Har Shalom would not be "a wonderful place to be Jewish" without our volunteer committees. Each committee plays a vital role, whether focusing on youth or seniors, fun or finances, learning or playing, with all committees welcoming new members and new ideas. Please consider joining one of our committees and taking on a more active role within our congregational family. For more information, call the Har Shalom main number, 301-299-7087, and then the extension listed with each of the committees, or be in direct contact with the chairpersons listed. If no extension number is listed, please dial the main number and then "0" for the Main Office and ask how you may be in touch.
Accessibility: Ext. 606 (Joyce Lipman)
The Accessibility Committee works to assure that Har Shalom is accessible, in the broadest meaning of the word, to everyone. The committee began by surveying congregants to learn what we are doing right and where we need to make changes to meet needs.
Adult Education: Ext. 315 (Yvonne Paretzky)
The Adult Education Committee works to provide formal and informal Jewish learning opportunities for a broad spectrum of learners. Its tasks include creating courses and programs, special programs such as Scholar's Weekends and other special lectures, co-sponsoring programs with other committees, preparing the fall and spring course brochures and recommending adult educational directions for the synagogue.
Bar / Bat Mitzvah: (Donald Hurwitz): Ext. 307
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Committee works to meet the needs of our B’nai Mitzvah children and their families as they approach this important simcha. This includes working with the Rabbis and Hazzan to prepare children and their families. The committee also oversees the Rabbi’s and Hazzan’s Awards programs.
Budget: (Ken Paretzky): Ext. 313
The Budget Committee is charged with preparing the Budget and meets throughout the year to evaluate the congregation's budgetary needs.
Communications: Ext. 306 (Sheila Moldover)
The Communications Committee seeks to enhance communication within the congregation and to the general public, using the website, listserve, Tablet newsletter, paid advertising and press releases. Committee members advise other committees on publicity needs, such as fliers and press releases. The committee is working on a new member brochure and a member handbook and would welcome new members.
DEN (Dynamic Empty Nesters) (Jeff Cohen)
A new program of the Membership Outreach Committee, DEN is for members with college-age or 20s children to make new social connections with other Har Shalom members. Recent programs include a wine and cheese social and a visit to historic Annapolis for a Chesapeake Bay cruise on the schooner "Woodwind." No dues; all are welcome. Contact us for more information.
Development: Ext. 322
The Development Committee generates endowment and bequest policies. It keeps members informed as to how their donations are being used, and it identifies endowments or funds for people interested in continued giving.
Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC): Parent Committee is Ext. 323, Steering Committee is Ext. 324 (Cindy Fishman Silverman)
There are two committees associated with Early Childhood Education. The Parent Committee is comprised of parents whose children attend the Nursery School. The committee meets monthly to discuss fundraising, special events and programming. The Steering Committee consists of Har Shalom member parents whose children attend the Nursery School. This committee addresses policy issues and acts as a bridge between the ECEC and the larger Har Shalom community.
Financial Oversight: (Mark Strassman)
The Financial Oversight Committee is responsible for the long term fiscal health of the Congregation. As part of this responsibility, the committee makes recommendations regarding financial systems, and accounting and budgetary issues.
Fine Arts: (Stuart Taylor): Ext. 329
The Fine Arts Committee works closely with the House Committee to make decisions on synagogue beautification initiatives inside our building.
Gemilut Hasadim: Ext. 314 (Sonia Beekman)
Gemilut Hasadim means Acts of Loving Kindness. The Committee works to encourage and to create opportunities for congregants to help those in need within our community, both within our Har Shalom community and reaching out to the larger community. Throughout the year, the committee offers many opportunities to help others who are less fortunate. The committee welcomes new members and new ideas. We want everyone to get involved and help others.
Hevra Kadisha: (Temmy Meyer)
This Committee helps families deal with burial practices, the funeral and with shiva. The family is contacted by the committee as soon as we learn of the death. Members of the committee sit in the home during the funeral and attend the service if it is held at Har Shalom. The committee arranges for the meal of condolence, delivers prayers books, kippot and mourners’ chairs to the shiva house and arranges for minyan leaders. The committee is in the process of expanding its duties to perform tahara (ritual preparation of the body) and shomrim (sitting with the body).
High Holy Days: Ext. 424 (Marvin Becker)
The central mission of the High Holy Day Committee is to meet the needs of congregants in preparation for and management of the Yom Tovim services. The Committee works year-round with clergy and professional staff to facilitate the running of the various services, ticketing, parking and babysitting. The Committee also develops the High Holy Day guide and reservation form, distributes honors, addresses logistics and in general seeks way to facilitate a positive meaningful High Holy Days experience for all.
House Operations: Ext. 308 (Mark Cantor)
The House Committee maintains and oversees the upkeep of the interior and exterior of the Har Shalom buildings as well as the Trail Ridge property.
Investment:
The Investment Committee reviews, evaluates, and recommends goals and objectives for investments. It also makes recommendations to the Board regarding types of investment vehicles for funds, endowments and reserves.
Membership Outreach: Ext. 320 (Joe Kromash)
The central goal of the Membership Outreach committee is to facilitate links between congregants and the synagogue. The committee seeks to identify specific constituencies within our membership and provide opportunities for involvement within Har Shalom. We have programs for empty nesters, young families and young couples and are looking at program possibilities for our young adult members. Through member input, the committee is developing plans for addressing other constituencies and special interests.
