Havurah’s Membership Committee Celebrates “Community” with Two Great Events!
March 8, 2011
Havurah’s “New Member Orientation” – A Tremendous Success!
On the evening of Sunday, February 13, the Membership Committee hosted a “New/’Newish’/Prospective Member Orientation” which, by all accounts, proved to be a tremendous success in terms of attendance and outcome. About 40 people attended and were greeted by a very warm reception with wine and appetizers in our social hall .
Rebecca Darling-Budner emceed the program, and began the evening with pairs sharing the reason they joined or were interested in joining Havurah Shalom. Rabbi Joey then led a lively niggun and predictably set a warm tone for the evening with his story of why he loves being the rabbi at Havurah, and what his role is in the congregation.
Joan Weil provided a fascinating history of the origins of Havurah, followed by a tour of the synagogue led by Miryam Brewer. Presentations continued with Karen Abrams sharing her administrative leadership role and some of the highlights since her recent tenure began, followed by David Ellenberg describing many of the adult and family education programs offered at Havurah.
Last, but not least, co-Presidents Rachel Shimshak and Herman Asarnow introduced the many committee opportunities at Havurah, including the Steering Committee, and invited folks to take the initiative and get involved. Fran Berg, co-Chair for the Auction Committee, suggested that the upcoming Auction in April provided an excellent and timely opportunity for new-ish members to
immediately engage and to meet other members already involved with this major fundraiser for Havurah.
Program attendees commented on how helpful and informative the program was for them, and genuinely enjoyed the opportunity to schmooze with each other and to meet staff, Steering and committee members. Several attendees indicated that this event only sparked their interest in learning more about Havurah, and some prospective members said they were now ready to join.
A special thanks to Miryam Brewer, Rebecca Darling-Budner, Janice Kettler, Diane Lowensohn, and Joan Weil for creating and fulfilling an essential need for new and prospective members. Our plan moving forward is to host an orientation at least once, but perhaps twice a year. If you missed this event and would like to learn more about membership or joining a committee, please contact Mario Castellar, our Administrative Coordinator, in the Havurah office.
Rebecca Darling-Budner,
New Co-Chair, Membership Committee
Parents of Adult Children Cohort Brunch – informally known as the “Alata Macher/Rockers”
Forty Five Havurahniks gathered for a lively brunch and discussion about issues we are facing related to having grown children – and maybe about aging itself regardless of children in our lives.
Whether retired, or in transition, with children on their way out, or jobs disappearing; lonliness was not a primary issue for any of us. Havurahniks are pretty good at knowing how to fill our time with meaningful, creative, and fun activities. But as discussion unfolded, commom threads were expressed related to our questions about how to best parent adult children who return to our homes, or never leave, or are in and out, or who are struggling to find their place in today’s difficult world. When to step back, when/how to throw out a safty net, how to model, how to express and get our own needs met. Everyone seemed to want more time to talk and share, and to bask in the warmth of community.
Following are the summary suggestions made. The Membership Committee has agreed to coordinate a followup pot luck in mid May, and also to start researching setting up a surrogate grand parenting matching program. There are at present only two of us on this ‘in-reach’ subcommittee- so if anyone out there would like to pitch in we’d love to have you. It is not a lot of work, and so far it has been very enjoyable. Let us know if you may be interested. The committee meets once a month.
1. Set up a Face Book page to promote informal socializing opportunities. ie ‘I’m going to —-tonite, anyone want to join me…’, ‘I’m going to host a Shabbat next week for the first 8 to respond to this posting’ ‘let’s get a volunteer party together for the next Transition Project event’,…a hike, a book reading, a grand parent activity….
2 Organize monthly (or quarterly) alta macher/rocker pot lucks at Havurah to include a structured discussion around a pre-determined topic – possibly with a speaker or film?
3. Develop a list of people willing to be surrogate grandparents and find matches with young families in our congregation who do not have parents in town.
4. Help to facilitate special needs support groups – ie parenting children with chronic health needs, or A&D issues, or divorce and blended family concerns, setting up a resource bank for our children…Could be issue focused ongoing groups, or regularly scheduled topic ‘talk about it’ opportunities.
