Temple B'nai Brith offers a variety of
religious services and programs, all organized by volunteer
committees. Below are descriptions of the various committees and what
they do.
All participants in the Temple community (not
just members) are welcome to attend any committee meeting without
obligation. Committee chairs serve on the Board of Directors. The
Board meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:30 pm. Board
meetings are open to any member of the congregation
Education Committee
The Education Committee is open to anyone interested in issues
affecting children. This committee is in charge of the
Children's
School. The committee also plans and organizes services, youth
programming, adult education programs for parents, and celebrations
that coincide with the school year.
Ritual Committee
The Ritual Committee addresses questions of policy and practice
concerning the collective religious life of the congregation, and
presents recommendations to the Board of Directors and the
congregation as a whole. The committee also organizes Shabbat and
holiday observances at the shul. The committee generally meets once a
month.
Program Committee
The Program Committee plans cultural, educational and social events,
including the annual Chanukah klezmer dance. Highlights have included
adult education, family storytelling, Israeli dancing, and a lecture
on the history of Jewish Boston. To help plan more programs like
these, please attend one of our monthly meetings.
Building Committee
The Building Committee plans and organizes the care and maintenance of
our beautiful, historic Temple. The committee holds several clean-up
and repair days during the year. Members plan long- and short-range
projects, meet and work with architects and contractors, and make
recommendations to the Board about work on the building.
Social Action Committee
The Social Action Committee tries to involve our community in
tikkun olam
(repairing the world). The committee has organized such
events as an annual dance to benefit a shelter for battered women;
brunch discussions on matters of local, national and global political
interest; and movie nights.
Cemetery Committee
The Cemetery Committee is responsible for the administration of the
congregation's cemetery in Peabody. This includes record-keeping,
selling plots, supervising the maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery,
and sponsorship of the yearly High Holiday memorial service.
Fundraising Committee
The Fundraising Committee has been reactivated to address raising funds
in general for TBB. Although some temporary committees may be formed
to address larger one-time, large-scale projects such as "Windows and Walls,"
the Fundraising Committee will entertain a variety of short-term projects
such as the 2003 fundraiser centered around TBB's Centennial Celebration.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee
is responsible for overseeing the finances of the congregation. This
includes preparing the budget for Board approval, monitoring expenses
and income, managing the investment of the reserve fund, and generally
supporting the Board in any way that requires financial input. Meets
three or four times a year.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee is charged with building a vibrant energized
community from the sea of diversity in the shul. We encourage members
new and old to Judaism, those emphasizing Judaism as a religion and
those more inclined to Judaism as an ethnic group, those with children
and those without, to explore and participate in the wide range of
activities at B'nai Brith.
