Chesed Committee
Shaarei Tefillah's Chesed Committee strives to provide member families
with aid and support in times of need, including death and bereavement, births,
and Bikur Cholim. More information is available
about the services of the chesed committee.
Communications Committee (Various email addresses, see below)
The communications committee is responsible for the publication of our monthly
newsletter. Submissions can be emailed to news@shaarei.org.
The committee also maintains this website. The email address for website-related
issues is webmaster@shaarei.org.
The shul also has set up an active listserv for those members with email.
Currently, the vast majority of the membership subscribes to this list. For
information on subscribing to the listserv, please contact HREF="mailto:listmaster@shaarei.org">listmaster@shaarei.org.
Education Committee
(Email: education@shaarei.org)
Shaarei Tefillah's Education Committee plans Talmud Torah initiatives
for our shul. Guest speakers, scholars-in-residence, symposia, college shabbatonim,
as well as occasional and ongoing shiurim (given by both Rabbi
Samuels and members of the Congregation) are coordinated by this important
committee. We take seriously the challenge of meeting the needs of a diverse
community, and try to provide well-balanced educational events to suit a wide
range of backgrounds and interests. For further information, please contact
href="mailto:education@shaarei.org">education@shaarei.org. We welcome your
input and suggestions. Check out the href="upcoming.html">Shiurim and Upcoming Events page of this site
for upcoming education programs at Shaarei; members of the wider Jewish community
are always welcome.
Fundraising Committee
(Email: fundraising@shaarei.org)
Our mission is to raise money to augment the general treasury for the daily
running of the shul. Our annual fundraising events are:
- Mishloach Manot
The shul sells, prepares, and delivers Purim Mishloach Manot to friends
and relatives in neighboring towns and communities. We also mail Purim
greeting cards all over the world. This mammoth project is truly a community
effort.
- D'Vash
At Rosh Hashanah time, the shul mails out New Year's Greetings and
a token package of honey. These get mailed all over the world.
- Cards and Inscriptions
At any time during the year, donation cards and book inscriptions are used
to raise money for the shul. People inscribe Chumashim, Siddurim,
and other texts in honor of special occasions, bar/bat mitzvahs and
other semachot, or in memory of loved ones. Donation cards are also
sold and can be mailed directly by the purchaser for any occasion.
House Committee
(Email: house@shaarei.org)
The house committee is responsible for the day-to-day management of the
building's physical plant, including lights, air conditioning, outside maintenance,
and coordination with our live-in caretaker. Please notify the committee of
all kiddushes and other events to take place in the shul or in the
parking lot.
Alexander Altmann Memorial Library
(Email: library@shaarei.org)
The Alexander Altmann Memorial Library was established in the summer of
1988 after the death of Alexander Altmann, distinguished rabbi, scholar, mentor,
founding member of Shaarei Tefillah and member of the Board
of Halakhic Advisors, which governed the synogogue in its infancy.
The collection consists of approximately three hundred volumes of Judaica
and Hebraica, primarily basic sources for text study: Tanakh, Talmud,
Midrash, encyclopaedias in Hebrew and English. During the last few
years, some more specialized texts have been added: Tosefta and various
studies in English on topics of interest, such as medical ethics.
Donations to the Library are accepted through the Library Committee, which
maintains the collection, purchases new titles, and sends out donation cards.
The recommeded donation for one card/bookplate is $36.00. Suggestions for
new titles are always welcome. Please contact us for further information.
Membership Information
(Email: membership@shaarei.org)
Our shul has grown from an initial group of approximately 30 families during
its early years to over 130 families today. Our members span all age ranges,
including students, singles, married couples, young families with growing
children, and older couples with married children and grandchildren. We strive
to achieve a balance between continual growth and expansion, while remaining
intimate enough to retain our "family" atmosphere.
Recruitment and welcoming of new members for Shaarei Tefillah is a high
priority. We offer an incentive of half-price dues for first year members,
and special rates for students, singles, and families in need. We think you
will find the people at Shaarei warm and welcoming, our davening inspirational
and fulfilling, and our educational programs and social events fun and gratifying.
If your family is considering moving to href="http://www.tiac.net/users/unnewton/index.html">Newton, or if you know
someone who is, please contact our membership coordinators. Feel free to contact
Rabbi Samuels as well.
Ritual Committee
(Email: gabbaim@shaarei.org)
The Ritual Committee is headed by our two gabbaim. The gabbaim
also serve as members of the href="officers.html">Executive Committee of the congregation. The gabbaim
set davening times, and coordinate all aspects of Shabbat, Yomim
Noraim, and Yom Tov minyanim. The gabbaim also assign all
kibudim (honors) for the High Holidays.
Sanctuary Interiors Committee
(Email: interiors@shaarei.org)
The Sanctuary Interiors Committee seeks to beautify the sanctuary, thereby
enhancing the spiritual experience of the congregation. A list of items available
for dedication was generated when our shul was built. Items funded at that
time, but not yet purchased, include the ner tamid and the menorah.
These are the top priorities of the committee's current work.
The Board of the Congregation determined that when announcing the cost of
dedicating an item, 100% of the cost of producing or purchasing the item must
be included. These moneys will fund capital and operating expenses. The congregation
acknowledges the dedication of items through ceramic plaques on the wall of
the entry area, not on the items themselves.
Social Action Committee
(Email: social-action@shaarei.org)
The Social Action Committee, which was initiated in 1996, strives to coordinate
programs which address community needs. We are active members of Family Table,
an inter-denominational program which provides food to Jewish families in
need all over the greater Boston area. Other initiatives we are considering
include participation in the annual Walk for Hunger, a "mitzvah to
mitzvah" program for Bar/Bat Mitzvah youth, and others.
Strategic Planning Committee
(Email: planning@shaarei.org)
The purpose of the Strategic Planning Committee is to help the membership
plan and implement goals for the growth and development of our shul community.
These goals include: programs for important areas such as youth and education;
embellishment of the spirit; davening and religious observance; adjusting
or expanding our physical plant to accommodate recent and anticipated growth;
and fundraising to make all the other goals possible.
Tzedakah Committee
(Email: tzedakah@shaarei.org)
The Tzedakah Committee collects funds from the synagogue membership
in support of charitable needs outside the congregation. We prefer to support
charities in the United States and Israel which provide direct aid to individuals,
and in which our relatively modest support can help to make a difference.
In some cases we have assisted individuals directly. Our funds come entirely
from voluntary contributions, frequently coinciding with a Yom Tov
or family simchah or remembrance.
Women's Tefillah Group
(Email: wtg@shaarei.org)
The Women's Tefillah Group (WTG) of Congregation Shaarei Tefillah
has gathered monthly since 1992 to daven and learn together. The WTG operates
under the halakhic guidance of Rabbi Samuels, and builds upon the guidelines
set by the shul's HREF="fxsarnalt.html">founding board of halakhic advisors. The WTG
grew out of the shul's annual women's Torah reading on Simchat Torah,
which began in 1985. In 1992 the group began to meet on Rosh Chodesh
and in 1994, under the guidance of Rabbi Simkovich, began to meet for minchah
each Shabbat Mevarchim Rosh Chodesh, in place of meeting on Rosh
Chodesh itself. In 1997, the WTG was established as a standing committee
of the shul with representation on the shul's Board.
More information is available about the Women's Tefillah
Group.
Youth Activities
(email: youth@shaarei.org) The Youth
Committee runs various activities for the younger members of our community,
including programs for pre-schoolers, kindergarten and grade one, grades two
through five. We also have activities for our teenagers. More
information on our youth activities is available.
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