New Member: Ext. 319 (Larry Spott)
The New Member Committee is tasked with bringing in new members to the synagogue as well as welcoming these new members during the first year of their membership. Its goal is two-fold: reaching out to the Jewish community to invite prospective members to join the synagogue and experience the warmth of the Har Shalom family, and, after these individuals have become members, welcoming them to the Har Shalom community with the personal touch of welcome baskets, special Shabbat dinners, social events, New Member Shabbat events, and other ways to help them feel more connected to the congregation.
Ombudsperson: Ext. 304 (Vic Cohen)
This board member responds confidentially to congregant concerns that, in the view of the congregant, have not previously been responded to in a satisfactory way, and provides assistance to staff, lay leadership and the congregant in achieving a satisfactory resolution.
Personnel: Ext. 330
The Personnel Committee develops synagogue staff personnel policies, facilitates reviews of senior staff, and periodically reviews employee benefits options.
Policy / By-Laws Revision:
The Policy/Bylaws Revision Committee is responsible for developing policy recommendations to be presented to the Congregation Board, maintaining an updated Policy Manual based on appropriate recording of Board decisions regarding policy, and reviewing and proposing changes to synagogue bylaws.
Program: Ext. 321 (Steve Steinborn)
The Program Committee is responsible for planning and overseeing special events at Har Shalom. Some examples are: Hanukkah Happening, Volunteer Recognition and Installation of Officers.
Religious Activities: Ext. 325 (Owen Ritter)
The Religious Activities Committee (RAC) focuses on enhancing the spirituality of Har Shalom members’ involvement with the synagogue, during both religious services and other times. In addition to working with our Senior Rabbi as he makes halachic decisions for our congregation, the committee sponsors Shabbat dinners and other activities intended to nurture our congregation’s religious needs.
School Board: (Andy Lieber)
The School Board meets monthly with the Department of Education to work towards fulfilling its mission: “The Har Shalom School Board will act as advocates for the students and parents of our congregation and school. We will ensure quality Jewish education in accordance with the philosophy of Congregation Har Shalom for all of our children. The Board will set policies for the school, support our professional staff, oversee and support the Director, lobby for the school budget, and identify and address school-wide issues.” We value your input. If you are interested in joining, please contact us.
Sharing Our Blessings: (Dan Hodin) Ext. 327
Sharing Our Blessings is an opportunity for those who have been blessed with the financial means to become stewards of the congregation - to help Har Shalom make up the difference between actual costs and the money brought in by dues and tuition. Committee members run the annual Sharing our Blessings campaign, plan informational events and develop “thank you” social events for those congregants who join the Sharing our Blessings program.
Tikkun Olam: Ext. 317 (Marilyn Kresky Wolff)
The committee’s mission is to provide congregants with information about, and opportunities to support, programs that help repair and heal our world. The committee has advocated for social justice in Darfur by spearheading participation in the Save Darfur Coalition rally and visits to embassies. We are also a member of the AtOne network of area synagogues, which advocates for affordable housing in the local area. At the first Tikkun Olam Shabbat, held in Sept. 2006, Dr. Eric Schockman, President of Mazon, addressed the issue of world hunger. We also plan to increase the environmental awareness of our community. We welcome new members to our growing and evolving committee.
Ways and Means: Ext. 318 (Valerie Gordon)
The Ways and Means Committee has the responsibility of raising money for the normal operating funds for the synagogue in a fun and family-friendly manner. Last year we held a goods and services auction. This year, there are many different ideas for fundraising being discussed including a major entertainment event in collaboration with another nearby synagogue.
World Jewry: Ext. 311 (Leon Weintraub)
The World Jewry Committee devotes its efforts toward enhancing our members’ appreciation of the activities and needs of Jews in Israel and throughout the world. The committee emphasizes educating the congregation about our connection with the Masorti movement (the Conservative Judaism movement in Israel) as well as providing opportunities for teaching skills needed to advocate for the State of Israel.
Young Families and Couples Group (Aimee Segal): Ext. 335
Our Young Families and Couples Group helps busy families and couples make connections with other young Har Shalom families and couples. Activities have included picnics, barbecues, dessert evenings, and a wine-tasting, with plans for apple picking and other social activities, some for families and some just for adults. Activities are open to non-members and to our ECEC families. No dues, all are welcome. Contact us for more information.
Youth Commission: (Paul Lewis)
The Youth Commission focuses on connecting and integrating youth into the Har Shalom community and throughout the region. Its goal is to help our youth develop their Jewish identity in an informal, peer environment with meaningful Jewish experiences outside of the formal educational environment. The Youth Program consists of 5 age groups, each focusing on a different stage of Jewish identity: Gesher (K-2), Klub Kef (3rd-5th), Kadima (6th-8th), USY( 9th – 12th) and College. The Youth Director, Advisors, Parent Liaisons and Youth Commission work together to ensure that fun, creative and developmentally appropriate programs meet the needs of all our children. The Commission meets frequently to discuss and develop programming that enhances our youth’s experiences.
