Congregation Or Chadash is a participatory community. We seek your help and invite you to take part in all synagogue activities, whether you are among our youngest or oldest members. Express your interest in participating by submitting the Committee Interest Form.
Our standing committees include:
Education: This committee meets monthly throughout the year, possibly more during planning for the Scholar-in-Residence program. Our responsibilities are to assist religious school staff as needed, assist clergy/staff with adult education decisions and plan a yearly Scholar-in-Residence weekend. A sampling of activities include assiting with registration, obtaining volunteers for weekly snacks, planning a meaningful moving-up ceremony, choosing a scholar for our congregation, and assising the fundraising committee with educational components of fundraisers.
Committee chair: Howard Fern 480.221.5913 or docfern@aol.com
Facilities: The facilities committee is responsible for keeping the physical synagogue in top-notch condition by overseeing services provided by contractors, e.g., cleaning, security, lighting, AC, and heating. In addition, the committee schedules the annual pre-Passover spring cleaning. This committee meets on an as-needed basis.
Committee Chair: Larry Clapick 602.359.3833 or clapick5@cox.net
Finance: This committee meets in May to establish a budget and again in October or November after the Holidays to make any necessary adjustments prior to final Board approval. There may also be other meetings on an as-needed basis to review contracts.
Committee Chair: Adam Remis 623.434.2171 or abrcpa@yahoo.com
Fundraising: The Fundraising Committee is comprised of congregants from various backgrounds – but all with an interest in helping to raise funds for the synagogue. The committee meets monthly to plan and carry out the various activities necessary to make our fundraising events successful. Fundraising activities are varied and include such things as raffles, concerts, dinner dances, holiday boutiques, candy sales, and many more. Fundraising activities are an important contributor to a balanced budget as dues and donations represent only a small portion of the synagogue’s income. All are welcome to participate.
Committee Chair: Allen Friedman 480.391.9190 or awfriedman@cox.net
High Holidays: This committee is responsible for planning and implementing a High Holidays plan including marketing, mailing design and distribution, memorial book, childcare, location, ushers, coordinators, Selichot, Tashlich, Break the Fast community dinner, and Sukkot. Other sub-committees include facility set up and break down, family services and special programming. The committee meets once or twice a month from June through September.
Committee Chair: Frank Lange 602.482.0142 or fslange@aol.com and Allen Silberman 480.990.2675 or asilberman1@cox.net
Holiday Programs: Individual program committees are created for major holiday celebrations. Help Or Chadash in the planning and coordination of events around Hannukkah, Purim, Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot.
Hospitality: The Hospitality Committee prepares for our Friday night Oneg Shabbat and Shabbat morning Kiddush. Typically, three to four volunteers are needed on Friday mornings to help with the preparations. In addition, the committee is responsible for cleanup after the Oneg or Kiddush. The Hospitality Committee leadership does the necessary shopping for regular Onegs and Kiddushes, and a Young Family representative is responsible for the YF Shabbat Dinners. Because the Hospitality Committee is responsible for anything to do with food preparation in the synagogue, we are always in need of additional help.
Committee Chair: Natalie Clapick 602.359.3833 or clapick5@cox.net
Israel: Congregation Or Chadash is a strong participant in the Pro-Israel community. The Israel Committee of the synagogue is involved in many activities such as supporting the continuing education of the community on issues vital to Israel, engaging speakers on various topics of the day, monitoring and responding to anti-Israel activities in conjunction with other community organizations, and even coordinating periodic trips to Israel. Join this committee now to stay informed and support Israel.
Kadima/USY Youth Commission: The Or Chadash Youth Commission develops policy and oversees programming for its Kadima/USY chapters in an effort to create a platform for informal Jewish education for Jewish pre-teens and teens that will lead to a positive and meaningful encounter with Judaism through social activities and social action projects.
Committee Co-chairs: Jennifer Schwarz (JenSchwarz1@gmail.com) and Julie Krell (julieskrell@hotmail.com)
Marketing: This committee is committed to developing and implementing marketing strategies, initiatives and activities to increase awareness of Congregation Or Chadash in order to attract new members and retain existing membership. The committee meets monthly or on an as-needed basis to implement our Marketing Plan.
Committee Chair: Gene Friedman 480.513.9146 or ehfried@aol.com
Membership: This committee meets monthly from April through December and then as needed the rest of the year. Our goals are to welcome new members to our community, while helping current members to feel part of something special. Some activities include Open Houses, New Member Shabbat, and Six-Week Sprint for Membership. Schmoozing is required.
Committee Chair: Alison Feinberg 480.664.9221 or alisonfeinberg@yahoo.com
Ritual: This committee meets monthly throughout the year to coordinate all synagogue services other than High Holiday services. This includes times, content, organization and leadership. Members of the committee also discuss ritual topics such as Kashrut, religious practice and Bar/Bat Mitzvah requirements. The committee reviews proposals, discusses alternatives and makes recommendations to the Rabbi, Cantor and Board of Directors. You don’t need an advanced degree in Judaism to participate, just a willingness to listen, learn and contribute to this dynamic and vital group. Everyone is welcome to stop by and join in. Meetings are the first Monday of the month at 7:00 pm at the synagogue.
Committee Chair: Ariel Trujillo 480.629.4787 or aetrujillo@hotmail.com
Social Action:
– Bikkur Holim – This committee honors one of the most important mitzvot according to Jewish law…visiting and caring for the sick. The committee, along with our clergy, reaches out to our members who are ill and in times of need with phone calls, hospital visits and, if necessary, home visits. The committee also assists the rabbi in maintaining the mishaberach list that is read in synagogue each week. The Bikkur Holim committee does not have regular meetings but does welcome members to help make phone calls, make hospital visits or prepare a meal for our members.
– Tikkum Olam, repairing our world for today and our future. This committee reflects the Jewish values of justice (tzedakah), compassion (hesed), and peace (shalom). Social Action has come to symbolize the quest for social justice, freedom, equality, peace and the restoration of the environment. It is a call to action to repair the world through social action projects and programs. Each act of kindness, no matter how small, helps to build a new world. The committee meets several times a year to identify and select the congregation’s social action programs for the calendar year.
Committee Co-chairs: Linda Moskowitz mousekowitz@me.com and Kari Kinney akasunshine@me.com
Socialights: The Socialites’ goal is for new and existing members to get to know each other in a social setting. An alternative name could be Empty-Nesters since the group ranges in age from late 40’s to early 70’s and beyond. Some of our previous events include wine-tasting, picnics, ball games, Israeli films, scavenger hunts, square dancing, brunches, dinner and a boat ride on Saguaro Lake, several shows and musical events, and a luau.
Committee Chair: Mary Shapiro 480.391.9149 or mary.shapiro@cox.net
Young Adults/Young Family: The focus of this committee is to create activities, excitement and opportunities that combine friendship and Judaism — opportunities to meet and socialize or to come together for a common cause. The Young-Adult group is comprised of members who are 45 and younger. The Young Family group is specifically for those members with young children. The committee is charged with organizing the monthly family events that incorporate holiday celebrations or other aspects of Judaism.
Committee Co-chairs: Toby Fox (tobyfox@cox.net) and Carrie Ward (carriegward@yahoo.com)
