Adult Education - Plans and presents educational programs for adults. For more information regarding the Adult Education Committee, please contact Committee Chair, Naomi Shapiro at (651) 310-8298 or namoisgs@msn.com

Art - Accepts/acquires art for Bet Shalom and places on display, with the goal of enhancing the aesthetic and spiritual quality of our home. Sells or disposes of art at the committee's discretion. For more information regarding the Art Committee, please contact Committee Chair Sally Fisher.

Budget & Finance - Works with the professional staff to prepare the annual operating budget for Bet Shalom for each fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). The Budget and Finance Committee is chaired by the current Treasurer. For more information regarding the Budget & Finance Committee, please contact Committee Chair Steven Snyder. 

Building - Ensures that all areas of the congregational building are properly maintained. Acts as a superintendent for the building and equipment, including technology needs. Develops policies for the rental and/or usage of building rooms. For more information regarding the Building Committee, please contact Committee Chair Dan Feder.

Bylaws - Responds to questions about interpretation of Bet Shalom's bylaws from the Board, the rabbis and other professional staff; formulates and proposes amendments on the very rare occasions that amendments are needed. For more information regarding the Bylaws Committee, please contact Committee Chair Sara Jay.

Caring Community - Makes and delivers meals for those who are ill, observing Shiva, etc.  Contacts those who are ill or in need, either in person, by phone, or by card. Solicits support of the entire congregation.  It's much easier to accept help when it is offered than to go looking for it at the time of need. For more information regarding the Caring Community Committee, please contact one of the Committee Chairs, Barbara Hanovich or Nicki Murphy.

Catering - Formulates policy regarding the use of our kitchen and social hall space.  Sets and periodically reviews the facility usage fees that are charged to members and outside groups for functions taking place in our building.  Keeps an ongoing inventory of kitchen equipment and monitors the storage and usage of kitchen staples and supplies. Makes recommendations to the Board regarding the management of Bet Shalom's kitchen and outlines the terms by which any outside contractors are permitted to prepare and serve food on our premises. For more information regarding the Catering Committee, please contact Committee Chair Sally Bressler.

Cultural Arts - Builds a cultural program that enriches the lives of our congregation and community through visual and performing art reflecting a Jewish experience.  Organizes cultural events (music, dance, theater, film, and art exhibits) at Bet Shalom, coordinates members who wish to gather to perform, and organizes group attendance at community cultural events. For more information regarding the Cultural Arts Committee, please contact Committee Chair Henry Berman.

Culture - Fosters a culture that is warm, welcoming, dynamic, participatory and inclusive - a family of friends. Promotes welcoming and inclusive behaviors within our congregation, and works with staff and other committees in order to implement these ideas. For more information regarding the Culture Committee, please contact Committee Chair Sally Bressler.

Dues - Administers all aspects of congregational dues and capital fund pledges. Sets dues policy and gets involved in collections when necessary. Aims to strike a delicate balance, while meeting our congregational revenue goals as set by the Bet Shalom Board of Trustees, and does so in a manner that is respectful of the dignity of our member families and in keeping with the principles of Reform Judaism. For more information regarding the Dues Committee, please contact one of the Committee Chairs, Jeff Upin or Laurie Levin.

Education - Guides Jewish education within the Religious School by assuring that the Religious School philosophy and goals are achieved. Consistent with the Bylaws, the committee focuses on strategic and policy issues, resource allocation, establishing and monitoring priorities and ensuring the strength of Religious School leadership and personnel. Provides input to operational issues as requested. Recommends an annual operating and capital budget to the Budget & Finance Committee, monitors the use of funds and, when necessary, seeks additional funding. For more information regarding the Education Committee, please contact Committee Chairs Terri Coopersmith or Wendy Ringer. 

Fundraising - Creates and executes programs and events to raise revenue in support of synagogue activities. Supervises and coordinates the fundraising activities of all other Congregational committees. There is no current chair for this committee.  Please contact Andrea Blumberg at andrea.blumberg@betshalom.org for more information.

Inclusion - Increases access to all of Bet Shalom's activities for those with disabilities or special needs. Develops activities to increase awareness, and serves as a resource to the staff and other congregational leaders to make programs more accessible. For more information regarding the Inclusion Committee, please contact Committee Chair Barbara Luskin.

