Congregation B'nai Israel

2710 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 | (203) 336-1858 | info@cbibpt.org |

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Ways to Get Involved at B’nai Israel

B’nai Israel Brotherhood provides camaraderie and fraternity and is an integral part of our synagogue community. Some of our successful programs include our weekly Brotherhood Breakfast after Shabbat morning services and Religious School barbeques courtesy of the “Pressure Cookers”. Brotherhood also sponsors Sunday movies at the synagogue and guest speakers. The Brotherhood offers financial support to the Religious School Scholarship fund as well as many local charities. Involvement in the Brotherhood is a wonderful way to make and maintain friendships and engage in synagogue life.
Jim Greenberg      jim@unionmachinery.com

The Budget Committee is responsible for tracking and reporting on the synagogue’s financial situation to the Board of Trustees. Each spring the committee proposes a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The committee holds a series of meetings with synagogue leaders and staff to discuss their budget proposals. The Budget Committee is charged with creating a balanced budget proposal that considers the needs of the synagogue with its best projections for future revenue and expenses.
David Herbst       herbstdj@gmail.com

The Chesed or Caring Committee offers meals to families when illness occurs or at other times when household routines are disrupted. We provide rides for congregants for synagogue programs and health appointments as well as in-home visits and phone calls to those who are alone, isolated or unable to leave their home. Our congregants are supportive and helpful to each other in times of need and celebration.
Rabbi Evan Schultz           eschultz@cbibpt.org

CONECT – Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut is an organization of 15,000 people from 25 religious institutions ranging geographically from Norwalk to East Haven. These institutions are ethnically diverse, a mix of urban and suburban and multi-faith. The members of CONECT discover, research, analyze, and articulate a powerful moral voice to negotiate with business and government leaders regarding social, economic, and political issues that affect our member congregations.
Jeff Schwartz         jeff.schwartz2991@gmail.com
Emily Lehrman     emilylehrman@gmail.com

The Festival Committee plans and executes programming for the holidays of Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Shavuot and Purim. We aim to bring fun, fresh and engaging ideas to help our community celebrate these holidays together.
Naomi Erwich           naomimerwich@gmail.com

The House Committee or Facilities Committee is charged with the care and direction of the physical building and grounds of B’nai Israel. We develop long-range capital budgets for upgrades and maintenance. We work in conjunction with the Art and Design Committee and facilities rental to keep our synagogue safe, efficient and aesthetically up-to-date.
Brian Ringelheim         brian@globeequipment.com

The Investment and Endowment Committee manages the congregation’s investment portfolio and advises the Board of Trustees and officers regarding this investment portfolio as appropriate. Investments include the congregation’s endowment funds, The Fields Estate, The Building Fund and Special Purpose Funds. The Investment and Endowment Committee meets at least twice annually with our investment advisor to review our portfolio performance and to consider adjusting our investments.
Jerry Saunders       jsaunders1012@gmail.com

The Membership Committee welcomes new members who join our B’nai Israel community.  We deliver welcome Shabbat bags, communicate with new members to ensure they are informed of new and ongoing events and plan social events.
Laurie Gaugler          lgaugler@cbibpt.org

The Religious Practices Committee meets 3-4 times a year with B’nai Israel’s clergy. We address a variety of issues relating to ritual practice at the synagogue. Our goal is to ensure that the spirituality of our religious services are comprehensive and inclusive.
Linda Koski            lindaskoski@gmail.com

The Religious School Committee The Community Building Team focuses on our school’s day-to day operations. They coordinate the Room Parent program, special events like the Book Fair, Purim Carnival, picnics and special dinner events for each grade. This team’s job is to bring people together and help build relationships between the families in our school. The Vision Team is where we are imagining the future of religious education at B’nai Israel. Here is where we regularly ask “What are your hopes for your children?” “What dreams do you have about your family?” The members of this team are our imagineers. We are constantly exploring how to align our curriculum and teaching methodologies with the values of our 21st century congregation. We seek new ways to help teachers provide our students with the Jewish tools they will need to create meaning in their lives.
Rachel Cohen      thisbe14@aol.com       

Tikkun Olam – Our Tikkun Olam (repair the world) goal is to perform acts of caring and kindness and help to repair the world. Some of our many activities include preparing monthly dinners for shelters, monthly Mitzvah Mornings where we meet in the community to support local programs such as planting a community garden in Bridgeport or serving dinner at a local Veterans home. We are always looking to expand our reach to help those less fortunate in our community and beyond.
Nina Silberman        ninahv@aol.com

Tent of Abraham – Tent of Abraham began as a means of increasing communication, appreciation and interaction among people of differing faiths in Greater Bridgeport. We promote opportunities for communication where barriers between peoples are broken down with the goal of creating connections between the many different faith groups in our area. We host events celebrating holidays and educational opportunities where we can learn together as an interfaith community.
Ronnie Dubrowin             ronmidwife@aol.com

Women of B’nai Israel – Women of B’nai Israel or WBI is our newly-evolved Sisterhood, an intergenerational group of active, involved, caring and sharing women.  Women of B’nai Israel funds important and varied initiatives, including funding scholarships, purchasing furniture for our BIFTY (B’nai Israel Federation of Temple Youth – high school group) lounge, and underwriting our popular seasonal Sisters’ Schmooze, as well as Game Nights.
women@cbibpt.org