Committees

Interested in joining a Synagogue Committee?

Volunteering or attending programs and services is a great way to not only help your community, but feel more a part of it. Learn about our many active committees below. Please contact Temple Administrative Director Heather Tomlinson at templeoffice@templeisraelnh.org to learn more and to get involved!

Members: Submit our Community Engagement Questionnaire

 

 

Art Review
Brotherhood
Cemetery
Chesed
Development
Education
Endowment
House
Israel Affairs
Library
Membership
Ritual
Safety & Security
Seacoast Family Promise
Sisterhood
Spring Event
Temple Israel Tours
Tikkun Olam
Art Review

Art Review Team

Selects works of art, installs and provides programming for quarterly displays in Temple public spaces.

Contact: ArtReview@TempleIsraelNH.org

Meetings:

Every 6 – 8 weeks (lunchtime)

Responsibilities:

  • Select artwork to place in public spaces
  • Install the artwork
  • Provide activities related to the works, including artist speakers and hands-on activities
Brotherhood

Brings together the men of the congregation for collegiality, social and charitable causes, and events

Contact: Brotherhood@TempleIsraelNH.org

Membership:

Men who are members of Temple Israel

Meetings:

Monthly between September and May.

Responsibilities:

  • Conduct activities benefitting Temple Israel such as making latkes for Chanukah, Sukkah building, and hosting speaker presentations
  • Organize social activities for Brotherhood members including bagel and lox breakfasts, card nights and guys night out.

 

See the Temple calendar for upcoming events

Cemetery

Cemetery Committee

Oversees three cemetery areas owned by Temple Israel and engages in related activities.

Contact: cemetery@templeisraelnh.org

Meetings:

As needed

Responsibilities:

  • Manage the Temple Israel Cemetery in Portsmouth
  • Manage areas within two additional sites in Dover and Somersworth where Temple Israel congregants are buried
  • Help congregants determine where they want to be buried
  • Assist families with cemetery questions or concerns
  • Prepare Temple Israel sanctuary for funeral services

 

Learn more about Temple Israel cemeteries

Chesed

Chesed Committee

Provides support and assistance to individual Temple Israel members with specific needs at a specific time. Requests come through Temple office.

Contact: Chesed@TempleIsraelNH.org

Meetings:

No regular meetings

Responsibilities:

  • Assist individuals with tasks such as food shopping or giving rides to appointments or temple programs and services
  • Visit individuals in nursing homes or at home
  • Assist with other tasks as needed. Just ask!
Development

Development Committee

Ensures that the Temple achieves financial sustainability through diverse funding approaches. Coordinates with the Endowment Committee.

Contact: Development@TempleIsraelNH.org

Membership:

People with knowledge of Temple Israel, analytical and communication skills, fundraising experience

Meetings:

monthly

Responsibilities:

  • Perform periodic revenue audit
  • Recommend steps to enhance financial stability, revenue growth and income diversity
  • Facilitate annual fundraising activities including Annual Fund campaign
  • Ensure proper tracking of donations and acknowledgement of gifts
  • Report on campaign outcomes
Education

Education Committee

Supports and enhances the religious education and related activities of Temple youth

Contact: VPed@TempleIsraelNH.org

Membership:

Primarily Hebrew School staff members and parents; seeking additional perspectives

Meetings:

monthly, Sunday mornings

Responsibilities:

  • Set policies for Preschool, Hebrew School and Youth programming
  • Perform oversight of Hebrew School curriculum and staff
  • Perform oversight of Preschool curriculum and staff
  • Responsible for social and cultural programming for youth grades K-12 (youth group)

 

Learn more about Temple Israel's Religious School

Endowment

Endowment Committee

Oversees the investment and expenditure of monies from endowment funds.

Contact: Endowment@TempleIsraelNH.org

Meetings:

monthly

Responsibilities:

  • Oversee the Cultural Endowment Fund, Continuing Jewish Education Fund, Institutional Operating Endowment, Dinnerman-Rottenberg Educational Endowment, Legacy Endowment, Deborah Natansohn Endowment and the Winebaum Family Fund
  • Assist those wishing to create new endowment funds
  • Ensure the appropriate expenditure of funds in accordance with donors’ stated intention

 

Learn more or contribute to Temple Israel's Endowment Funds

House

House Committee

Beautifies, modernizes, secures, repairs and maintains Temple Israel’s buildings and grounds.

Contact: VPHouse@TempleIsraelNH.org

Membership:

In addition to full committee members (limited in number), volunteers are needed for specific tasks such as community coordination and expertise in building systems

Meetings:

monthly

Responsibilities:

  • Guide the Temple Board on prioritizing construction projects
  • Oversee Temple building systems including fire/safety, HVAC, plumbing and heating, electrical, and security
  • Coordinate technology infrastructure including audio-visual hardware, wireless internet systems and technology-based programming such as Zoom
  • Ensure proper building cleaning and maintenance, landscaping, parking lot care
  • Schedule and monitor building repairs and improvements including gathering estimates, planning, hiring and supervising contractors
  • Coordinate rental building contract, maintenance and use
  • Collaborate with Arts Review Team
Israel Affairs

Israeli Affairs Committee

Promotes dialogue about Israel and Israeli current events in ways that reflect and respect the diverse perspectives within our congregation while affirming support for the ideals upon which Israel was founded. Offers quality programs, sponsors Israel-themed events and provides education that broadens awareness of Israel’s complexities.