Landscape - Works in coordination with the Building Committee to design, install and maintain the Bet Shalom landscape. Works with those who use the grounds for ritual, educational and recreational use. For more information regarding the Landscape Committee, please contact Committee Chair Claude Riedel.

Leadership - Refines the current Leadership Development Program curriculum based on the current program's experience and implements refinements within the coming two years. For more information regarding the Leadership Committee, please contact Committee Chairs Jennifer Humber or Brian Shapiro.

Library - Supports the needs of our diverse families in all facets of their Jewish life and learning. Staffs the library; assists in cataloging, processing, shelving, and inventory of resources. Works with the education department and provides fundraising support. For more information regarding the Library Committee, please contact Committee Chairs Leanne Lehn or Wendy Rubinyi. 

Long Range Planning - Achieves consensus on a proactive and forward thinking blueprint for Bet Shalom's growth and development. Acts as a catalyst for new key initiatives of the congregation. The committee emphasizes anticipating congregation size and membership composition, projecting congregational requirements, identifying and prioritizing key initiatives, and formulating strategies regarding staffing/organization, finance, and facilities. For more information regarding the Long Range Planning Committee, please contact Committee Chair Michael Pysno.

Membership - Welcomes new members to the synagogue. Coordinates new member dinners, breakfasts, and the delivery of welcome baskets. For more information regarding the Membership Committee, please contact Committee Chair Carol Donen.

Oneg-Cookie Bank - Coordinates contributions to the cookie bank for Onegs, plans Oneg baking opportunities in the Bet Shalom kitchen and assists with the annual hammentaschen baking and sale. For more information regarding the Oneg-Cookie Bank Committee, please contact Committee Chair Christy Bateman.

Personnel - Oversees Human Resource areas at Bet Shalom. The Personnel committee is made up of selected appointed members and three congregants at large. The specific appointed members are the President, the Treasurer and the Education Chair, as well as the Board member with the Personnel committee portfolio. The three congregants at large may be invited because of specific professional training or credentials. Guests of the committee are the Rabbis, Executive and Education Directors. This committee deals with issues like reviewing and updating the employee handbook, reviewing and updating policies of the B'nai Mitzvah Tutors and evaluating a PTO policy vs. sick time and vacation time policies. A sub-committee of the Personnel Committee is the Compensation Committee, which makes recommendations to the Budget & Finance committee regarding annual salary increases for the staff (non-contract employees). This subcommittee is made up of the President, Treasurer and Personnel Chair. For more information regarding the Personnel Committee, please contact Committee Chair Jodi Upin.

Planned Giving and Endowment Committee - Provides annual earnings to support Bet Shalom's operations, and collects funds for investment and various other uses. This group has a separate Endowment Board of Trustees who cannot be Bet Shalom Board Members or Officers. For more information regarding the Endowment Committee, please contact one of the Committee Chairs, Michael Klein or Eric Bressler.

Preschool - Provides support to the Shalom Yeladim Director regarding operations, fund-raising, and development of policy for the preschool. Serves as a liaison between Shalom Yeladim and the Bet Shalom Board of Directors. For more information regarding the Preschool Committee, please contact Committee Chair, Sue Fust.

Ritual - Serves as a sounding board and liaison for the Rabbis and congregation regarding rituals and worship practices at Bet Shalom. Makes recommendations to the Rabbis and shares insight on ritual practices that are reached through study with the Rabbis with the congregation. For more information regarding the Ritual Committee, please contact Committee Chair Hillary Feder. 

Social Action - Provides opportunities for congregants interested in social action projects and ensures that Bet Shalom is represented in the Twin Cities' community of congregations that participate in Tikkun Olam. Partners with our educators and youth groups to foster a lifelong commitment to Tikkun Olam among our children and grandchildren.  Tikkun Olam is interpreted broadly to refer to volunteerism, advocacy and critical thinking about our world.  For more information regarding the Social Action Committee, please contact Committee Chair David Walk.

Ushering - Serves at Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat services as well as during holiday services. Greets congregants and guests, hands out programs, keeps a watchful eye on our youth and tidies up after services. For more information regarding the Ushering Committee, please contact Committee Chairs Carol Donen or Marty Kvansnik.

Youth Activities - Assists the professional staff in supporting and supervising the various congregational youth group programs and youth group activities for youth in all grades - including BeSTY, social, intercongregational and social action programs. For more information regarding the Youth Activities Committee, please contact Committee Chair Ted Blumberg.