Food/Hunger programs (see Soup Kitchen ad)
- Universal Health Care promotion
- Disaster recovery
- Solar cookers
On-going Projects in 2013-2014:
- Social Action Shabbat-May 9, 2014
- Blood Drives- November 24, 2013 and April 27, 2014
- Clothing Drives-usually same day as blood drives
Additional projects are under consideration, however, congregational interest and participation in each project determines our capacity to pursue and support. Monthly meetings are held on the last Tuesday evening of each month.
Technology Committee
(Looking for a chair!) Members: Bruce Goldstein
Mitch Levin
Adam Elias
Ruth Burkowsky
The Technology Committee is a group of BSRC congregants that works on technology systems and tools for use by the BSRC community to more effectively and efficiently use our resources. Included in the Technology Committee’s efforts are management of our internal computing resources including both the hardware and software environments, support of our web pages and email lists, and general consulting for BSRC staff on technical issues.
Youth Committee
Chairs: Joel Bloom (joeldbloom@gmail.com) and Jodi Kerper (jkerper@albany.edu)
This committee serves as program support and policy-making committee for youth group. Our Senior Youth Group, YOBS, serves students in grades 9-12.
Volunteer Activities
Glen Charles, chair Gchar67753@aol.com
Now there is an easy and convenient way to get involved: with the help of our Volunteer Activities Committee! Our mission is to match willing congregants with opportunities to help “fill in the gaps” for other committees, as well as to assist with special projects or activities that arise within the synagogue during the year. Do you have an extra free hour or two every week or month, or would you be willing to be called upon for a one-time task? Have you been thinking about joining a committee, but don’t feel you have enough time to devote? This might be just what you’re looking for. The time commitment need not be large.
And if you’re interested in joining the Volunteer Activities committee to help shepherd this project, please contact Glen.