Volunteer with Adath Shalom!
This page provides a great place to start finding your place at Adath Shalom. We rely on community members like YOU. Your generosity with your time, energy, and skills are our foundation. Whatever your interest or expertise, there are opportunities for every age group to get actively involved. We:
Make meals for families in need
Care for our sick or elderly
Donate produce from our garden to local food pantry
Pack and distribute care packages to those facing food insecurity
Maintain our local forest trails
Organize and cook at our annual BBQ
Create social events
Educate and Inspire each other
Below, is a list of our committees, descriptions, and contacts. If you want to take initiative to start something new, we will find room for you too. You can reach out to the office if you don't see something on this list. Get in touch! We appreciate every volunteer!
BUILDING AND GROUNDS:
Jerry Moses jymoses72@gmail.com 201-874-3903
Gary Reppen repltc@yahoo.com 973-476-2895
Building and Grounds supports our custodial staff in maintaining Adath Shalom’s campus. Together we make decisions on the upkeep of our facility and the beautification of the property.
CHESED:
Inna Benin irbenin@hotmail.com. 973-723-4243
Steve Frank shfrank@gmail.com 201-400-3118
Our Chesed/Caring Committee is small, but we have many people willing to help on an as needed basis. We provide either a meal of consolation during Shiva or donate to Family Promise in memory of the deceased from the family. We provide food for clergy when they visit congregants, and meals to families in crisis when requested. We also write notes to new congregants and to families who have suffered a loss. We are always willing to go beyond our current activity level, and welcome suggestions on how else we can engage.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Ian Kaden kadenmd@optonline.net 973-464-3255
Laurie Lindner lauriesuelindner@gmail.com 201-247-6238
The primary responsibility of Communications is to supervise and edit the production of Happenings, Adath Shalom’s weekly newsletter (which now comes out on Wednesdays). Occasionally, we also write text for Synagogue events. We also share positive information about Synagogue members and staff.
COVID MONITORING:
Jim Lieberman jlieb1433@gmail.com 732-208-5462
The Covid Monitoring Committee is overseeing the reopening of Adath Shalom due to the Pandemic. We meet virtually on a regular basis and will continue to do so until the Temple can safely be open again.
DEVELOPMENT (FUNDRAISING):
Mara Kimowitz
The Development Committee serves a very important role at Adath Shalom. We are responsible for all forms of fundraising, which include the annual Kol Nidre Appeal, the Sustaining Membership Initiative, and the Purim Basket Fundraiser. We also oversee the proper management of the various dedicated funds that Adath Shalom maintains.
GOVERNANCE
Scott Goldstein sjg@sgoldsteinlaw.com 201-906-7821
The Governance Committee is embarking on a project to revise and streamline our by-laws.
HIGH HOLIDAY COMMITTEE:
Open
The High Holiday Committee oversees the planning of our High Holiday Services. We work with Clergy, Ritual, Building & Grounds, Security, Religious School, Men's Club and Sisterhood to plan Services, Youth programs, ushers, communications, logistics, schedules, and other special activities as it relates to our High Holiday Services.
HOLOCAUST EDUCATION:
Meyer Rosenthal meyer@therosenthals.net 973-898-0500
This committee primarily strives for educational opportunities and arranges Synagogue programs for Kristallnacht and Yom HaShoah. Together with Parsippany Township, we sponsor a commemoration for Raoul Wallenberg, and we are working to restore a Wallenberg Rewards and Scholarship program.
ISRAEL ENGAGEMENT:
Ken Malmud kennethmalmud@gmail.com 973-538-3609
The Israel Engagement Committee seeks to enhance our Congregation’s understanding of and connection to our Israeli homeland. In addition to Israeli news notes in the weekly Happenings and frequent positive news updates during Shabbat Services, we present several programs annually. We also conduct a Tu Bishvat drive to plant trees in Israel.
