Temple Committees

Ways and Means

The Ways and Means Committee is committed to raising funds for necessary Congregational purposes that do not include membership dues, building fund fees or other assessments.  Here at Temple Shalom we believe that we can best achieve this goal by sponsoring events, activities and community programs that are relevant to our temple members and community neighbors.

Our committee reaches out to volunteer members of our congregation who have a passion for a particular area (like music events, comedy nights, or movies) or who have expertise in event planning or nonprofit fundraising and asks them to “help us make this fundraiser a real success”.

Contact Stacey Feiss, Committee Co-Chair
Contact Dorothy Lake, Committee Co-Chair

Worship

The Worship Committee works with Rabbi and Cantor to offer lay views on the ways we pray, including how to organize Temple services - when they are offered, to whom they are targeted, what kind of prayer books we use, etc. In addition, the Worship Committee oversees special services, serves as substitute leaders so that our clergy are able to take time off, and help coordinate the High Holy Days and other festivals.
Contact Andrew Goldner, Committee Chair

Education

The Education Committee supports Rabbi Malinger in enhancing our vibrant Religious and Hebrew education for our children.  From the special Family Education programs to coordinating class parents to helping with administrative work and so much more, the Education Committee helps ensure a strong Jewish identity for our youth.

We encourage parents to be involved in this very important committee.

Contact Bernice Yasnowski, Committee Co-Chair
Contact Jennifer Katz, Committee Co-Chair

Social Action

The Social Action Committee leads Temple Shalom’s commitment to “pursuing justice and working together to create a better world” as it is central to who we are as individuals and as a community (Union for Reform Judaism.)

This includes feeding the hungry, helping the disadvantaged, and raising our communal voices against social or economic injustice wherever they occur: in our community, state, nation, or world. Our outreach efforts provide invaluable physical, emotional, intellectual, and ethical sustenance for all involved.

Many of our temple’s activities have made a significant difference in the lives of families in our community. Our recent projects have included:

  • Backpack Buddies weekend food for school children
  • High Holiday Food Drive helping to restock 3 local food pantries
  • Gan Tikvah, our Garden of Hope, maintained together with Temple Beth Ahm, providing fresh vegetables to the Matawan United Methodist Church’s food pantry
  • Mitzvah Day
  • Martin Luther King Joint weekend services with the choirs from Temple Shalom and The New Light Baptist Church
  • Environment justice programs, with food and water works
  • Candidate Night

Furthermore, as we look to the next decade, we have signed a Brit Olam with the Union for Reform Judaism—a covenant for justice for congregations to step into deeper, more systemic social justice work. We plan to actively address inequalities among one or more issue cohorts: racial justice, immigrant rights, women’s reproductive rights, environmental justice, and gun reform.

Your participation is always welcome.  We encourage all temple members to reach out and share your ideas and passions with us. You are invited to attend any or all of the programs to make the world a better place for everyone.

Contact Alberto Barugel, Committee Chair

Membership Engagement

The Membership Engagement Committee is tasked with finding and “engaging” new members into our Temple Shalom community. Our primary job is to maintain and retain our current members.
Contact Dorothy Lake, Committee Chair

Finance

The Finance Committee’s main function is to prepare the Temple Shalom budget. Our main goal is to protect the financial viability of our Temple for future generations. This includes keeping our dues at a reasonable level. The Committee welcomes input from any temple member.
Contact Mike Danzig, Committee Chair

College Contact

The College Contact Committee is tasked with helping Temple Shalom college students keep their Jewish connection strong while they're away from home.
Contact Jen Siek, Committee Chair

Security

The Security Committee manages security issues, upgrades, and enhancements for Temple Shalom.  The purpose of the committee is to create and maintain a secure space for temple members, visitors, guests, and employees.  Since its formation in 2012 the committee has been awarded and managed five state and federal security grants totalling $270,000.  Funds have been used to purchase and install cameras in and around the building, electrical and lighting upgrades in and around the temple, upgrade access control, upgrade alarm systems, purchase and install new interior and exterior doors and locks, upgrade windows by purchase and installation of security laminates, install bollards, and hire security guards for services and special events. Temple members with a security background or interest in security or grant management are welcome to join the committee.
Contact Steve Surowitz, Committee Chair

Caring

The Caring Committee provides programs, support groups, and activities that educate and ease the minds, bodies, and hearts of the temple's membership.  Please see the Caring Corner page if you or someone else need any assistance or support.
Contact Julia Barugel, Committee Co-Chair
Contact Barbara Raffel, Committee Co-Chair

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.