The Committees at Temple Avodah is what makes our Temple run. If you are interested in joining any of the Committees, click on the Chair/Co-Chair name below if an email is included, or, simple contact the Temple Office and leave a message and a Committee Chair will return your call.
The Committees of Temple Avodah
As you can see, there are a variety of Committees that help our Temple function. Committee members and Chairs are all volunteers who work together to keep Temple a dynamic and productive place. Most Committees meet on average of once a month, and require just a few hours of your time. If you are interested in joining any of the Committees listed -- or even if you just want to attend a meeting and see what it is all about -- please contact the Chairperson listed or call the Temple office at 516.766.6809 and leave a message for the Committee Chairperson. This is your Temple, and we welcome your participation!
Adult Education Committee
Adult Education Committee 2011-2012 Co-Chairs: Rochelle Sanchez and Sima Matthes
The Adult Education's Committee promotes life-long Jewish learning. This is accomplished through an exciting mix of classes, events and workshops that provide knowledge and inspiration for the members of our Reform Jewish Community. Classic Rabbinic texts and contemporary topics are taught by our Rabbi, Cantor and Education Director, as well as by outstanding authorities in various fields.
Offerings include Hebrew instruction and Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation for adults, Shabbat Torah study, Bible study classes and a Yiddish Discussion Club. We also have lectures by prominent speakers and authors and a Scholar in Residence program.
The Landscape Committee is a division of the Beautification Committee dedicated to the care of the Temple landscape. Our job is to maintain and enhance our gardens. We raise funds through contributions and very early each spring and (money permitting) each autumn, our committee meets to discuss how we can best use the collected monies to beautify our gardens. A professional landscaper then meets with us to make our plans “take root”.
We also meet periodically for weeding and general garden cleanup events. The Temple Youth Group sometimes joins us for these activities.
We always welcome new people with new ideas and new energies. Please email us and join us!
Budget and Finance Committee
Budget and Finance Committee 2011-2012 Chair: Robert Harwood
Building and Grounds Committee
Building and Grounds Committee 2011-2012 Co-Chairs: Dennis Herman and Larry Lieberman
Caring Committee
Caring Committee 2011-2012 Chair: Debbie Lebowitz
The Temple Avodah Caring Committee is involved in helping members of the Temple during times of need. Our purpose is to provide assistance if you need a ride to the doctor, if you wish visitors when you are ill at home or in the hospital, and to aid you in case of a death in the family. We send cards when we know someone is not well and offer assistance when we can. We ask that you let our committee know, or of course let Rabbi Goren know if we can be of any help. We are constantly looking for new ideas and encourage your input and participation. Please click here for more information.
Catering Committee
Catering Committee 2011-2012 Chair: Philip Perlmutter
Cemetery Committee
Cemetery Committee 2011-2012 Contacts: Al Levenberg and Rob Keilson
This committee administers the rules and regulations governing the Temple's cemetery properties; to sell parcels of such property in accordance with the rules and regulations as promulgated by the Temple's Board of Trustees.
Central Hebrew High School (CHHS Board Representatives) Committee
Central Hebrew High School (CHHS Board Representatives) Committee 2011-2012 Chair: David Lande and Lisa Goldberg, Representative
Donations and Cards Committee (All Fund Donations)
Donations and Cards Committee (All Fund Donations) 2011-2012: Contacts: Rita Henick and Ellyn Katz
For information about Temple Donations and Funds, click here.
Historical and Archive Committee
Historical and Archive Committee 2011-2012 Chair: Ed Fried
This committee is responsible for the Temple's insurance program.
Interfaith Committee
Interfaith Committee 2011-2012 Chair: Paul Engel
With over 60 interfaith families, Temple Avodah stands out as a congregation of inclusion, warmth, and a true desire to have every member participate.
Our interfaith committee exists to assist you in any way we can. It is important that both Jewish and non-Jewish members feel comfortable in our house of worship and we are happy to provide thoughts, guidance, advice, answers, or just someone to talk with.
Whether you are a current member or a family considering membership in Temple Avodah, please reach out to us through the office, or email Tom Wieder by clicking on his name above. We will set a time to speak with you, answer any question you might have, meet you at services, introduce you to other interfaith families, or anything else that might cross your mind.
Leadership Development Committee
Leadership Development Committee 2011-2012 Chair: Linda Howard
Legal Committee
Legal Committee 2011-2012 Chair: Gil Balanoff
Library Committee
Library Committee 2011-2012 Chair: Bob Epstein
Library (Children's) - Amanda Rose Kanowitz Children's Library Committee
Amanda Rose Kanowitz Children's Library 2011-2012 Co-Chairs: Arlene Fromewick and Norma Harwood
Marketing Committee
Marketing Committee 2011-2012 Co-Chairs: Linda Engel and Richard Ginsburg Meetings: the first Thursday of the month at 7:30pm
Membership Committee
Membership Committee 2011-2012 Co-Chairs: Anita Hoine and Maxine Dattner
The Membership Committee works to inform prospective, new members and current members about Temple Avodah, so that all aware of the many wonderful fun, creative family events that are held at Temple throughout the year. We work closely with all of the Temple's committees, the Temple's arms, Religious School, Rabbi and Cantor, to spread the word about the very best that Temple Avodah has to offer to the community. We are always interested in suggestions and comments, ideas and thoughts, about what you look for from your Temple, and how we can fulfill those needs. We welcome you to come to our committee meetings, which meet once monthly. Please email if you would like to share an idea, or if you would like to come to a meeting and see what we are all about.
