Getting Involved

OUR COMMITTEES, GROUPS, and TASK FORCES:

The BHS community has many ways to get involved All members are welcome to participate in our community in many ways. For personal assistance on how to get connected please contact our Operations and Technology Manager. A sample of our engaged committees, groups and task forces include:

Annual Fundraiser Committee
This committee is formed yearly to organize an annual fundraiser supporting our BHS operating budget. To join our committee email our Executive Director.

Membership Committee/Community Team
The Membership Committee/Community Team works to welcome and integrate new members into the BHS Community. They serve as welcome liaison to new members and host several events throughout the year aimed at introducing new members and getting them involved in the synagogue. Events include New Member Shabbats, Getting To Know You Dinners, welcome receptions and more. Contact our Executive Director to get involved.

Ritual Committee
Works together with the Rabbi, offering comments and advice regarding fostering attendance and participation in weekly Friday night Shabbat services, Saturday morning Chavurah service and study sessions, Shabbat morning sanctuary services, High Holiday services, festival services and congregational seders. They examine elements of congregational worship, including worship times, the language of prayer, new ritual forms, music, configuration of the worship space, and how members are greeted when they enter the sanctuary. They oversee the upkeep and maintenance of the Synagogue’s ritual objects, including prayer books, Sifre Torah, silver ornamentation, Tallitot and kippot. To get involved please contact the BHS office for Jeremy Primer’s contact information.

Shelter Committee
The Brooklyn Heights Synagogue Homeless Shelter provides a warm, safe place to sleep, along with a hot meal, for ten men. The Shelter, which is open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights from November through May, is an entirely volunteer effort, coordinated by BHS congregants and supported by members and non-members alike, including other synagogues, schools and community groups. Please see our Shelter page for more information and how to sign up.

Chesed Committee
The purpose is to reach out to congregants in need, to help commemorate the death of loved ones through tree planting in Israel and offering a meal, to congratulate a family on the birth of a baby and offer to send a meal, to visit homebound, to be there for the rabbi if he needs a congregant to support someone in need. Contact Clergy Assistant to join.

Adult Education Committee
Help select and organize adult classes at BHS. To see classes being offered click here. To join please contact adulted@bhsbrooklyn.org.

This group of members consists of current and past Preschool parents. This committee oversees the general operations of the preschool, serves as consultants with of variety of expertise to facilitate the Director’s mission and responsibilities (such as hiring staff, devising budget, legal counsel, “clinical” issues, marketing, etc), advocates for the Preschool within the synagogue community (bridging gap between entities; integrating the preschool into the larger synagogue community; representing preschool on the synagogue board), and critically evaluate the existing preschool functions and generate proposals for changes in accordance with the current and ongoing needs/goals for school. Please contact Pam Karlin.

Religious School Committee
Parents committee for Religious School. Working in partnership with Rabbi Molly G. Kane, Director of Congregational Education, the committee helps develop school policy, reviews curriculum and accomplishments, oversees operation and helps coordinate activities and enrichment programs for the Religious School students. To comment or join please contact the Religious School.

College Outreach Committee
Are responsible for sending Holiday care packages to undergraduate BHS members who are away at college. We send packages for Chanukah, Purim, Passover, and (sometimes) Rosh Hashanah. Members, if you have a child in college that you would like a package sent to or would like to volunteer, please contact our Operations and Technology Manager.

Gift Shop Committee
Open to the public providing Judaica gift and household items for sale in support of our women’s shelter. To assist on the gift shop please contact the BHS Office.

Personnel Committee
Writes, recommends changes and supervises the synagogue’s personnel practice code. They also consult on benefits for the staff.

Nominating Committee
Nominating and Governance Committee. This committee is run by our immediate past president to prepare a slate of nominees to fill board positions that will open up each year.

Cemetery Committee
Cemetery Committee offer assistance to individuals in selecting and purchasing plots in advance of need and in relieving family of the emotional burden often associated with making these arrangements when a death occurs. Currently, the committee is designing a plan to beautify our cemetery grounds with new plantings and an irrigation system. To join committee or to purchase plots please contact our Executive Director.

Book Group
Connects on a monthly basis to read books by Jewish authors or with connection or of interest to Jews. Check our calendar for meetings.

Men’s Group
Our BHS Men’s Group offers a supportive and friendly monthly venue for men to discuss their interests and concerns, to receive feedback when desired, and to collaboratively explore and inquire. Most meetings are initially informed by scheduled topical themes such as, “Our Fathers, Ourselves,” but new ideas and topics may come up at any time. Conversation in the group is less about the sharing of opinions and more about the sharing of experiences. Active and non-judgmental listening is encouraged. Participants come together not to argue, convince, or instruct, but rather to talk in a personal and self-reflective way about issues of interest. New participants are always heartily welcomed. For more information, contact the BHS office for Jeff Gold’s information.

International Refugee Crisis Steering Committee
A concerned group of members have met to strategize about our community’s options and capacity for responding to the International Refugee Crisis. Short-term and longer-term efforts are being considered for recommendations to be made to the synagogue leadership, and a steering committee has been formed. In the meanwhile, per Rabbi Lippe’s Yom Kippur sermon, click here for HIAS’ Guide to the HIAS’ Guide to the Syrian Refugee Crisis and Conflict Resources Guide to learn more about how you can help, where you can donate funds, and where you can volunteer.  Steering Committee Leaders: Barbara Arky, Eugene Goldstein, Susan Leboff, Judy Winn & Lale Odekon

Israel Engagement Committee
The role of the committee is to raise consciousness about the significance of Israel in Jewish Life.  We focus on different aspects of the State of Israel by presenting issues connected to history, politics, multiculturalism and religion, through films, speakers, seminars, etc. This year we are deeply involved in a project from the Shalom Hartman Institute called iEngage. This project addresses the major challenges facing Jewish life for people in Israel and around the world. Interested in joining? Reach out to our Clergy Assistant or call 718-522-2070, ext. 138.