We encourage our congregants to become involved members of our committees, whose roles and responsibilities are described below.
Arza
Chair: To be Announced
The mission of the ARZA Committee is to support the work of ARZA/World Union, North America. ARZA, our parent organization, helps to further the development of Progressive Judaism in Israel and throughout the world. It promotes and sustains a vibrant Reform community in Israel where it supports a growing network of Reform institutions including the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), creates educational programs, subsidizes Israeli kindergartens and grade school classes and supports a vast array of community outreach programs for native Israelis and new immigrants.
ARZA also helps Jews in the former Soviet Union. It supports the development of Progressive Russian Jewish communities, including more than fifty congregations and chavurot, summer camps, educational seminars, and Russian language publications.
Annual membership in ARZA affirms our commitment to the values and ideals of Progressive Judaism throughout the world.
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Building
Chairs: Steve Pollack and Mark Reiss
The Building Committee supervises and updates the parsonage, and the congregation's buildings and grounds. Its members advise the Board of Trustees with respect to the acquisition, construction, alteration, and renovation of the congregation's property.
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Caring Community
Co-Chairs: Judy Race and Barbara Prins
The Caring Community Committee is a multifaceted program of in-reach services for our congregational family. Among the projects sponsored by this committee are: Y Dine Alone dinners; care visits; bereavement support; care rides; oral history project; intergenerational project; workshop series; and crisis intervention.
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Catering
Chair: Nancy Pollack and Joanne Haiby
The Catering Committee oversees, evaluates, and promotes the caterer for social functions and life cycle events. It also negotiates the terms of the catering contract.
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Cemetery
Chair: Ronald B. Norris
The Cemetery Committee directs and supervises the care and maintenance of the cemetery properties owned by the congregation.
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College
Chair: Barbara Liebman
The aim of the College Committee is to maintain a connection with the college students of Central Synagogue. We provide greetings and gift packages for Chanukah, Purim and Passover, and look for opportunities to provide relevant information and literature such as opportunites for students to participate in Kesher either on their college campus or in national activities. See the Union for Reform Judaism's website for more information. Parents of college students are encouraged to join this committee.
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Life Long Learning
Chair: Noah Levine
The Life Long Leaning Committee is responsible for developing, publicizing, and presenting programs of Jewish interest for the adults of the congregation, including monthly Sunday morning breakfasts. The rabbi usually leads the Sunday morning programs but guest lecturers and congregants also may serve as presenters. Adult b'nai mitzvah classes, which run over a two-year cycle, are offered at intervals. Hebrew classes in a variety of formats are also part of the continuing education program. The Hebrew classes are led by paid professional teachers, and require registration, fees, and ongoing regular attendance. The Life Long Leaning Committee encourages attendance at the rabbi's Shabbat Torah study and Tuesday lunchtime Talmud study. The committee works with other local synagogues to promote joint educational efforts.
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Education
Chair: Nancy Slavin and Glenn Corwin
The Education Committee is comprised of volunteers with some educational experience, the synagogue president, a faculty liaison, the rabbi, and the religious school director. We are responsible for reviewing, implementing, and revising policies and procedures regarding the development of literate Jews. The committee discusses the planning and implementation of family education and intergenerational programs, faculty hiring and development, the school budget, student registration, the school calendar, and report card distribution. The committee also reviews the scheduling of family Shabbat services, conclaves, and special educational events. In addition, the use of our resource room in meeting the needs of special students is an ongoing process. Communication with the Board of Trustees and congregation helps maintain a supportive atmosphere within the synagogue.
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Endowment
Chair: Jack Schwartz
A subcommittee of Finance and Budget, the Endowment Committee oversees investments in the Endowment fund and encourages members of the congregation to participate in planned giving to ensure the future of Central Synagogue. It also makes recommendations for interest expenditures to the Board of Trustees.
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Finance and Budget
Chair: Paul Umansky
The Finance and Budget Committee projects the synagogue's annual income and expenses, and makes quarterly reports to the Board of Trustees for approval. It reviews the financial needs of the congregation, and oversees and recommends investments. The Finance Committee also suggests ways to raise funds in order to meet the requirements of the congregation. Three subcommittees fall under Finance: Kol Nidre, Fundraising, and Endowment.
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Fundraising
Chair: Paul Umansky
This committee oversees and develops creative fundraising projects. It is a subcommittee of Finance and Budget.