LIFELONG LEARNING/SOCIAL ACTION:
Deborah Berlinsky deborahkb@gmail.com 973-214-9195S
Sue Rosenthal sue@therosenthals.net 973-610-4565
This committee presents interesting, exciting monthly programming throughout the year, which is open to all members and their guests. The programs include entertainers, lecturers, and educators giving information about culture, history, and Jewish learning. We also sponsor a monthly Book Club and will be offering a Hebrew learning class. We are hopefully bringing back our Chazak lunch program for seniors but will continue to offer this program on ZOOM for the time being.
LONG RANGE PLANNING:
Mindy Beck 973-229-3429
Mitchell Garber mitchgarber44@gmail.com 908-896-9634
The Long Range Planning committee will identify the future education programs, activities and opportunities that will help ensure that we adapt to the changing priorities of our community and our members.
MEMBERSHIP:
Len Oppenberg victorypest@aol.com 973-229-5983
Membership focuses on recruiting, welcoming, engaging, and retaining Temple members. We host special events to meet and greet new and prospective members.
MEN’S CLUB:
Michael Tajar michael.tajar@gmail.com 908-507-6556
Michael Tepperman mtepperman@wfafinet.com 973-951-3237
The Men’s Club adds vibrancy to the Adath Shalom community by offering programs and events for men of all ages. Each year our members assemble the Sukkah, sponsor Breakfasts, help organize and cook for the annual Barbeque, and enjoy events such as Men’s Night Out, and Scotch in the Sukkah.
MITZVAH GARDEN:
Open
The Mitzvah Garden Committee maintains the beautiful garden located on our patio, which is made up of seven raised beds in the shape of a Magen David. Volunteers maintain the garden, growing organic vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers. Items grown in the garden are donated to the Dover Food Pantry, nursing homes, and congregants, in addition to being used for Synagogue events. No experience is necessary to volunteer.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL EDUCATION:
Miriam Benovitz Miriam.benovitz@gmail.com 973-714-3429
Jessica Jacobs jmjacobs47@gmail.com 814-449-7449
This committee is comprised of people that have been selected by the Nominating Committee and subsequently voted into their two-year term by the Congregation. We support the Religious School Director in whatever way he/she needs. We are also a liaison between families and teachers, and work with the Religious School staff to create meaningful programs, and a balanced curriculum for the students.
RITUAL:
Carol Shanik cshanik@gmail.com 201-919-4125
Ritual is an active committee which has many important responsibilities. We coordinate all Religious Services in partnership with Clergy. We also offer guidance regarding Ritual custom and policy. Specific responsibilities include ushering and distributing honors at Services and working closely with B’nai Mitzvah families.
SECURITY:
Gary Reppen repltc@yahoo.com 973-476-2895
The Security Committee works to ensure the safety and security of our congregants by managing both our infrastructure and security staff. We use resources from local police and the Federation to stay current on best practices to protect our community.
SHAMAYIM:
Aaron Guttman aaron@trainsmartfit.com 201-463-3287
The purpose of Shamayim is to raise awareness of the practices of industrialized farming and how the modern methods violate Jewish law and values with respect to animal cruelty and environmental impact. The program, which is sponsored by a grant from Shamayim Jewish Animal Advocacy, encourages mindful and ethical eating to make a change in the world.
SISTERHOOD:
Marissa Shuster marissahalper@yahoo.com 917-226-9341
Sisterhood at Adath Shalom is comprised of female Synagogue members of all ages. We host social events and raise funds for the Temple. Some of our events include Sisterhood in the Sukkah, a Coffee and Cars Meet and Greet, sponsoring the Chanukah Gift Shop, and participating in the Hunger Walk for Nourish NJ. We also occasionally partner with the Men’s Club and other Synagogue groups on other occasions.
YOUTH:
Lisa Beck lisabeck1119@gmai l.com 973-650-1313
Laurie Harelick laurf30@yahoo.com 201-400-3936
Our committee organizes programming for children through their teenage years including participation in Kadima and USY. Our goal is to have our children develop friendships and spend time with other Jewish children.