Board of Trustees and Beth Jacob Committees
Beth Jacob Board of Trustees 2011-2012
Executive Committee
Eric Pasternack and Jeff Skochil, Co-Presidents
president AT beth-jacob DOT org
Introducing Our New Co-Presidents
Bob Perry, V.P. Torah
David Itzkowitz, V.P. Avodah/Work
Joel Goldsmith and Tom Frishberg, V. P. Leadership
Suzanne Bring, Secretary
Tom Frishberg, Treasurer
Louis Newman, Past President
Other Trustees:
Alan Block, Anita Dinerstein, Peter Glick, Fred Haeusler, David Itzkowitz, Rachel Hertel, David Honan & Laura Honan, Darla Kashian, Jan Leichter, Amy Rogovin, Randi Roth, Naften Sadoff, Larry Savett, Laurie Smith, Rosanne Zaidenweber
Honorary Lifetime Member
Bob Perry
Beth Jacob Committees
TORAH
Bob Perry, V. P.
Congregational Learning Committee
Co-chairs: Rosanne Zaidenweber and Anita Dinerstein
Responsible for working with the Director of Congregational Learning to create and sustain a vision of congregational learning, including both formal and informal programs for children, families and adults.
Youth
Co-Chairs: Carol Altshuler, Laura Honan and Liza Allen
The Youth Committee oversees our Kadima and USY youth groups (grades 7-12) and seeks to ensure parent and volunteer involvement in key youth group events throughout the year.
Youth Education
Chair: Jon Bacal
The Youth Education committee seeks to establish a vision of Jewish learning for our young people, from birth to age 18, that encompasses Shabbat Enrichment, youth groups, K’tanim, Family Life Cycle Workshops, B’nai Mitzvah training, formal Jewish learning in schools and informal Jewish learning in a variety of settings.
Shul Link
Chair: Phyllis Gorin
This committee packages and sends out treats and information to help our young adults feel connected to their home synagogue when they are away at college or off starting on their own.
Library/Resource Center
Chair: Lydia Schultz
The Library Committee is responsible for entering new donations into the Beth Jacob library system and maintaining the library in reasonable order. Other than reference books, books may be borrowed and reshelved on an honor system.
AVODAH – WORSHIP
Ritual
Chair:
The ritual committee works with the rabbi to ensure the function of all services (daily, Shabbat and holidays), and the assignment of appropriate people to lead services, read Torah and receive honors. The committee also maintains the ritual items in the synagogue.
AVODAH – WORK
Suzanne Bring, V.P.
Rachel Hertel, V.P.
Building
Chair:
This committee oversees all aspects of Beth Jacob’s building, ensuring that repairs and regular maintenance are handled professionally and in a timely manner.
Personnel
Chair: Neil Moses-Zirkes
This committee works to establish, review and implement personnel procedures and policies for all Beth Jacob staff.
Kitchen
Chair: Mari Forbush
The Kitchen Committee works with the Kitchen/Catering Manager to prepare and serve kiddush luncheons on Shabbat and Holidays.
GEMILUT CHASSADIM — Acts of Loving-kindness
Cemetery
Chair: Michael Volk
Administers the Sons of Jacob and Son’s of Moses Cemeteries. For information regarding either cemetery or to purchase burial sites, please contact the synagogue administrator or the cemetery committee chair.
Chesed
Co-Chairs: Sharon Benmaman and Lynn Usem
Provides the Meal of Consolation (the meal served to mourners upon their return from the cemetery) or a meal to be delivered during Shiva.
Chevra Kadisha
Chair: Elyse Rabinowitz
The Chevra Kavod Hamet (community to honor the deceased) is dedicated to honoring the deceased and strengthening the living by performing the final acts of loving-kindness for members of our synagogue community through the ritual of tahara, the act of washing and dressing of the body, and shmira, the act of sitting with the deceased until the time of burial. The Chevra also provides ongoing education for adults, teens and families on Jewish burial practices.
Dorothy Day
Chair: Leonard Oppenheimer
Provides meals for homeless and near-homeless people in the Metro area, through the Dorothy Day Center on the second Sunday of every month. Beth Jacob purchases food, which the volunteers prepare and serve.
Social Justice
Co-Chairs: Pete Magee and Peter Glick
This committee advocates for issues of social justice, most recently the Conservative movement’s Hekhsher Tzedek project. This initiative aims to establish standards for the production of kosher food that ensure the health and welfare of a company’s workers and the environment. Poverty and the Jewish Response
Inclusion
Co-chairs: Beth Gendler and Sheyna Galyan
This committee works to insure that all programs and aspects of synagogue life are accessible to all members of the congregation. All congregants, irrespective of special needs or life circumstances, are equally valued and their participation in the life of the synagogue community is actively encouraged.
LEADERSHIP
Tom Frishberg, V.P.
Joel Goldsmith, V.P.
Annual Sustaining Contributions
Co-Chairs: Suzanne Bring and Bob Perry
Annual Sustaining Contributions help create a stable financial base for Beth Jacob Congregation and ensure that member households are making appropriate annual financial contributions, consistent with synagogue values of equity and responsibility. Beth Jacob is committed to ensuring that there are no financial barriers to membership. All information is kept completely confidential.
Special Events:
Chair: Joanna Lowinger
This committee is responsible for planning and executing our annual major fundraising event and may also plan other fundraisers throughout the year.
Communications/Marketing
Co-Chairs: Michael Blumfield & Geoff Marshall
This committee works to improve and extend the network of communications among members of the synagogue community, as well as to reach out to those not affiliated with Beth Jacob.
Finance
Chair: Tom Frishberg
This committee is responsible for the fiscal management of the synagogue. The committee’s key responsibilities include reviewing and recommending an annual operating budget, providing regular review of financial results, managing the synagogue’s endowment funds, and reviewing the overall financial status of the congregation.
Kesher
Co-Chairs: Linda Perry and Bill Rubin
The Kesher committee determines how to welcome and retain members. Activities include phone calls and dinner invitations to all new members, an annual “New Member Shabbat,” Shabbat “Entryway Greeters,” and planning to make current members feel more connected to each other and the Beth Jacob community.
Major Gifts and Endowment
Co-Chairs: Darla Kashian and Stuart Bear
This committee works to expand our endowment program.
Nominations
Chair: Louis Newman
Nominations Committee members are appointed by the synagogue president. Committee membership consists of seven members, including three members of the Board of Trustees and four other members of the congregation. The immediate past president chairs the Nominations Committee. The committee meets during the spring to nominate a slate of members for the Board of Trustees and synagogue officers.