Committees

Our committees drive our direction and enable us to thrive as a congregation. Share your passion by joining a committee. It will connect you in a meaningful way with the community and open opportunities to get to know your fellow congregants.

Please contact us to learn more or join a committee.

Caring Committee

The Caring Committee assists the clergy in acts of comfort and kindness for the members of the congregation. We seek to make Temple Beth El a place where every congregant can feel supported and thought of in times of need. Our Caring Committee consists of a direct service task force and a steering committee. Let us know about opportunities to serve our congregants, or join us to care for others.
Contact: Eve Siegel, evesiegel@yahoo.com

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee works closely with Temple staff to establish a marketing and communications agenda and to ensure that the messaging from and about Temple Beth El is consistent and effective. The committee offers guidance on content for the Temple Bulletin, website, emails, social media, and more.
Contact: Karin Horler, karinhorler@gmail.com

Congregational Education Committee

We believe that a lifelong thirst for knowledge and critical exploration of topics—biblical or contemporary—helps us to maintain a vital connection to our Judaism and to each other. We aim to involve members of all ages in classes, lectures, discussions, and hands-on workshops.
Contact: Carole Kantor, cjkkantor@gmail.com

Development Committee

The Development Committee sets the vision for and manages the overall fundraising strategy for Temple Beth El.
Contacts: Howard Erlanger, h.erlanger@gmail.com; Barbara Katz, bjflash5@gmail.com
 

Engagement Committee

Temple Beth El welcomes members from varied backgrounds, and strives to educate members of the general community in Judaism and Jewish culture. We provide educational opportunities for learning about Judaism for members of the synagogue and general communities, find new ways to enhance the way that we integrate and retain members of the Temple community, and increase the appreciation for the perpetuation of Jewish life and community. This committee also creates programs and events that build community among the members of Temple Beth El, including our annual congregational retreat as well as many social gatherings and holiday celebrations.
Contacts: Aleeza Hoffert, engage@tbemadison.org
 

House Committee

The House Committee assists the administration in maintaining the building and property of the congregation in good order and repair. Our charge is to maintain the building in good order to keep our congregants safe and comfortable. Our work is everywhere but is largely invisible. If the thought of working with a fun, talented group of people who enjoy making things better while avoiding the limelight makes you smile, please join us, especially if you have technical expertise, such as skills with buildings, architecture, landscaping, electricity, furniture, plumbing, or security.
Contact:Dan Esser, esserdan@gmail.com

Kesher Israel Committee

The mission of this committee is to enhance the commonality of Jewish life between Israel and the Diaspora. We seek to establish and strengthen relationships between members of Temple Beth El and members of Progressive congregations and institutions in Israel.
Learn more about how we create connections with Israel.
Contact: Joanna Berke, jbee199914@aol.com

Madison's Jews' Next Dor

MJND offers a range of social, educational, and networking events for Jewish people in their 20s & 30s in Madison. Recent events include Torah on Tap and Shabbat dinners.  Learn more and find Madison’s Jews’ Next Dor on Facebook.
Contact: The MJND Board, mjndtbe@gmail.com

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee welcomes newcomers to our community, encourages them to get involved, and engages our current members in ongoing activities.
Contact: Leslie de Lange, ldl4281@gmail.com

Men's Club

The Temple Beth El Men’s Club is a group of men of all ages who get together to do mitzvah projects, socialize, connect, and learn together. Our activities include a monthly book club, an annual retreat, sukkah building, and ushering at High Holy Day services.
Contact: Alan Schwartzstein, alsdoc1@gmail.com

Music Committee

The mission of the Music Committee is to enhance the entire congregation’s Temple experience by supporting, assisting, and advising the cantor in providing a wide range of high-quality music at TBE that is spiritually and musically satisfying, meaningful, and accessible to the congregation. This committee is open to anyone with an interest in aspects of Jewish music at TBE, including services, choir, our T’filah Band, youth and congregational song leading, and managing and improving our sound system, as well as special events such as concerts.
Contact: Dale Kaufman, dkaufman56@gmail.com

Personnel Committee

This committee advises the board about present and future personnel needs and recommend policies and procedures governing the terms and conditions of Temple employees.
 

