Committees

Beth El strives to provide diverse programming and services for all of our congregants, and we couldn’t do it without help from our dedicated volunteers. Below is a list of our committees and their chairs. Feel free to contact them if you have questions or want to learn about volunteer opportunities. If the chair does not have an email link, please send your inquiry to Larry. 

  • BESTT – Joel Rich 
    Setting policy and advising the Education Director for Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah 

  • Building & Grounds – Ron Epstein
    Monitor synagogue maintenance and upkeep, make recommendations for improvements/repairs, and identify long-range capital needs.

  • By Laws – Jon Jabenis
    Reviews and recommend changes to the bylaws as needed.

  • Caring Committee – Diane Shandell
    Extend special assistance to those individuals/families who find they need some additional assistance from time to time. Click the link above to learn more.

  • Cemetery Committee – Sharon Brodkey
    Arrange for adequate care and upkeep of the synagogue cemetery, including maintaining financial operation, maps, records and long-term planning.

  • College Outreach – Sheri Abramson
    Maintain contact with Beth El college students and assemble holiday care packages.

  • Community High School – Mark Kelln/Lisa Lieb/Roni Palmon
    Set policy, advise the school director, and represent the best interest of Beth El, as well as providing regular updates and bringing up significant policy issues to the BESTT Committee and Beth El Board of Trustees. 

  • Dues Review/ Collection – Jon Jabenis
    Review dues requests, make recommendations for dues categories, adjustments, and increases, and collect delinquent dues.

  • Fund Raising – Marilyn Tipp
    Oversee and coordinate all major fund raising activities, explore possibilities for increasing income, recruit volunteers to lead fundraising efforts, set annual fundraising goals and activities.

  • Heksher Tzedek – Janie Murow
    Keep up to date on the Heksher Tzedek movement and achievements in treating workers fairly, and keep the congregation educated and aware of the work of the USCJ Heksher Tzedek commission.

  • Kitchen – Ben Shapiro
    Ensure that the kitchen maintains required standards of cleanliness, sanitation, safety and Kashrut. 

  • Legacy/Planned Giving – Allan Noddle
    Identify members who have the capacity for major support of Beth El, solicit special donations for long term financial giving, promote planned giving, and work with major donors to structure their gifts.

  • Marketing – Joel Rich
    Brainstorm activities, events and publications that position Beth El positively with current and prospective members, and within the local Omaha Jewish and non-Jewish community.

  • Membership – Lloyd Roitstein
    Welcome newcomers and non-affiliated members of the community and acquaint them with various aspects of the synagogue, deliver new member welcome baskets, develop new ideas for the first year of membership, and encourage congregants to bring new or prospective members to synagogue events.

  • Open Arms Initiative (interfaith)- Margo Riekes/Joanie Jacobson
    Grow the role of interfaith families at Beth El, match “Mentoring Families” to interfaith couples who request them, and offer periodic workshops/classes geared to the needs of interfaith families.

  • Patron Members – Bruce Friedlander/Patty Nogg
    Create a marketing/recruitment tool to explain benefits of patron membership, plan thank you events for patron members, and identify and contact congregants who are potential patron candidates.

  • Religious Life – Glen Fineman
    Ensure that the religious nature of the congregation is a priority and recommend steps to heighten commitment, and provide education about Jewish worship, synagogue religious practices, and the Conservative approach.

  • Retention – Linda Saltzman
    Maintain programs to encourage personal participation by all members to foster a feeling of belonging to the Beth El Synagogue family, seek ways to involve inactive members, and develop programs to integrate new synagogue members into the congregation.

  • Scholarship – Shane Kotok
    Set policy and disburse Jewish Service Grants to Beth El students to attend approved Jewish summer camps or Israel experiences, determine allocations and program parameters, and support fundraising efforts.

  • Social Action – Ruth Margalit/Jeff Kirshenbaum
    Initiate programs that respond to humanitarian issues and causes, and initiate and plan social action and community service programs.

  • Strategic Planning – Lloyd Roitstein
    Work with synagogue professionals and board members to determine Beth El’s long-term goals and identify a course of action towards meeting these goals.  

  • Young Adults – Caryn Scheer/Mark Kelln
    Implement programs and events for congregants community members in the 21-40 year old age group. Develop and maintain a database of this demographic, engage in ongoing communications integrate them into different areas of synagogue life.

  • Youth Commission - Sally Zipursky 
    Oversee the operation of USY and Kadima, setting direction, establishing policy, and ensuring that the youth group is funded, staffed and supported.

In addition to the above areas, there are often other volunteer opportunities. Click here if you would like more information about volunteering for Adult Education, Greeting, Baking/Cooking or House (helping with synagogue decor, etc).