Committees
Temple Emanu-El Committees. Per our by-laws, Temple committees are created by the Board. Temple committees are tasked to help the Board in specific areas where the Board would like broader input and/or additional resources and/or to help facilitate communication between Temple stakeholders. Some standing committees develop policy recommendions for Board consideration on topics of year-round interest (e.g., Membership or Education), or they help by coordinating specific ongoing or annual activities or events (eg, Film Festival, 4th Friday, etc.) The Board may also form (ad hoc) committees to do specific tasks, with these committees disbanding or becoming inactive once the task is completed (eg., Search Committees, Survey Committees, etc.)
The following are the current standing committees that are in operation:
Budget Committee - This committee reforms each Spring to develop the next year's Temple budget which is presented to the congregation at the Annual Meeting. This committee, like all committees, is open to interested participants, but is typically comprised of the President, Treasurer, with additional participation solicited from past Treasurers and Presidents and those members with experience in financial management.
Education Committee - Chair:
This committee's job is to discuss and recommend policies to the Board in regards to the School of Jewish Studies. They also facilitate communication between parents and the school and Board. They also help the Board understand the budget needs and priorities of SJS programs and help raise funds to support these programs. The committee hopes to expand their scope to address the wider needs of Temple youth.
Family Promise Committee - Chair: Jean Trapido-Rosenthal
This committee helps to coordinate the Temple's four one-week long Family Promise rotations per year. These week-long rotations involve housing four to five working homeless families at the Temple and providing morning and evening meals.
Fourth Friday Committee - Chairs: Katie Friedman
This committee plans, coordinates and implements free congregational sit-down Shabbat dinners which are open to the congregation and guests. The dinners are held on the 4th Friday of each month.
Fund Development (TBD) - Facilitator: Barry Langlieb (Treasurer)
This newly formed committee has been tasked to develop plans to help the Temple raise funds to help pay for current operations as well as future projects. Subcommittees are being set up to work on various related subtasks, such as planned giving, naming policies, corporate giving, fund-raising events, etc.
Green Committee - Chair: Karen Kimbrell
The Green Committee seeks to foster environmental awareness, stewardship of creation and the promotion of ecological sustainability by the Temple community. The committee sponsors hikes and nature walks, speakers on environmental topics, and holds periodic recycling drives.
Israel Trip Committee - Chair: Judy Goldman
This committee planned the 2010 Congregational Trip to Israel. This trip took place in October 2010 but it is expected that committee will continue in operation to plan next year's trip.
Jewish Film Festival Committee - Chair: Sue Brown
This committee is responsible for the planning and implementation of the Kirk Cashmere Jewish Film Festival that spans two or three weeks, typically in late winter or early Spring each year, which is now held at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. The committee screens dozens and dozens of films as part of the selection process and besides being a wonderful program is a major fund-raiser for the Temple.
Library Committee - Co-Chairs: Deborah Washofsky, Sally Morgan
This committee maintains and operates the library and makes decisions about which books to accept and acquire.
Membership Committee - Chair: Jackie Foil
The mission of the Membership Committee of Temple Emanu-El is to ensure continuation of the Temple's tradition of being a welcoming community for all who seek to join us.
The goal of the committee is to provide information, communication, and events to encourage prospective members to join our congregation, to host events for new members, and to provide a consistent welcoming presence at Temple services and functions.
The committee sponsors New Members Receptions several times a year, and is currently in the final phase of producing a Temple Membership Directory. The committee is also working to set up a 50th Year subcommittee to plan events and activities that will recognize our Temple's "50 years on the Pali". The committee also staffs a Welcome Table to welcome and sign in guests and members at Temple services and events. The committee typically meets the 3rd Thursday of every month in the Temple Library at 4:30 PM.