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George B. Lieberman Endowed Lecture Series
Chair: Jane Brody and Devid Nemschoff
The group is responsible for organizing Lectures and educational seminars through an Endowment fund. This is a subcommittee of the Continuing Education Committee.
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Information Technology (IT)
Chair: Charles Drucker
This committee assists with everything Information Technology (IT) related at Central. The activities range from the upgrade and maintenance of our website (centralsy.org), to education enhancement projects, such as networking the Resource Room computers, to general support of the automation and electronic distribution of its communications. It is a subcommittee of the Membership Committee. Click here for a list of achievements and future projects.
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Jacob's Ladder
Chair: Joe Ida
Jacob's Ladder Committee members recommend and/or set policy in the nursery school, they review activities, and supervise the nursery school director.
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Kol Nidre
Chairs: Paul Umansky, Gordon Stern and Scott Layne
The Kol Nidre Committee solicits and reviews Kol Nidre pledges. It is a subcommittee of Finance and Budget.
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Legal
Chair: James Gelman
The Law Committee advises the officers and Board of Trustees with respect to legal issues, contractual obligations, and other matters that may affect the congregation or its interests.
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Library
Chair: Cathy Kent and Dot Feit
This small but active committee works hard toward building and maintaining our library's wonderful and growing collection of books, DVDs, and magazines. We create and enforce policy, choose items for the collection, organize our materials, and assist the librarian. Come join us in our exciting endeavor to make the library a central part of synagogue life.
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Marketing
Chairs: To Be Announced
The Marketing Committee publicizes synagogue events and activities within the congregation and community, in addition to creating marketing materials and special campaigns for recruiting new members.
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Membership & Membership Retention
Chair: David Nemschoff
Hillel taught: "Do not separate yourself from the community. . ." (Pirke Avot 2:5). We are reminded by Hillel's words that we have an obligation to be part of a community. The Membership Committee of Central Synagogue of Nassau County is committed to that sacred obligation, and strives to:
- increase our membership by seeking out the unaffiliated, integrating them into our community and inspiring them to experience a sense of belonging
- welcome new members and ensure that they have a positive experience by keeping in touch and encouraging their involvement in our temple life
- contact our former members to explore the possibility of rejoining
- ensure membership retention. Our Committee members are committed to spreading our message of "belonging" by reaching out to all congregants so that they may find at Central Synagogue a lifelong place that connects them to their Jewish Faith.
The Membership Committee has 2 subcommittees: the Information Technology (IT) and the Publicity Committees.
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Outreach
Chairs: To be Announced
The Outreach Committee welcomes the non-Jewish partners of members, and creates programs to educate the congregation about outreach issues.
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Publicity
Chair: Cathy Kent
The Publicity Committee coordinates the flow of information through many local outlets, including local papers (The Herald, The Jewish Press, etc.), mailers, and other forms of communications. Its goal is to promote Central through these vehicles. It is a subcommittee of Membership.
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Ritual
Chair: Neil Hixon Email to: ritual@centralsy.org
The Ritual Committee works closely with the clergy to recommend worship innovations and changes, and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding worship practices.
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Social Action
Chair: Rachel DeVito and Sheryl Brustein
The mission of Central Synagogue’s Social Action Committee is tikkun olam, repairing the world. The Committee works toward this goal through a balance of direct help to people in need, education of and inspiration for our congregational community, and advocacy for social justice, guided by the principles and values of Reform Judaism. We work on our mission by:
- direct service that benefits those in need on an immediate basis
- advocacy to affect change in laws and social policy to promote a just society
- work on local and national environmental issues and to promote economic development in poor communities
- synagogue-wide and community events to engage the congregation of Central, as well as the larger community, in Social Action.
We welcome congregants' participation on the committee and in our social action activities.
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Strategic Planning
Chair: To be Announced
The Strategic Planning Committee develops, coordinates, and evaluates programs for the future of the synagogue.
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Usher
Chair: Buddy Meyer
The Usher Committee has the responsibility of providing safety and decorum at all services. It is made up of a group of congregants ranging in age from teenagers to seniors; in synagogue membership from new members to long-standing members, entire families and singles. An usher usually serves once during the High Holy Days, two Friday evenings, and two Saturday mornings between September and June. Being an usher avails all congregants the opportunity to serve Central Synagogue and, at the same time, to make new friends.
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Youth
Chair: Susanna Isaacson
The purpose of the Youth Committee is to promote social, spiritual, cultural, and educational activities of the young people of the congregation. It acts as a liaison between the youth programs and the Board of Trustees, and supervises the youth advisor.
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