Tribute Funds
Cantor Simkin's Discretionary Fund
This fund allows Cantor Simkin to provide emergency help to both members of the congregation and members of the community, in a manner so that the recipients maintain their privacy and dignity. Donations to this fund also allow the Cantor to support projects within the congregation, such as the music programs, and to provide seed money for special projects.
Caring Community Fund
This fund acknowledges important events in our congregation’s life: births, deaths, illnesses, weddings, promotions, new jobs, students going off to school, visits to hospitals or houses of mourning. Rides to medical appointments and meals for those who are sick are also made possible with these funds.
Confirmation Class Fund
In addition to fundraising, this fund helps our Temple confirmands (Grade 10) experience Judaism in other parts of the world through text and trips.
Milton Meiseles Youth Scholarship Fund
This fund was created by Ilene Meiseles in memory of her father. It is designed to support our Junior and Senior Youth Group members in attending NFTY programs, camp, conclaves and other special programs. It also helped to establish the Freshman Youth Group.
Music Fund
The Music Fund is used to enrich our Shabbat, Festival and High Holy Day worship services. It enables our Cantor to purchase music and songbooks for the Adult, Teen and Junior Choirs and to hire musicians and vocalists for the High Holy Days and other special services and programs.
Prayer Book Fund
The Prayer Book Fund allows our congregation to keep a sufficient number of prayer books to meet our needs, both for Shabbat and the High Holy Days. In addition to providing funds for the purchase of new books, we designate money to repair damaged prayer books. Copies of The Torah Commentary, which are used at all Torah services, are also purchased through this fund.
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund
This fund allows Rabbi Gutterman to provide emergency help to both members of the congregation and members of the community, in a manner so that the recipients maintain their privacy and dignity. Donations to this fund also allow the Rabbi to support projects within the congregation, such as the Youth Groups, and to provide seed money for special projects.
Religious School Fund
This fund helps support the valuable programs of our Religious School. Tuition alone does not meet all of the costs of running our Religious School. Donations to this fund provide for many of our enrichment projects and special programs, such as trips to museums and historical sites, speakers and guest artists.
Diana Herman Scholar-in-Residence Memorial Fund
This fund was renamed in memory of Diana Herman, past President of Temple Emanu-El and a key leader of the Scholar-in-Residence Program. Our annual Scholar-in-Residence weekend features a Rabbi, Cantor, Educator or Jewish scholar who lectures and teaches about his/her specialty during Shabbat Services and study sessions. Donations to this fund are used to underwrite the program.
Shabbat Alive! Fund
This fund enables the Temple to invite professional musicians to play for our lively musical Friday night Shabbat Alive! services, which are held once a month. The fund also buys special treats to augment the Shabbat Alive! oneg, especially for the enjoyment of our young members.
Social Action - Tikkun Olam Fund
Tikkun Olam (The Repair of the World) is expressed through our involvement and support of community causes. Adults and children join together to work on many projects. The fund helps feed the hungry through our food pantry, buys supplies for Mitzvah Day, assists Legal Services and Amandla’s Crossing. It supports programs, speakers, films and special projects.
Torah Fund
The Torah Fund provides for the upkeep and maintenance of our Torah scrolls. Our scrolls are regularly inspected and cleaned by a professional scribe. Through regular use, the pages of a scroll occasionally need to be reinforced and the lettering sometimes needs to be repaired.
URJ Biennial Fund
This fund helps provide scholarships for Temple members to attend the Union or Reform Judaism’s Biennial Convention. This convention, held in a different city each year, is a gathering of Reform Jews from all over North America that includes learning, prayer, the sharing of ideas and making decisions about the policies of the Reform Movement.
Yahrzeit Fund
This fund benefits the general support of the Temple. Donations provide a wonderful means for honoring the memory of a family member or dear friend. Historically, the yahrzeit, or anniversary of the death of a loved one, has been an opportunity to support the Temple.
Congregants can also purchase at the Temple:
-
Trees in Israel – through the Jewish National Fund (JNF) - $18 per tree
-
Simcha Plaques ($150) in our lobby to recognize a special date (e.g.; Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, birth of a child)
-
Memorial Plaques ($250) in our sanctuary which are lit on the Yahrzeit date and during Yizkor services
-
Bema Flowers for a special occasion
