Art Review
Art Review Team
Selects works of art, installs and provides programming for quarterly displays in Temple public spaces.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meetings:
Bimonthly
Responsibilities:
-
Organize the library collection
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Reshelve checked out books
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Update catalogue system
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Purchase new books
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Rotate children’s holiday book display
Membership
Membership Committee
Encourages recruitment and fosters retention of Temple members
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
