Volunteer Opportunities

ASBI Committees

Chessed Committee

Organizes the delivery of food to shiva homes; helps families with a newborn by providing meals and/or baby-sitting; coordinates hospital visits as well as visits to elderly or those who are unable to leave their homes; recruits volunteers from within the shul membership to take part in these tasks; initiates new chessed projects as needs arise.

Chair: TBD

Email: Chesed@asbi.org

Education Committee

Designs each semester of adult education classes at the ASBI Torah Study Institute to ensure that it caters to a variety of skill levels and interests; sets up visiting scholars; and plans any educational events at ASBI.

Chair: Rabbi Paul Saiger

Email: Education@asbi.org

Family Programs Committee

Coordinates all aspects of children’s programming at the synagogue, including Shabbat and Holiday children’s services, Friday night family dinners, and all family events.

Chair: Elise Ecanow Mlotek

Subcommittee: B’nai Mitzvah

Parents of B’nai Mitzvah-aged children thinking about how to best serve our growing group of B’nai Mitzvah.

Email: Familycommittee@asbi.org

Finance Committee

Under the guidance of the treasurer, helps create the annual budget, tracks operating expenses, coordinates budgets for special events, and oversees the shul’s investment strategies.

Chair: Dov Robinson

Email: treasurer@asbi.org

Hospitality Committee

Arranges housing and meals for guests to the community; coordinates Shabbat meals for anyone looking to be a host or a guest; initiates new programs to help encourage hospitality within the community.

Chairs: David Dreytser and Marty Goodman

Email: hospitality@asbi.org

House Committee

Responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the building and grounds. Makes recommendations to the board regarding security issues and the aesthetics of the synagogue.

Chair: Jeremy Treister

Email: House@asbi.org

Israel Committee

Runs social and educational programming related to Israel; coordinates monthly Friday night dinner and Learning Lunch on Shabbat; organizes annual Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day), and Yom Yerushalayim celebrations.

Chair: Herbert Eiseman

Email: Israel@asbi.org

Kiddush Committee

Plans the weekly Kiddush and coordinates with sponsoring parties.

Chair: Julie Weisman

Email: Kiddush@asbi.org

Mikvah Committee

Coordinates regular upkeep and functioning of the mikvah; initiates new educational events surrounding the use of the mikveh.

Chairs: Dr. Naomi Fogel and Emily Gottlieb

Email: Mikvah@asbi.org

Ritual Committee

Advises the rabbi and the Programming and Ritual Director in all matters relating to the religious life of the synagogue.

Chair: Dr. Sarah Unterman

Subcommittee: The Gabbinate

Coordinates Torah readers, leaders of davening, aliyot and honors.

Email: Ritual@asbi.org

Social Action Committee

Acts as ASBI’s arm in social justice work around Lakeview and the larger Chicago community; sends delegates to the Uptown Café soup kitchen every month; supplies volunteers and prepares food for families with hospitalized children staying at the Ronald McDonald House; works with the Save Darfur Coalition; initiates new service projects at the synagogue.

Chair: Rudy Ash

Email: SocialAction@asbi.org

Ways and Means

Manages all fundraising efforts of the shul which include the major holiday- related efforts such as the Yom Kippur Appeal, organizing the mishloach manot for Purim (includes soliciting goods, packing and pizza night, etc), and coordinating “coupons” with Jewel to maximize on returns to the shul at Pesach; may promote non-holiday related special events that help raise funds for the shul.

Chair: Will Lennon

Email: Waysandmeans@asbi.org