Contact: IsraelAffairs@TempleIsraelNH.org

Meetings:

Six per year

Responsibilities:

  • Develop programs that present a variety of viewpoints on Israeli affairs
  • Promote programming to both Temple and community members
  • Use multiple mediums including film, the performing arts and speakers
Library

Library

The Nancy Mae Shaines Memorial Library is dedicated to supporting the congregation of Temple Israel Portsmouth, its religious school, and the greater Jewish community. As one of the region’s most comprehensive Jewish collections, it is the library’s responsibility to function as an integral part of the fabric of information and learning that is at the heart of Jewish tradition.

Contact: librarian@TempleIsraelNH.org

Meetings:

Bimonthly

Responsibilities:

  • Organize the library collection

  • Reshelve checked out books

  • Update catalogue system

  • Purchase new books

  • Rotate children’s holiday book display

Membership

Membership Committee

Encourages recruitment and fosters retention of Temple members

Contact: Membership@TempleIsraelNH.org

Membership:

TIP members with warm and welcoming personalities, a positive attitude in representing the Temple, and varied interests. Helpful skills include event planning and promotion.

Meetings:

monthly

Responsibilities:

  • Welcome new and prospective TIP members individually and help them connect with other members and activities
  • Plan and sponsor programs to help new, prospective and current members build connections

 

Learn more about membership at Temple Israel

Ritual

Ritual Committee

Sets policy and provides support for Temple Israel’s religious practices.

Contact: VPRitual@TempleIsraelNH.org

Membership:

People with knowledge of Jewish ritual, especially as practiced by the Conservative Movement.

Meetings:

Monthly, with additional meetings as needed. Much of the work of the Ritual Committee takes place in subcommittees, which meet in addition to the monthly meetings of the full committee. Members should expect to serve on subcommittees and/or take on specific responsibilities in order to facilitate the committee’s work. Workload varies but is especially heavy in the months preceding the High Holiday and fall holiday season.

Responsibilities:

  • Work with the rabbi to establish religious/ritual policy and practice, in accordance with the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative Movement
  • Work with the rabbi to plan and execute religious activities and ritual events such as weekly Shabbat services, High Holiday and other holiday services and celebrations
  • Oversee the Cemetery Committee
  • Oversee the Chevra Kadisha Committee
Safety & Security

Safety & Security Committee

Coordinates and oversees building security and congregant safety, including maintaining contact with local police.

Contact: Security@TempleIsraelNH.org

Membership:

Limited; contact us for information

Meetings:

monthly (evenings)

Responsibilities:

  • Ensure congregant safety and physical security
  • Oversee changes to improve building safety
  • Facilitate safety trainings for Temple staff and teachers, including safety protocols, Red Cross and AED
  • Monitor educational opportunities around security and safety
Seacoast Family Promise

Seacoast Family Promise

Partners with Seacoast Family Promise, a regional program providing meals and overnight support for families experiencing homelessness.

Contact: SFP@TempleIsraelNH.org

Responsibilities:

  • Deliver dinners for up to 14 people housed at the Seacoast Family Promise facility in Greenland during six weeks over the course of a year
  • Team captains oversee volunteers who prepare and deliver food

 

Learn more about Seacoast Family Promise

Sisterhood

Sisterhood

Supports and enhances social, educational and religious education and programming for Temple Israel women

Contact: TISisterhood@TempleIsraelNH.org

Membership:

Women who are members of Temple Israel

Meetings:

monthly

Responsibilities:

  • Provide educational activities for Sisterhood members and also for Temple congregants
  • Support activities of Temple Israel such as the Simchat Torah ice cream party
  • Raise funds to assist with Temple activities

 

See the Temple calendar for upcoming events

Spring Event

Spring Event Committee

Committee

Organizes and executes a fun-themed temple fundraiser for adults, usually held in May

Contact: TempleOffice@TempleIsraelNH.org

Meetings:

November kickoff meeting, then monthly from January through May (evenings)

Responsibilities:

  • Choose a fun theme with a fundraising component and a decorating scheme
  • Create a plan and timeline for overall event; work in subcommittees
  • Create and send invitation and track RSVPs
  • Plan music, refreshments, fundraising components (i.e. silent or live auction, raffle baskets, vendor ads)
  • Volunteer during the event and recruit additional volunteers
Temple Israel Tours

Temple Israel Tours

Provides tours of the Temple building to community visitors as needed

Contact: templetours@TempleIsraelNH.org

Responsibilities:

  • Attend training session, usually held in Spring, to learn Temple Israel tour information
  • Conduct an occasional tour of the Temple building based on your schedule. Tours are 30-45 minutes.

 

Learn about Temple Israel's history

Tikkun Olam

Tikkun Olam Committee

The Tikkun Olam Committee is devoted to projects that improve the lives of others in our temple, our local community and beyond. This committee provides education, creates and supports social action projects, social justice initiatives, and projects that support the health of our environment. All of our projects are rooted in the Jewish values of tzedek, justice and righteous action, and gemilut hasadim, acts of loving kindness.

Contact: TikkunOlam@TempleIsraelNH.org

Membership:

Open to all Temple Israel members

Meetings:

monthly

Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate charitable activities to benefit Temple Israel members and Seacoast community members in need
  • Define social justice activities and coordinate response to action as needed
  • Provide education and programming related to social justice issues locally, regionally and nationally