Committee Information

The strength of Temple Beth-El exists in the hearts and energies of our members. With this in mind, Temple Beth-El welcomes all congregants to BE Involved in a way that is meaningful and significant to them personally. Temple Beth-El committees seeking members are:

 

Adult Education: Recommend and Plan for Lifelong Learning Programming
Cemetery: Arrange for Care and Maintenance of Temple Beth-El Cemeteries and maintains records on burial location of individuals as well as records of purchases of plots

Chesed/Loving Kindness Committee: Connect with Current Members to Provide Support & Outreach

Chevra Kadisha: Sacred Society that Performs Mitzvah of Preparing Dead for Burial
College Connection: Keep College Students in touch with TBE by executing a program of regular "goodie box" mailings
General Fundraising: Develop Fundraising Concepts and Make Recommendations to Board on Fundraising Initiatives

Fundraising - Perfect Sense: Find and Execute New Ways to Create Revenue from Perfect Sense Program

High Holidays Planning Committee: Assist with supplemental programming and oversight of details associated with High Holidays in conjunction with staff and other TBE committees
House Committee: Oversee Upkeep of Our Spiritual Home As Well As Present New Ideas to Board on Updates & Use of Physical Space
Membership Committee: Oversee Inquiries by and Handle Outreach to Prospective Members
Office Support: Assist Office with Hands On Support (Mailings, Special Projects)
Programming - Adults Only Programming: Social Programming and Activities Specifically for Adults Only (Dinners, Lifelong Learning, Social/Cultural Outings)
Programming - Family Programming: Help TBE Develop Programming of Interest to Our Synagogue Families with Children of All Ages
Programming - Young Adults Programming: Recommend and Develop Programming for College Students, Post Graduates and Young Single Adults
Public Relations/Marketing: Assist Staff and Board with Communications Initiatives & Outreach to Members, Media and Greater Jewish and General Communities

Security Committee: Evaluate facility security & make recommendations for improvements to facility or procedures

Social Action Committee: Involve Congregation in Community Outreach & Ongoing Programs Serving The Greater Birmingham and Jewish Communities

Youth Programming: Assist Staff, Youth Organizations and Board of Ed in Supporting Existing and Creating Additional Programs and Activities

 

Questions or to express your interest to serve on a TBE committee? Contact Arlene Fisher at afisher185@aol.com.

Additional Temple Beth-El Committees

Finance Committee: This committee develops the operating budget and makes recommendations to the executive committee and Board of Directors regarding management and development of the temple’s financial resources. The Finance Committee evaluates expenses and needs and recommends financial policy as necessary.

Personnel Committee: This committee consists of the President of the Board of Directors, the first vice president and the immediate past president; the committee seeks legal professional counsel as deemed appropriate. Some confidential matters may be handled by a narrower group as decided by the President or VP.

Star of David Society: The Star of David Society is a group of temple members who have committed to annual support of Temple Beth-El through a program of voluntary increased giving above the minimum dues level. The Star of David Society is four years old, does not have an internal board or officers, and does not function in the same way as a programming club such as Men’s Club or Sisterhood. The Star of David committee, however, has a chairperson and several members who send letters of appreciation to the members, write letters and personally contact potential new Star of David members, and evaluate the possibilities for increased participation among all synagogue members. The chairperson and committee members act as contacts for congregants who make inquiries about membership. This past year the Star of David Society generated about $200,000 in voluntary giving above minimum dues.

Temple Beth-El Foundation: The Temple Beth-El Foundation was created to protect Temple Beth-El’s financial future through endowment and to enhance ongoing programming through a system of grants. The Foundation holds regular meetings and has its own Board and President, elected every two years. The current president is Barbara Gordon.

Nominating Committee: chaired by the immediate past president, and its members are selected by the chairperson. The committee is charged with developing a slate of officers and board members to present to the membership for voting at the annual meeting.

Ritual: This committee focuses on ritual aspects of synagogue life. A significant function of the ritual committee is to distribute honors at the High Holidays in cooperation with lay and professional leadership.

Board of Education: The Board of Education supervises and supports the operation of the religious school. The PTO (The Parent/Teacher Organization) is a subgroup of the Board of Education, and its function is to provide planning and hands-on support for school programming and activities.

Ramah Scholarship: The Ramah Scholarship Committee gives need-based grants to members of TBE who wish to attend Camp Ramah. Additionally, the function of the committee is to provide publicity to inform the congregation of scholarship availability.

Clubs and Programming Groups

Sisterhood -- Temple Beth-El Sisterhood has its own Executive Committee and Board and elects a representative to the TBE Board of Directors. The Sisterhood welcomes Jewish women, regardless of synagogue affiliation, and voted in recent years to make a category of membership available to non-Jewish spouses of members. The Sisterhood has many well known signature programs within the synagogue, such as Gala and the annual Yizkor Book and the Gift Shop, and contributes significant funds to the school, the youth department for travel subsidies, and to the synagogue. The current Temple Beth-El Sisterhood co-presidents are Ellen Bruck and Loraine Reznik.

Men’s Club -- The Men’s Club of Temple Beth-El has over 150 members, most of whom attend programming regularly. The Men’s Club has its own Executive Committee and is represented on the TBE Board of Directors. Men’s Club membership is available to any male member of TBE who has reached the age of Bar Mitzvah. Major Men’s Club programs include the 5th Grade Tefilin program and World Wide Wrap, the Mother’s Day Breakfast, and the providing of Yom HaShoah candles annually to all synagogue members. The Men’s Club also has a popular annual kickoff sports event each year. The current Men’s Club President is Jacob Halpern.

Youth Commission -- The Youth Commission acts as a support committee and decision-making body for the Youth Director and Youth Department; the Youth Commission reports to the Executive Committee and synagogue Board of Directors. Youth Groups overseen by the youth department are:

  • Chaverim – in its ninth year, Chaverim is for grades 4 and 5
  • Kadima – grades 6-8
  • USY – grades 9-12

The youth department may provide programming outside the scope of the three youth groups to provide programming for teen members of the synagogue regardless whether they maintain membership in one of the youth groups. In recent years, programs such as “Jews and Java” and “Laila Luau” have been geared toward our teen members.