Committees - Tzedek Chicago

Committees: Deepening Tzedek Chicago Leadership

As we move into an intense new phase of growth for Tzedek Chicago, we need to deepen our leadership and broaden involvement. Here, we’re offering information about our committees and other opportunities for involvement in the congregation. For each committee, we’ve indicated a few of the ways a person can get involved: either a lot or just a little.

Volunteer Form

Committee Descriptions

Membership Committee

The purpose of the Membership Committee is to recruit and maintain an active dues-paying membership, as well as engage and create opportunities for existing and prospective members to be active members of our community.

Contacts: Jim Poznak and Steve Romm

Example Activities

Low-intensity

Join phone banks to turn members out to the annual meeting and other events.
assist staff with monthly dues reminders.

Higher-intensity

Organize new member orientations.
Organize member events.
Organize and participate in annual and periodic membership drives

Development Committee

The mission of the Development Committee is to establish a strong financial footing for the congregation by creating and executing fundraising strategies consistent with Tzedek’s values.

Contact: Lindsay Janasiak

Example Activities

Low-intensity

Support work at fundraising events: building turn-out for events; staffing events when in person.
Encourage donations among personal contacts.
Phone bank for event turnout.

Higher-intensity

Participate in the development of clear fundraising goals and plans to meet those goals.
Research to identify potential member and nonmember donors to support ongoing work of congregation.
Participate in campaign strategy.

Chesed Committee

The traditional mission of the Chesed Committee is to support congregation members in need. Rooted in mutual aid and communal care, we are developing virtual and in-person strategies that can reach everyone in our community, no matter where they are. We aim to give more people the chance to help one another; bring people closer together; and share our joys and sorrows in community. We are actively developing new ways to support members and welcome interest and ideas!

Board Liason: Deborah Adelman

Chairs: Jacqui Shine (jacquishine@gmail.com), Maddy Brigell (m.brigell@gmail.com)

Example Activities

Low-intensity

Volunteer via a meal train or task list or send a gift card or purchase items from an Amazon wishlist to help a congregation member (e.g., with a meal, a ride, supply needs)
Research and locate resources to help congregation members meet their needs (e.g., find local-to-them cash assistance and local mutual aid programs and health care services)

Higher-intensity

Volunteer to run a once-monthly virtual peer support group for 6-12 months
Help to delineate goals for the Chesed Committee and call quarterly meetings.
Teach a virtual workshop geared toward helping people help others (e.g., Jewish mourning practices, supporting people w/chronic illnesses, supporting caregivers)
Check in with members whose communities are experiencing climate disaster
Help to organize longer term support for needs such as childcare, elder care, care for disabled members, caregivers, new parents, etc.

Immigrant Welcoming Group

The mission of the Immigrant Welcoming Group is to work with our community partners to support immigrants arriving in Chicago. Tzedek has long been a member of the Sanctuary Working Group (made up of other faith groups in the Chicago area). We thank Brian & Wendy Carson, Tina Escobar, and Clara Sheffer for leading and representing Tzedek in this work to support immigrants.

Board Liason: Beck Erl

Chairs: Brian Carson and Scott Wood

Example Activities

Low-intensity

Attend quarterly Immigrant Welcoming Group (IWG) Tzedek meetings and take notes.
Volunteer to help with a Tzedek IWG service project (e.g., a winter coat drive).
Volunteer to help a family who is providing temporary housing for an immigrant family by occasionally providing a ride or tutoring the children.

Higher-intensity

Represent Tzedek by attending a Sanctuary Working Group meeting, taking notes, and reporting back to the IWG.
Help lead the Tzedek IWG by calling meetings and organizing the agenda.
Volunteer to provide temporary housing for an immigrant family.

Family/Education Committee

The mission of the Family/Education Committee is to support staff as we develop and implement family and lifelong learning programs. Tzedek is committed to intergenerational learning opportunities such as an all-ages B’nai Mitzvah program. Provide support for all types of Tzedek learning opportunities such as Hebrew Club, the Reading Circle, Torah Study, Intro to Judaism, Family Programs, Midrash makers, etc.

Contact: Anna Goldberger and Aviva Stein

Example Activities

Low Intensity

Assist one time with a family or general program.
Volunteer to present/lead a one-time session that is part of the above offerings.
Assist with special event programming for children (e.g. at the High Holidays or Passover Seder).

Higher-intensity

Serve on the committee to support a wide variety of educational programs.
Help to develop curriculum for a new program.
Be a volunteer teacher for multiple sessions of a program.

Events Committee

Help make events happen! In order to keep our event costs efficient, we need volunteers to help plan events, purchase supplies, set up/serve/clean-up, cook food, review events, etc.

Contact: Carol Muskin

Example Activities

Low-intensity

Respond to a call to cook a dish/dessert or volunteer for an hour or two at an event.
Volunteer to purchase and bring supplies and then be reimbursed.
Help oversee a small group crew for an event (e.g., lead the clean-up crew after a large event).

Higher-intensity

Be on the planning team for a major event (e.g. organizing High Holiday volunteers or the Passover Seder).
Volunteer to keep track of the volunteers and send reminders for the event.
Recruit new volunteers for upcoming events.
Organize a planning meeting for the events to occur in the next quarter.
Check on and plan for dietary and accessibility needs for a large event.

Volunteer Form