Netivot Shalom has a wide range of programs and a diverse membership that welcome your participation! If you haven’t already joined us for services or one of our classes, we invite you to do so. One of our great strengths is the active participation of our members in all aspects of congregational life. We are a participatory, egalitarian congregation. Members lead services, plan classes and events, give drashot, and celebrate Shabbat, festivals, and lifecycle events together in our homes and at shul. This list of our committees and initiatives provides an overview of the many opportunities to participate in our community.
Click the arrow to view contact information and recent updates for our committees and initiatives.
ADULT EDUCATION
Adult Education organizes opportunities for the congregation to study together, from after-kiddush talks (may they come again speedily in our days), to Scholars in Residence, evening classes, and regular torah study and talmud study sessions. Help us come up with ideas for new classes and talks and then make them happen!
chair
Joel Gerwein
torahstudy@netivotshalom.org
CHEVRA KADISHA
The Chevra Kadisha Committee (“sacred community”) tends to the deceased and to the mourners.
chair
Mary Breiner
chevrakadisha@netivotshalom.org
CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUP
Email Us
CLIMATE TZEDEK
Climate Tzedek is a coordinating committee that works to engage our Netivot Shalom community to address the climate crisis and promote environmental justice. We work to support education and action at the household, synagogue, local, state, national and international level to cut greenhouse gas emissions, including moving off of fossil fuels. This includes promoting a fair and just transition to 100% renewable energy and engaging in a range of other actions that nurture healthy and sustainable communities and ecosystems. Climate justice issues are also racial justice issues, and we do this work as Jewish anti-racists.
Co-chairs
Mark Schlosberg and Ariel Gold
climatework@netivotshalom.org
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (Fundraising and Outreach)
Our community is stronger when we all participate. Our committee fosters connections by reaching out to our community to encourage support and encourage participation. Members of the congregation are encouraged to renew and to get involved. If you like getting to know our members and inspiring those to give back to their community, then you may enjoy serving on this committee. In addition, the Legacy Chair works in concert with the Development Committee.
YOUTH EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The Education Committee represents a cross-section of the congregation’s stakeholders in youth and family programming and education and serves as a liaison between the Youth and Family Programming Coordinator and the congregation. The committee acts as a sounding board and brainstorming group for developing program ideas. They help evaluate priorities and support the Coordinator in areas such as family engagement, recruitment, curriculum assessment, communications, event calendar, budget, and ritual life practice. The committee also supports fundraising efforts, as well as the implementation of youth and family events.
Chair
Sarah Lefton
FINANCE COMMITTEE
This committee oversees the monetary health of CNS. This includes: monitoring current payables and receivables, helping formulate and monitor the annual budget, develop and approve financial policies and procedures with a focus on strategic, longer-range planning for the synagogue and other special projects, as they arise.
CHAIR
Norma Kaufman
treasurer@netivotshalom.org
GEMILUT HASADIM (“bestowing kindnesses”, such as caring for the ill)
Provides meals, rides, visits, calls, etc. to members who need help.
Email Us
HOUSE COMMITTEE
A great committee to be a part of – no meetings, no agendas! Just be on hand before, during, and after services every now and then to help open the building, set up chairs, etc.
COORDINATOR
Serena Heaslip, Facility Manager
facility@netivotshalom.org
RETREAT COMMITTEE
Help plan Netivot Shalom’s next retreat scheduled for Spring 2026.
CHAIR
David Gill and Emily Dirksen
retreat@netivotshalom.org
RITUAL COMMITTEE
This committee discusses issues related to how ritual services and events operate, including organizing volunteers to help coordinate these events.
Chair
Ron Sires
ritualchair@netivotshalom.org
Coordinators
Alice Webber (Torah Reading/Leining)
leining@netivotshalom.org
Cynthia Whitehead (Drash)
drash@netivotshalom.org
Eugene Berg (Davening)
davening@netivotshalom.org
Jacob Richards (Gabbai)
jacobrichards3@gmail.com
SECURITY AND ACCESS COMMITTEE
The mission of the Security and Access Committee is to enable all members, guests, and staff of the CNS community to feel safe, secure and welcome. We oversee improvements to the physical security of the building; provide advice and consultation; develop policy and procedures; train for emergency response; assess needs; grant writing.
CHAIR
Lynne Yellenberg
securitycomm@netivotshalom.org
CURRENT NEWS
Current priorities: updated emergency protocols for those using the building; planning future security improvements, including a new emergency exit path to Addison Street; resuming Incident Command System training; fundraising. We are looking for a few new SAC members to help us with those tasks.
V‘ZOT YISRAEL (“and this is Israel”)
The V’zot Yisrael Committee is dedicated to educating the CNS community about all aspects of Iife in Israel through the presentation of Israeli films, After-Kiddush Talk guest speakers and in the V’Zot Yisrael Book Group Discussion. Through our observance of Yom Atzmaot, Israel Independence Day, and Yom haZikaron, we honor the memory of those who fought in wars to defend Israel and to those who died in terror attacks. Our goal is to strengthen our understanding and ties to Israel, the homeland of the Jewish people.
Chair
Karen Pliskin
vezotyisrael@netivotshalom.org
Current News
Check the calendar to keep up with our other programs, such as film and lecture discussions.
Y’zot Israel Book Group: Literature is one of Israel’s most interesting and successful “exports.” Join us in reading a variety of Israeli authors — the discussion is lively and held on Zoom. Click here to see a list of books that we have read. Click here to see suggestions for future book readings.
YOUNG ADULTS
A home for progressive young adults with opportunities to serve, learn, and connect. For folks 18 and over.
Email Us
Current News
Sign up for our email updates here, and check out and follow our Facebook page for current event information. We are recruiting new committee members too, email us to help shape our beautiful community!
COORDINATORS (not listed above)
Many volunteers regularly coordinate programs and services for our communities outside of a committee or initiative. Click the arrow to view their contact info.
Greeters – Andrea Altschuler
Contact: andrea.altschuler@gmail.com
Kiddush – Tamar Fendel and Lynne Yellenberg
Contact: kiddushcoordinator@netivotshalom.org
Knetivot Knits – Sandra Gore
Contact: slgore@maybug.com
Library – Barbara Bibel and Sandra Gore
Contact: cnslibrary@netivotshalom.org
New Babies – R.Chai Levy
Contact: rabbi@netivotshalom.org
Shabbat B’Yachad – Alex Diamant
Contact: sby@netivotshalom.org
Wednesday Morning Minyan – Ron Sires
Contact: rsires@maybug.com