Havurah Seeks Part-Time Music Coordinator
August 4, 2011
Compensation: $8,000-10,000/year (1/4 FTE) Commensurate with experience
The Music Coordinator will report to the Steering Committee liaison and cooperate closely with Havurah’s Rabbi, Educator, Executive Director, and Music Committee. The person in this position will be responsible for implementing the tasks below while creating the building blocks of a robust music program at Havurah. Hours can be flexible.
Primary Tasks and Responsibilities
- Assessing Havurah human and non-human music resources to determine the best way to deploy them, and begin to build a music program.
- Coordinating music for our monthly Kabbalat Shabbat celebrations.
- Infusing music throughout our educational program (Shabbat School, Middle School, Havurah High) to ensure that families “know the Havurah songbook.”
- Network with other musical professionals in the community and beyond.
- Find, inspire, and train new musicians to contribute to Havurah community.
- Participate in professional development opportunities.
Requirements and Qualifications
- Experience with Jewish music (good taste, sensitivity to a mood)
- Understanding of the value of music to Havurah, and to Jewish life and practice
- Ability to facilitate, coordinate, and lead music and musicians
- Ability to inspire people to deploy their musical talents
- Ability to collaborate with a variety of individuals and groups
- Experience as a teacher, musician or singer (or both) preferred.
Havurah members may apply.
Havurah is an equal opportunity employer.
Send cover letter and resume to by August 16, 2011.
2011 Song of Miriam Award: Havurah Shalom Honors Fran Berg
May 3, 2011
Each year, the Jewish Women’s Roundtable invites Jewish organizations in our community to participate in their annual volunteer recognition day for Jewish Women. Essentially, we come together to honor women who have “made a difference” in the Jewish community bycontributing time and energy through their various volunteer efforts.
This year, Havurah is very proud to announce and recognize one of its long-time members, Fran Berg, as the recipient of the 19th Annual Song of Miriam Award. As many of you know, Fran has been very dedicated to Havurah by serving on numerous committees, her involvement in multiple programs, and organizing countless events.
Most recently, Fran stepped up as Auction Committee Co-Chair to spearhead the “Chai Ho!” Havurah Auction and Round Up 2011 this year. She answered the call toassist with this major biennial fundraiser for Havurah. In addition, she has been active in Shabbat School, the B’nai Mitzvah Committee, the Transition Project, among other programs and activities. Fran is a model example of a member who embodies the deeply-held values of Havurah.
Please join us in celebrating Fran by attending the 19th Annual “Song of Miriam” Awards Brunch on Sunday, June 5, 10:00 a.m., at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. Registration and event information is available here.
“Thanks again for your outstanding service to Havurah, Fran!”
Green Empowerment Fundraising Update
February 8, 2011
We are very proud to announce that as of February 2011, Havurah Shalom has raised not only the $40,000 we’ve committed to the El Jocote solar water pump and deep well project, but has now exceeded our goal and raised $41,000.
Green Empowerment and Havurah’s Tikkun Olam Committee extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who has generously contributed to the project’s success. The villagers in El Jocote, Nicaragua, will now have running water in their homes for the very first time. This project is part of Havurah’s Mahsh’pi’a: Impacting Global Poverty initiative.
For more information, please visit the Green Empowerment page on our website.
Introducing the “Tikkun Olam” Committee
February 8, 2011
We are pleased to introduce the revitalized Havurah Social Action Committee which will be known as the Tikkun Olam Committee. The new committee will continue Havurah’s long-term commitment to the work of tikkun olam (“repair of the world”), and the pursuit of justice. The committee will be guided by values that prioritize the participation and engagement of a broad range of Havurah members in this work.
In Havurah’s on-going work of tikkun olam, members have been involved in a range of projects focusing on service, advocacy, education and/or financial support. Projects have differed in levels of participation, scope and sustainability. As a community, we share pride in all our accomplishments. Going forward, we will continue to recognize and honor individual efforts and initiatives.
The Tikkun Olam Committee will have a shared leadership triad of Layton Borkan, Steve Rudman and Ben Walters. We are looking for three to four more committee members. Would you be interested in participating in the Committee’s work?
If you are interested in helping us to get this new committee up and running, we welcome you to join us (Steve, Ben, Layton) on the Committee as we work to create decision-making processes and procedures that will help us support the work of tikkun olam in our community.
Please contact Ben Walters, Layton Borkan, Steve Rudman, to get connected.
Havurah Education News
December 2, 2010
New aspects of education within Havurah Shalom have recently occurred. Read on and find out what good committee work has led to.
As of spring 2010, the Steering Committee has a new position, Vice-President for Education. This person also sits on the Executive Committee and oversees all aspects of education within the congregation. As the community’s Education Director, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner is central to our programming and vision. Rabbi’s Joey’s energy and wisdom, too, inform all aspects of education in our Havurah.
Deborah and the VP for Education work with the newly convened Lifelong Learning Committee (LLC). Here’s the group’s mission: Havurah Shalom’s Lifelong Learning Committee is dedicated to empowering congregants to enrich their engagement in Jewish life. Programming and teaching will inspire and support Jewish practice, culture, and spirituality. Learning will be integrated into the life of the community from early childhood through all phases of adulthood. This committee will reach out and listen to the interests of the community as program is formulated, and be responsive to changing needs. Educational offerings will be consistent over time in order to offer both regularly scheduled foundational classes and other creative learning opportunities.
The LLC keeps abreast of what’s going on with formal programs such as Shabbat School, Middle School Havurah High, and Adult Education. They also support informal educational programs like Tot Shabbat, Shabbat on the Farm, and Shabbat in the Pool.
The committee is a willing sounding board for any ideas brought forward by congregants as regards education. Do reach out and offer ideas. Of particular interest are ideas about Adult Education classes (and teachers) that would benefit Havurah Shalom.
Additionally, a separate task force is working hard on the middle and high schools. Adjustments to these programs are likely as the years unfold. Change in teaching personnel and ongoing curriculum review are important topics under review. Contact Richard Goldenberg with any ideas for that. The LLC is available to assist in these efforts.
Overarching goals of the changes within the congregation, as reflected in the Operation Reconnect process, are to clarify how work is accomplished and who is involved in decision making. Committee members are open to new ideas and want congregants to step up and let us know what’s on your minds.
David Ellenberg is the Vice-President for Education. LLC members are Adela Basayne, Shelley Sobel, Rob Freedman, with Deborah Eisenbach-Budner as the staffer.