Music and Choir Committee
Music and Choir Committee 2011-2012 Chair: David Kirsh; Choir Chair: Connie Axelson
This committee deals with all the musical issues at Temple Avodah and is involved with the Cantor, the Organist, special concerts, musical equipment and similar issues. It is the interface between the Committee of the Choir and the Temple Board. It is frequently involved with the Religious Services Committee. Meetings are held monthly.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Religious School Committee 2011-2012 Co-Chairs: Rona Gura and Robert Keilson
The goal of the Religious School and Bar/Bar Mitzvah Committees is to ensure an adequate foundation in the formal Jewish education of the youth of our Temple including the preparations needed for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation and ultimately their graduation from our Hebrew High School program at the end of 12th grade. Our dedicated committee members work closely with the clergy and Religious school staff to establish goals, guidelines and policies, to maintain our reputation as one of the best Religious Schools on Long Island from Kindergarten through 12th grade.
Religious Services and High Holidays Committee
Religious Services and High Holidays Committee 2011-2012 Co-Chairs: Phyllis Carbone and Ellyn Katz High Holiday Subcommittee 2011-2012 Chair: Gil Balanoff
Security Committee
Security Committee 2011-2012 Chair: Dennis Herman
Sixtieth Anniversary Committee
Sixtieth Anniversary Committee 2011-2012 Chairs: Maxine Dattner, Rita Henick, Linda HowardTemple Avodah celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2011-2012! Many wonderful programs and events will be held!
Social Action Committee
Social Action Committee 2011-2012 Co-Chairs: Bob Epstein and Ira Katz
Social Action The foundation of Judaism consists of three principles: Torah (study), Avodah (prayer) and G'milut chasadim (righteousness). These three pillars are intertwined. Social justice and social action grow out of and lead into study and prayer.
Social action may take a variety of forms: Serving the less fortunate in our community; Contributing resources to a world-wide, national or local relief effort; Advocating for causes which reflect our Jewish tradition, by contacting local or national legislative leaders; Educating our congregation about current issues and events that call for us to respond based on our tenets of Judaism.
We have joined with other local congregations and the Interfaith Council in a project called Family Promise, where we help host homeless families one week at a time. Volunteers are always welcome, and Temple Avodah helps one day of each hosting week. The Family Promise information can be found at www.familypromise.org and more information on this specific project can be obtained by contacting our Temple Office and leaving a message for this social action committee.
Temple Avodah's involvement in social action includes: Holding an annual Mitzvah Day, when our congregants participate in many activities aimed at helping people in our community; Sending a group of congregants who volunteer their time to work at a local hospital on Christmas Day; Providing congregants to assist at a local soup kitchen on a weekly basis; Sponsoring community blood drives; Collecting food at Passover and Yom Kippur for distribution to local food banks; Donating money that is collected in our sanctuary Tzedakah box to local families in need and to human resource organizations that serve the community; Participating in the Oceanside Interfaith Council, an organization that promotes communication and joint community projects, such as preparing and serving Thanksgiving lunch to over 400 people in our area who are less fortunate and in need of company; Informing congregants about current public policy issues which are concerns of the Reform Jewish community.
We encourage participation from the entire congregation in all of our activities. We welcome suggestions and ideas that would enhance our Temple's mission to fulfill the mitzvot of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and k'hilat tzedek (creating a community of justice). Our committee is always seeking new members as well.
Strategic Planning Committee
Future Planning Committee 2011-2012 Chair: Gil Balanoff
This committee exists to develop ideas for long term planning of unlimited scope. Each idea presented by congregants, clergy, committee members or staff members is open for complete discussion. Once the ideas have been developed into appropriate proposed action plans those recommendations are presented to the Board of Trustees for approval. If approved the committee will engage the appropriate committees to implement the approved plans.
The committee has and continues to meet with representatives of other congregations to utilize the combined talents, strengths and resources of each of the temples for joint programs and events as well as joint religious services and celebrations.
Ways and Means Committee 2011-2012 Co-Chairs: Mindy Goldsmith and Seth Dorfler
Ways and Means is the committee charged with raising funds to help our temple grow. We have fun while hosting many exciting events which bring Temple members together. Our annual Purim raffle features great prizes such as TVs, entertainment systems, trips and tickets to Broadway shows. We have also hosted successful art auctions, dinner cruises, film festivals and defensive driving classes. We are always looking for members with new and innovative ideas to join our team. Please email us, and include "Temple Avodah Ways & Means" in the subject of your email.
The mission of the website committee is to create recommendations to the Temple and Executive board on the design and content strategy of the Temple Avodah website (www.avodah.org) and to check content to be posted for compliance with Board resolutions, historical precedent and common sense. The committee operates primarily by email. The committee includes the Temple Webmaster, individual Pagemasters and interested members of the Board and the congregation. Contact Barry Howard for more information.
If you are interested in learning web design (using the URJ template) and joining the Pagemaster team, contact Barry Howard. Many Temple members are part of this team, watching over a single or multiple pages. Its fun and serves the Temple well. For a full list of Pagemasters, click here.
Yiskor Memorial Committee
Yiskor Memorial Committee 2011-2012 Co-Chairs: Arlene Fromewick and Phyllis Carbone
Our Committee handles all Youth Group matters. The Youth group is open to all children from 4th through 12th grade. We are part of the NFTY and our members participate in the Kallah's and other NFTY events including Social Action Day.
Our youth lounge is a comfortable and safe place for the children to interact and socialize with their peers. Under the leadership of our dynamic youth advisor, the children have age appropriate and fun activities. They also have a youth activity at least once per month after youth group and a trip several times per year. In the past the children have gone bowling, ice skating, and to Amusement locations.
The junior youth group (grades 4-8) meets every wednesday beginning at 4:30.
Our senior youth group (grades 9-12) meets every other wednesday beginning at 6:30
All are welcome to join our dynamic Committee and help make a difference for our Temple Youth.