5. Get some good music – have a dance !
Please contact the Membership Committee with any other ideas, thoughts and concerns. We look forward to building this connection.
Marcia Suttenberg and Diane Lowensohn
Membership Committee
Two Important Membership Events to put on your Calendar!
February 1, 2011
Calling All ‘New’ and ‘Not-So-New’ Havurah Members!
Havurah’s newly-invigorated Membership Committee recently learned that many of our members have never received an in-depth orientation regarding the basics of Reconstructionist Judaism, our rabbi’s role, the role of the Steering Committee, the participatory ‘duties’ and numerous opportunities for members to engage, serving on Havurah’s committees that advance our collective vision, and about our beautiful synagogue. So, please join us for this adult-oriented evening program on Sunday, February 13, and learn more about us. We look forward to seeing you. Please note details below:
Date: Sunday, February 13
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: Havurah Shalom
Refreshments: wine and hors d’oeuvres
RSVP by Friday, February 11.
Empty Nesters/Freedom Nesters/ Re-Nesters Come one! Come All!
Attention Havuarah families with grown children ( 18-30+)
We invite you to attend a brunch and lively discussion on Sunday Feb 27th, 10 am-Noon, about how the definition, needs, and issues facing families with grown children has changed from the traditional view of “empty nesters”. Adult children returning to the home, or never leaving, economic needs, intensive grand parenting duties, addiction, blended complex mispucha relationships – only some of the issues which have been brought to our attention.
Come and enjoy some lox and bagels, and share your family stories. Adela Basayne will facilitate the discussion. Shirley Rackner and Carol Chestler will talk about the first empty nester social group which has existed for a number of years, and which they hope to reinvigorate. Brainstorm with us any ways Havurah might help to strengthen our community connections and provide support during transitional times.
We look forward to seeing you.
Date: Sunday, February 27 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Location: Havurah Shalom
Inter-generational Brunch & Brainstorming Session
RSVP by Friday, February 21.
If you are interested in helping to plan this brunch, or have ideas to offer, please contact Marcia Suttenberg.
Havurah Takes Donations On-Line
November 8, 2010
Anyone who wishes to make a donation to Havurah can now do so using our secure on-line link. You can use your credit card and you will be able to designate a Fund for the donation, indicate if the donation is in honor or memory of someone and even make it recurring! It’s very user-friendly, just go to this link. You will get a receipt e-mailed to you immediately and a copy goes to the Havurah office so that Tribute notes can still go out.
The link for these donations is also found on every page of our website. Look in the footer area for “Donate Securely to Havurah Shalom”.
Please remember that Havurah will pay a fee for credit card transactions, so consider adding a little to your donation to cover this. Typically, the fee is 3-4% (fees vary based on the type of credit card you use).
Mordechai Liebling at Shabbat services
October 21, 2009
Havurah Shalom Hosts Rabbi Mordechai Liebling at Shabbat services, Friday, October 30 at 8 pm
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear and meet Rabbi Mordechai Liebling on Friday, October 30. He will be joining Havurah Shalom for the weekend as Havurah launches Operation Reconnect.
Rabbi Mordechai Liebling visits Havurah Shalom
Rabbi Liebling most recently served as the Executive Vice-President of Jewish Funds for Justice, prior to its merger with The Shefa Fund, he was the Torah of Money Director at TSF. He was the Executive Director of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation for 12 years. He was a Spiritual Director at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College for eight years and has taught courses there.
He was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, prior to rabbinical school he worked as a community organizer. He has a B.A. from Cornell University in Government and an M.A. from Brandeis in History of American Civilization, specializing in American progressive movements. He served on Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations for 12 years. He has served on the boards of national and international non-profit organizations. Currently he is on the boards of the Faith and Politics Institute, Rabbis for Human Rights-North America and is the President Emeritus of the Shalom Center. He has received awards from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility and Mazon.
He has written articles for numerous publications. He is married to Lynne Iser and they have five children. Their family was the subject of the award winning documentary Praying With Lior.
