Our Community
How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution. And you can always, always give something. -Anne Frank
Please choose one or more committees where you can make your contribution today! We have committees and groups to suit every interest.
Getting Started
There are many activities to get involved with at Temple Emanu-El. Please review the list of committees below and if you are interested in one then get started by sending an e-mail to Beverly Brown ext. 255 with the committees you'd like to find out more about.
Adult Ed
Provides a wide range of educational programs to the temple community. Programs include guest speaker presentations, scholar-in-residence weekend, Friday night book reviews and regularly scheduled lunchtime and morning classes. Volunteers who are interested in planning and developing programs, or who would like to work to implement existing programs are encouraged to participate.
Caring Committee
Supports members experiencing life cycle events. Volunteers with an interest in supporting our members are encouraged to join the Caring Committees. The subcommittees that make up the Caring Committee are:
Telephone Contact Committee: coordinates with temple to call those who are ill or who have suffered a loss. Volunteers also arrange with caterers to provide platters and let the temple know of specific needs. Members are trained in procedures and in how to communicate with those in stressful situations.
House sitting during funerals: Committee members stay in the home of the bereaved during the funeral and may assist in preparing the house for Shiva. Members are trained in procedures and are typically called upon no more than two or three times a year.
Hospital and Home Visitation: Committee members visit people who are confined to the hospital, nursing home or home. Members are asked to follow up to three people in a year. Training is provided.
Shiva Minyan Leader: Members may be called on to lead a shiva minyan at a mourner's home. Volunteers should be familiar with the liturgy. Training is provided.
Chavurah Committee
Helps to form individual Chavurot and supports ongoing Chavurot. A Chavurah is a small (or not-so-small) group of people that get together on a periodic basis to socialize, attend Temple events and worship services, and to have fun with new friends within the Temple community. If you are interesting in joining a Chavurah - this committee would love to help you become involved.
Chevra Kaddisha Committee
Prepares our loved ones for burial. This special group functions as an important part of the community and provides a priceless support to grieving families. Volunteers are carefully trained. Privacy and discretion are maintained by keeping the members of this committee confidential. Volunteers who are interested in this special mitzvah are encouraged to contact the Chevrah Kaddisha Committee.
College Outreach Committee
Keeps our college-aged children connected with Temple Emanu-El. During the school year this committee sends little Jewish holiday packages to our students. They send out birthday greetings and help the Rabbi keep in touch with our students by e-mail and with campus visits when possible. Do you have a college-aged student - or one who will be soon? There are many ways you could help us keep connected with this special group. The College Outreach committee would love volunteers who can send e-mails, call our members to update student info, contribute ideas and help prepare packages.
Empty Nesters Committee
Empty Nesters who are interested in developing or working on programs and events for this group are encouraged to sign-on!
Facility Utilization Committee
This committee was formed to find ways of utilizing the Temple's new building areas (e.g. classrooms when they are not being used for regular Temple functions) in order to provide additional revenue for Temple Emanu El. Can you generate creative ideas to explore as revenue sources, or can you do some research on ideas that have been presented? If so - your business planning skills would be put to use in a manner that would greatly benefit the Temple. The Facility Utilization Committee would love to hear from you!
Family Religious Education Committee
This committee is designed to develop generations of informed, committed, educated Reform Jews who are knowledgeable of their heritage and proud of their Judaism and values. The committee strives to provide our students with the tools to be active Jewish adults in the future as well as engage them in a way that enriches their present Jewish life. The Family Religious Education Committee has subgroups that focus on Teacher Appreciation, High Holiday Programs, Purim Carnival and Sukkot Retreat. Volunteers who are interested in any aspect of this programming will be welcomed into this vibrant group.
Family Services Committee
Coordinates family services, dinners and activities that are generally held on the first Friday of the month. Any volunteers who are interested in helping with the Family Services events would be appreciated!
