Committees
TORAH
Michael Minsberg, V.P. (651) 699-0626, michaelminsberg@hotmail.com
Education
Responsible for overseeing the Shabbat Enrichment program and other formal educational programs for children families and adults at the synagogue.
Chair: Susan Cobin, (651) 644-1508, susan.cobin@gmail.com
K’tanim – Family Education
K’tanim offers programming around the Jewish holidays and other fun activities for families with children ages 2 through 7. K’tanim meets several times per year. Parents are always welcome to attend committee meetings to share in the planning and fun. Programs have included apple picking, movie night, and a tour of a matzah factory.
Youth
The Youth Committee provides an opportunity for parent and volunteer involvement in the Kadima and USY youth groups (grades 7-12).
The Youth Committee meets in the evenings once every other month during the school year, and it supplies support and volunteers for key youth group events throughout the year.
College Outreach
Beth Jacob strives to keep its congregants involved, even when they are away at college or when they are off starting on their own. Members who are 18 to 25 receive holiday packages for Hanukkah, Purim, and Passover. This committee meets at these times to package and send out treats and information to help our young adults feel connected to their home synagogue.
Chair: Lydia Schultz, (651) 690-4168, lydia.a.schultz@att.net
Library/Resource Center
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, with numbering based upon Jewish library categories.
Co-Chairs: John Allison, Rebecca Picard, (651) 227-3011, randj@scc.net
Limud L’Ad – Adult Education
Members of Limud L’Ad organize the annual Smith Family Scholar-in-Residence program, and design a variety of adult education programs throughout the year. Our goal is to foster a learning environment for the congregation.
Chair: vacant
AVODAH – WORSHIP
Bob Perry, V. P. (651) 688-0309, rlperry@mmm.com
Ritual
The ritual committee works with Rabbi Allen 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.
Chair: Eric Pasternack, (651) 994-9793, Outpetro@aol.com
AVODAH – WORK
Alex Tselos, V.P. (651) 330-1766, Alex.Tselos@target.com
Building
Chair: Eric Galatz, (651) 647-1564, eric.galatz@leonard.com
Personnel
Chair: Neil Moses-Zirkes, (651) 365-0654, neilmz@comcast.net
Kitchen
The Kitchen Committee is made up of 10-15 dedicated volunteers who work with Dani Harmati, Kitchen/Catering Manager, to insure that kiddush luncheons on Shabbat and Holidays are prepared and served, allowing our congregation to visit with one another after services while enjoying a delicious meal.
Chair: Mari Forbush, (612) 965-0665, mforbush@jfcsmpls.org
GEMILUT CHASSIADIM — Acts of Loving-kindness
Barbie Levine, V.P. (651) 452-8324, blevine@stpauljcc.org
Cemetery
Sons of Jacob and Son’s of Moses Cemeteries are located at 770 Parkway Drive, St. Paul, and are administered by the Beth Jacob Congregation Cemetery Committee. For information regarding either cemeteries or to purchase burial sites, please contact the shul administrator or the cemetery committee chair.
Chair: Bruce Kessler, (612) 929-7667, bskess@earthlink.net
Chesed
When a member of the congregation loses a loved one, Beth Jacob will work with the family to provide either the Meal of Consolation (the meal served to mourners upon their return from the cemetery) or a meal to be delivered during Shiva.
If you would like to get involved, please contact Sharon Benmaman or Lynn Usem. There are many opportunities for preparing, delivering or serving meals. To make a donation to this wonderful project, send your check to the shul office, noting that it is for the Chesed Fund Grief and Healing Project.
Co-Chairs:
Sharon Benmaman, (651) 552-9111, sbenmaman@gmail.com
Lynn Usem, (651) 455-4011, lynn.usem@gmail.com
Chevra Kadisha
The Chevra Kavod Hamet (community to honor the deceased) is dedicated to honoring the deceased and strengthening the living through a series of Jewish rituals rich in compassion and meaning. Through the Chevra, Beth Jacob volunteers perform 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. Through tahara and s’mira, the Chevra provides support to bereaved families in our synagogue community. The Chevra also provides ongoing education for adults, teens and families on Jewish burial practices. The Chevra Kavod Hamet is comprised of Beth Jacob congregants committed to organizing and participating in this service and responsibility.
Dorothy Day
The Dorothy Day Center provides meals, a food shelf and medical care for homeless and near-homeless people in the Metro area. Beth Jacob Dorothy Day volunteers gather at the Dorothy Day Center on the second Sunday of every month. Beth Jacob purchases food, which the volunteers prepare and serve to about 200 individuals.
Co-Chairs: Ron & Bonnie Weisman; (651) 699-6563, rbw522@msn.com
Social Justice
The Social Justice Committee is the arm of the congregation which advocates for issues of social justice. Currently the Committee is committed to working on the Conservative movement’s Hekhsher Tzedek project aimed at establishing a product symbol for kosher foods which certifies the product has been produced under conditions in accordance with torah teachings, that is favorable to the health and welfare of a company’s workers and the environment.
Co-Chairs:
Pete Magee, (651) 227-4119, magee@umn.edu
Peter Glick, (651) 698-7480, petesw@yahoo.com
LEADERSHIP
Tom Frishberg, V.P. (651) 699-4706, tomf@insitesoft.com
Annual Sustaining Contributions
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. Annual Sustaining Contributions also uphold both the principle and practice of creating no financial barrier to membership. All information is kept completely confidential.
Co-Chairs:
Suzanne Bring, (651) 632-2184, suzanne@jewishcommunityaction.org
Bob Perry, (651) 688-0309, rlperry@mmm.com
Date Book/Roster
Chair: Geoffrey Marshall, (651) 699-0861, geoffm2@comcast.net
Annual Fundraiser:
Co-chairs:
David Honan, (952) 432-3381, david.laurahonan@frontiernet.net
Finance
The Beth Jacob Finance Committee assists the Board of Trustees with oversight responsibilities related to fiscal management of the synagogue. The committee’s key responsibilities include reviewing and recommending an annual operating budget, providing regular review of financial results and reviewing the overall financial status of the congregation.
Chair: Tom Frishberg, (651) 699-4706, tomf@insitesoft.com
Kesher
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.
Co-Chairs:
Rachel Hertel, (651) 292-0130, rah@ubiqx.mn.org
Laurie Radovsky, (651) 699-0861, laurier21@comcast.net
Major Gifts and Endowment
This committee manages the synagogue’s current endowed funds and encourages the expansion of our endowment program.
Co-Chairs:
Darla Kashian, (612) 371-7832; darla.kashian@rbcdain.com
Stuart Bear, (651) 686-4888, sbear@ccesquire.com
Nominations
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.
Chair: Geoffrey Marshall, (651) 699-0861, geoffm2@comcast.net