Temple B'nai Brith offers a variety of religious services and programs, including the children's school, adult education classes, friendly brunches, lively discussions about current social issues, dances, other social events and more. These programs and our religious services are organized by volunteer committees.
All participants in the TBB community (not just members) are welcome to attend any committee meeting without any obligation. Committee chairs serve on the Board of Directors. The Board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 7:30 in the evening. Board meetings are open to any member of the congregation.
You can make a significant contribution to the activities and vitality of TBB by joining a committee!
If you are interested in joining a committee, or have questions or suggestions for programs or activities, please contact the office at TBB.
Education Committee
The education committee is in charge of the Children's School, and is open to anyone interested in issues affecting children. The committee also plans and organizes services, youth programming, adult education programs, and celebrations that coincide with the school year. Meets monthly.
Ritual Committee
The ritual committee addresses questions of policy and practice concerning the collective religious life of the congregation, and presents recommendations to the Board of Directors and the congregation as a whole. The committee also organizes Shabbat and holiday observances at the shul. Meets monthly.
Program Committee
The program committee plans cultural and social events. Examples of activities are family storytelling, dances, and book groups. Meets monthly.
Building Committee
The building committee plans and organizes the care and maintenance of our beautiful, historic Temple. The Committee holds several clean-ups and repair days during the year. Members plan long- and short-range projects, meet and work with architects and contractors, and make recommendations to the Board about work on the building.
Social Action Committee
The social action committee involves our community in
tikkun olam (repairing the world). It organizes lectures and discussions on topics ranging from events in Israel, human rights and U.S. foreign policy, to civil liberties and issues of economic justice in the U.S. It also coordinates interfaith projects, presents interfaith study sessions, and presents provocative (as well as entertaining) movies with discussions. The committee is also the shul's liaison to the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO). Meets monthly.
Cemetery Committee
The cemetery committee is responsible for the administration of our cemetery in Peabody, Massachusetts. This includes record keeping, selling plots, supervising the upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery, and sponsorship of the yearly High Holiday memorial service.
Project Aliyah
Project Aliyah is our congregation's ambitious initiative to make our beautiful, historic synagogue accessible and safe. The Project Aliyah Steering Committee, along with development, design/construction, and publicity subcommittees, oversaw the successful completion of the first stage of the project and is working to help realize our dream of a new three-story addition with elevator. Current efforts focus on further development and fundraising. Meets regularly.
Finance Committee
The finance committee is responsible for overseeing the finances of the congregation. This includes preparing the budget for board approval, monitoring expenses and income, managing the investment of the reserve fund, and supporting the board in ways that require financial input. Meets three or four times a year.
Membership Committee
The membership committee helps to build a vibrant, energized community from the sea of diversity in the shul. This group encourages members old and new, with religious or historic or social connections to Judaism, with and without children, to explore and participate in the wide range of activities at B'nai Brith. Meets monthly.
Caring Committee
The caring committee seeks to support our members and their families in times of need, as defined by them and their families, and in ways that respect how they themselves would like to be supported. Examples of need might include the arrival of new family members, illness, or death. It is also our hope that some of the work of the committee might be direct service, and some might be making connections between those in need and a range of people in the community who would be available for direct service but prefer not to be on a committee. This committee is in its formative stages. New participants/members are encouraged to join!
Library Committee
This informal standing committee oversees TBB's library collections for adults and children. The group meets and communicates occasionally each year, and consults with the education director and other TBB staff regarding acquisition of materials and other activities. Responsibilities include proposing an annual library budget and approving expenditures for library materials, supplies, software, etc. The committee especially welcomes members interested in helping to improve the library and/or assisting with an online library database project.
