Committees
Adult Education
The Adult Education Committee of the Miriam Browning Jewish Learning Center provides adult education on Jewish topics to stimulate, invigorate, and enrich our Jewish experience and understanding. Many classes, events and programs are offered throughout the year on a wide variety of topics and are taught by our clergy, Director of Lifelong Learning, and expert Scholars-in-Residence.
Art
Friends of Margolis Gallery provides enrichment to Congregation Beth Israel and to the entire community through high quality art exhibitions, educational programs, and distinguished art acquisitions which enhance our building and enrich our lives. We also offer musical programs and special art tours and trips.
Building, Grounds, and Maintenance
Our Committee evaluates and advises the Temple and Beth Israel Board of Trustees on technical questions involving the building, grounds, and maintenance issues.
Cemetery
Our Cemetery Committee oversees the administration of our two cemeteries at 1207 W. Dallas and 1101 Antoine. This includes handling plot sales and providing burial information and resources for our members.
College
Our Committee finds ways to keep our college students connected and up-to-date with what’s happening at home at Beth Israel. At appropriate times during the year, students receive special care packages. In addition to care packages, we also plan special social and mentoring events. Have a college student? We could use your help.
Development
Contributions, separate from fundraising, Share the Load, Capital Campaign, fundraising efforts, and contributions.
Facilities Use / Enhancement
This committee focuses on developing clear and consistent guidelines, policies, and fees for the use of our facility by congregants, and finding ways to encourage members to use the facilities as an extension of their own homes for their families life cycle events.
Family Engagement
The Family Engagement Committee provides pre-school through high school programs for families, such as our Family Shabbat programming. For more information, or if you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mike Mason or Kerri Zerlin.
Finance & Audit
Review operating budget, revenue, and expenses; examines the use of non-operating accounts.
Inclusion and Caring
The Inclusion Committee meets regularly to discuss ways in which the congregation can be more inclusive to all members including those with physical challenges, special needs, racially diverse, Jews by Choice, LGBTQ+ members, interfaith families, gender fluidity, and other areas of inclusiveness. The committee serves as a platform to advocate and educate by bringing awareness to our congregation’s radically welcoming community. It also works closely with our Center of Healing, Hope, and the Human Spirit to help members in various transitional stages in their lives including bereavement support, empty nesters, divorce support, sacred aging, and other areas. We provide large print prayer books, audio-enhancing equipment, and other services to assist those in need during worship. The committee also serves as a support to our Aliyah families who are enrolled in the Miriam Browning Jewish Learning Center to ensure every child has a meaningful experience as they prepare to become B’nei Mitzvah. The committee has also worked in the past on enhancing our worship spaces to be more accommodating to those with physical and sensory challenges. The committee will continue to implement strategies to be more inclusive in all of our programming and services throughout the campus.
The committee is also dedicated to meeting the emotional and special needs of our congregants, especially in relation to illness, bereavement, personal relationships, and major life changes. Check out each of these wonderful caring committees and see which one fits your needs or could benefit from your volunteer contributions.
Insurance
The Insurance Committee reviews policies for personnel and other benefits including, building liability, commercial coverage, and campus insurance.
Israel Advocacy
Congregation Beth Israel has an active Israel Advocacy Committee that promotes Israel education throughout our congregation. Follow this link to our Israel Advocacy Committee page which contains links to various sites promoting Israel.
Library
The Library Committee serves to enhance the collections of the Hyman Judah Schachtel collection and to encourage awareness and usage of the facility. The Committee oversees library and archives policies, and supports the monthly Readers’ Group program, which frequently invites authors to discuss their works in live interviews.
MBJLC
Our MBJLC programs are designed to nurture a strong Jewish identity and sense of commitment to Judaism within our students and families through a variety of fun, stimulating learning, and social activities. There are many ways to get involved from helping with a family learning day, to organizing and chaperoning a class activity or trip, to volunteering to serve on our MBJLC Board which assists our staff in creating safe, meaningful, and fun religious educational experiences for our children. If you would like to volunteer, please contact the Miriam Browning Jewish Learning Center at 713-271-7369.
Membership
The Membership Committee and its subcommittees are charged with handling all aspects of Temple membership – from recruiting and integration of new members to retention of current members.
The Membership Recruitment Committee establishes programs to reach out to unaffiliated members of the community, including interfaith couples, to encourage membership in the Congregation Beth Israel family. The Committee talks to all applicants as their applications are processed for approval.
The Membership Integration Committee is devoted to welcoming all new members to Beth Israel as soon as they are approved for membership. Activities are created throughout the year to help new members integrate into our synagogue’s life. If you enjoy working with and meeting new people and getting to know your members at Beth Israel, this is the committee for you.
The Membership Retention Committee develops programs that recognize and appreciate existing congregants. These programs include Volunteer Shabbat, Heritage Shabbat (lifelong members), Birthday and Anniversary recognition, and meetings with the Clergy. The Committee encourages members to become active participants in their Beth Israel family.
Mitzvah
Coordinates ongoing mitzvah projects (i.e. Kids Meals); Mitzvah Day.
Security
The Security Committee works closely with Beth Israel’s & Shlenker School’s Board of Trustees to address security issues across the Beth Israel campus. The Committee advises and supervises in all matters relating to the security of the synagogue, school building, and its membership.
Shlenker School Board
The Shlenker School, the first Reform Jewish Day School in Texas, offers an academically excellent program, integrating secular and Judaic studies, for children aged 15 months through the fifth grade. The Shlenker Board of Trustees is the governing body that oversees the financial well being and stability for future generations of Shlenker students. Trustees may be parents or members of the greater community. For more information, please contact The Shlenker School, 713-270-6127 or Shlenker Principal Michelle Barton.
The Women of Beth Israel
Our mission is to enhance and support Congregation Beth Israel through special programming, fundraising, as well as offering Temple women the opportunity to establish new friendships and a sense of community within our congregation. We provide opportunities to celebrate and learn about Judaism, social justice, and women’s issues while encouraging an overall spiritual and individual growth. Join us and make The Women of Beth Israel your home for lifelong connections. We can be reached in the Gift Shop at 713-777-4315, at women@beth-israel.org.
Social Justice
Our Social Justice Committee seeks to grant members of our congregation the ability to give back to our community by organizing volunteer projects, food and clothing drives, and educational programs. Some of our projects include:
• High Holiday Food Drive (in partnership with our congregational youth)
• Christmas Day volunteering at Ronald McDonald House & the VA
• The Gathering Place
• Mitzvah Day
• Summer Interns Program
• Voter Education
In addition to these ongoing efforts, the Social Justice Committee organizes a variety of other volunteer opportunities. More information can be found in the Bulletin, the weekly E-news, and the Friday Night Guide distributed each week at Shabbat services.
Worship
This committee, under the guidance of Rabbi Lyon reviews all worship services to ensure that the setting and substance of each service enhances the experience for as many of our congregants as possible. The Committee continuously reviews and analyzes topics such as music, our physical worship setting, structure of our services, and the Oneg Shabbat.
E-mail responses are shared anonymously among the Committee and remain topics of ongoing discussion and analysis. For more information, please check our Worship section on our website.