Fund Raising Committee
Plans, coordinates and runs one or more major fundraising events each year. Past events include wonderful shows and dinners. Volunteers are needed for all aspects of event planning. This includes soliciting raffle prizes, making phone calls and helping with the logistics of the event. There are roles for everyone - from creative dynamos with lots of time to dedicate, to good set-up crews who can help on the day of the event. All are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Host Committee
Helps create a welcoming environment at temple events. If you can help share your enthusiasm for our synagogue at four Shabbat Services a year - your participation will enhance our community!
Jewish Day School Parents Committee
Develops, plans and implements programs to connect day school students with our congregation. Day school parents who have energy to direct toward this exciting and vital group would be gratefully welcomed.
Library Committee
This committee is currently a work-in-progress! Our beautiful new library is coming together and this committee is formulating its plan for the coming year. If you are interested in making this library a wonderful resource - and in particular, if you are available to help in the library during religious school hours, this committee would love to hear from you!
Mitzvah Money Committee
Works to make this important Temple fundraiser as successful as possible. Congregants purchase Mitzvah Money certificates for supermarkets and restaurants. These can be used for regular purchases or can be given as gifts. Temple Emanu-El earns 10% of these certificates. Volunteers who can help with monthly mailings and with PR would be eagerly welcomed!
Music Committee
Works with the Cantor to develop and maintain our congregational music program. Volunteers with a passion for the beauty music brings to our worship are welcomed!
New Member Hospitality Committee
Welcomes new members to our spiritual home through Shabbat baskets, phone calls, new member Havdallah services, pairing new members with a host family and planning special events for our new members. If you have a bit of 'welcome wagon' to share, and would be willing to assist with the Shabbat baskets, making phone calls or other new membership activities, the New Member Hospitality Committee would love your participation.
Pre-School Committee
This committee is designed to oversee pre-school business including setting and reviewing school policies and procedures, troubleshooting and communicating to pre-school families and establishing a yearly budget. Volunteers who have an interest in the pre-school are encouraged to participate.
Ritual Committee
Works with our Rabbis and Cantors in the conduct of our congregation's religious services. Congregants who can offer their expertise, ideas and efforts are welcome.
Saturday Morning Ushering Committee
Provides head ushers for Saturday morning services when we are celebrating B'nai Mitzvot. The Head Usher supervises and supports the parent volunteers who participate as ushers. Ushers keep our services running smoothly and ensure that the proper decorum is maintained so that we can all enjoy the services. Volunteers on the Ushering Committee provide a unique and important service to our entire congregation. Anyone available on periodic Saturday mornings with an interest in this responsibility would be eagerly welcomed to the committee.
Social Action Committee
Plans, coordinates and implements our social action programs. Temple Emanu-El's social action programs include working to support the Zaban Night Shelter, Project Open Hand, Habitat for Humanity and other community wide social action programs. Volunteers who are interested in helping our temple community make important contributions are encouraged to participate.
Social Hall Marketing Committee
Works to effectively market our new social hall so that it is used to its potential. Volunteers who can contribute to this effort are encouraged to participate.
TEFTY and Jr. TEFTY Parents Committee
Acts as the liaison between the Temple Emanu-El Federated Youth group for high school age children (and middle school children for Jr. TEFTY) and the congregation. If you have a high school or middle school aged child and would like to be involved with this dynamic group of youth, the TEFTY and Jr. TEFTY parents Committee would love to hear from you.
Temple Office Volunteer Committee
Keeps our Temple office running smoothly by answering phone calls and by helping with other office tasks. If are able to donate a 3-hour block either every week, or every-other week to the office, your help would truly be appreciated!
Temple Tots Committee
Works to provide families with infants, toddlers and young pre-school aged children with fun, age-appropriate programs. The committee plans child-friendly Tot Shabbat services as well as holiday themed programs. Volunteers who are interested in helping with these fun programs are welcomed!
Young Families Initiative Committee
Reaches out to families with children from birth through fifth grade, and to adults and couples in their late 20's, 30's and 40's. This committee plans family and adult social programs, events and outings that are specifically geared toward the young families of Temple Emanu-El. The committee plans four events during the year. Volunteers are welcomed to help plan these events.