Religious Practices Committee

With the guidance of the rabbi and cantor, the Religious Practices Committee reviews the rituals and observances to enrich Jewish practice. We also work with other appropriate committees to enhance Jewish home rituals.
Contacts: Carl Sinderbrand, csinderbrand@axley.com

Sisterhood (Women of Reform Judaism)

Our Sisterhood welcomes all women in our congregation to join as members, and the entire congregation is invited to Sisterhood programs and events. With Sisterhood, you’ll learn, share, and connect while helping one another and our community. Learn more and join Sisterhood.
Contact: sisterhood@tbemadison.org
 

Social Action Committee

The Social Action Committee organizes programs and projects to engage the congregation in the Jewish mandates of social justice and tikkun olam, making our world a better place. The committee offers opportunities to perform service to the community, as well as education and advocacy on social justice issues. Learn more about our mitzvah activities. 

Contacts: Marcia Vandercook, Marcia.vandercook@gmail.com; Marsha Mansfield, mmansfield2824@gmail.com 

Temple Beth El is a member of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice and Dane Sanctuary Coalition, coalitions  of local faith-based organizations that engage in social justice work as part of their mission. We also work with Jewish Congregations for Social Justice, a collaboration of the social action groups of Temple Beth El, Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, and Beth Israel Center.

Racial Justice Action Team

This team confronts structural racism through education and collaboration with allies addressing legal, economic and educational disparities.

Contacts: Betsy Abramson, betsyabramson@gmail.com; Marsha Mansfield, mmansfield2824@gmail.com.  

Immigrant and Refugee Rights Action Team
This team provides education and advocacy for just and compassionate policies affecting immigrants and refugees, working closely with local partners.

Contacts: Erica Serlin, ericar.serl@gmail.com; Lynn Silverman, lynns3869@gmail.com.   

Environment and Climate Change Action Team

This team works to fulfill the Jewish imperative of tikkun olam by encouraging environmental stewardship and awareness within the congregation and in the community.

Contact: Marta Karlov, mokarlov2@gmail.com. 

Civic Engagement Action Team

This team engages in nonpartisan activities in support of a healthy democracy, including voter registration, protection of voting rights, and civic involvement.

Contacts: Marcia Vandercook, marcia.vandercook@gmail.com; Sue Levy, slevy51@gmail.com. 

Reproductive Rights Action Team 
This team focuses on the need for medically accurate sexuality education, affordable family planning, and high-quality maternal and women’s health care, and collaborates with local organizations on efforts to regain access to safe, legal abortion in Wisconsin.

Contact: Beth Kaplan, bethkaplan@charter.net.

Mitzvah Day 

Each spring, congregants of all ages work on projects to benefit others, typically including cooking, sewing, outdoor cleanup, and a bone marrow drive. This event strengthens us as a community and helps our children see Jewish values in action.

Contacts: Staci Rieder. stacerph@gmail.com; Lynn Renner, lynn.renner4@gmail.com; Linda Reivitz, Lreivitz@wisc.edu.  

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Trust Committee

The Trust Committee is responsible for the oversight of all endowment fund activities.
 

Young Families Committee

The Young Families Committee is a social group for families with children ages 0-5. Activities include challah making, Havdalah PJ Party, break-the-fast, and Tot Shabbat. Join the fun and meet other families in the community!
Contact: Aleeza Hoffert, engage@tbemadison.org
 

Youth Education Committee

Collaborating with the Director of Lifelong Learning and other TBE staff, the
Religious School Committee provides policy support and feedback to help shape the religious education experience at Temple and enable our children to receive the most fulfillment from their religious education.
Contact: Sarah Benn, sbenn@ghcscw.com

Youth Engagement Committee

The Youth Committee offers exciting opportunities for 3–18 year olds to participate in youth groups and events. We believe participating in social activities, social justice, and worship programming with other Jews is the best way to keep our kids engaged and invested in their Judaism and to help improve our world. Learn more about our youth groups. Learn more about our youth groups.
Contact: Kendra Sager, kendra@tbemadison.org