Congregations thrive on the contributions and services of clergy, professional staff, and active volunteer leaders. Being a synagogue leader is a privilege as well as an obligation. Our task is to work in harmony with other leaders, whether they are clergy, professional staff or volunteers, to build, develop, and maintain a well-run, spiritually fulfilling congregation where the sacred informs the practical and the practical creates the sacred.
Congregational leaders navigate some of the most basic, and essential, areas of congregational life and governance including long-range planning, budgets and fundraising, leadership development, staffing and staff relations, bylaws, policies, legal issues and mergers, and transitions and dissolutions.
Temple Israel Bylaws | Policies | Cemetery Policy
2024-2025 Board of Trustees
President Justin Cooper
President-Elect Geoff Silverstein
Vice Presidents Tamara Draeger & Cindy Goldberg
Secretary Larry Gendler
Presidential Appointee Joseph Pinson
Treasurer Jeff Laudin
Past President Troy Meyerson
Trustees
Berta Ackerson, Gil Dysico
Shelly Fox, Robert Friedman, Tom Friedman,
Dan Gilbert, Larry Gittelman,
Margaret Gurewitz-Smith, Lester Katz,
Susie Norton, Marti Poulos
Beth Spizman, Jennifer Vik, Emily Wares
Temple Israel Representatives to the Tri-Faith Board
Richard Heyman
Ilene Arnold
Brian Fahey
Rabbi Sharff
Councils & Committees
Our council system was established in 2003 to promote collaboration, integration, and communication among committees. Councils provide vision and tools to address mutual concerns of committees at Temple Israel.
Finance Council
The Finance Council reviews the financial needs of the congregation, recommends investments, and presents the fiscal reports to the Board and the congregation.
-
Budget Committee projects the temple’s annual income and expenses, and makes periodic reports about synagogue income and expenditures to the Board for approval.
-
Development and Planned Giving coordinates and administers the various funds of the synagogue, and enlists the support of the congregation for planned giving efforts.
-
Dues Equalization reviews the individual dues adjustments and assessments, and makes recommendations.
-
Investment Committee oversees the investments of the congregation.
Synagogue Management
-
Archive Committee is responsible for maintaining Temple Israel’s archives. Contact: Joseph Pinson
-
Building and Grounds Committee supervises the building, grounds, and equipment maintenance and updates, as well as the use of the synagogue’s facilities. Contact: John Meyers
-
Bylaw and Policy Committee reviews and recommends amendments and changes to the bylaws and policies as needed.
-
Cemetery Committee oversees the administration of the cemetery. Contact: Mel Epstein
-
Leadership Development plans ways to identify, train, and motivate new leaders.
-
Long Range Planning assures the continuity of the congregation by articulating a vision to address congregational needs and meet challenges.
-
Nominating Committee recommends individuals to serve as officers and trustees, subject to congregational and Board approval.
-
Personnel Practices writes and supervises the synagogue’s personnel practices code, and recommends salaries and benefits for the staff. Contact: Troy Meyerson
Education Council
The Education Council coordinates all Jewish education, including early childhood, Religious School, informal youth, family education, adult learning and the library onsite.
-
Religious School Steering Committee recommends and/or sets policy, reviews the activities of the Religious School and oversees its operation and participates in the supervision of the Religious School Coordinator. Contact: Tamara Draeger
Synagogue and Outreach Council
The Synagogue and Outreach Council provides programming, vision and tools to that welcome, integrate, and enhance the Temple experience for members.
-
Caring Committee provides mutual help and support networks to congregants facing illness and crises and furthers the models for full inclusion of all Jews—regardless of their sexual orientation, age, or disability—in the community. Contact: Susie Norton
-
Membership Committee solicits the membership of all eligible persons, welcomes new and potential members to the community, and is responsible for membership retention.
-
Social Justice Committee finds ways to get involved and fulfill our obligation to repair the world through mitzvot, education and advocacy. Contact: Sara Cowan
-
Racial Justice Initiative educates and engages the Temple Israel congregation to reflect on and work towards dismantling racial bias, systemic racism, and white supremacy within our congregation, so that we can then engage and support broader change in our community and our nation. Contact: Geoff Silverstein and Sally Kaplan
As part of the Transparency in Coverage Rule (TCR), health plans and self-funded groups are required to post certain cost and claims data through machine-readable files (MRFs) to a public website starting July 1, 2022. To comply with this requirements, we are required to post a link to Machine Readable Files on a publicly accessible website: NebraskaBlue.com/MRFs