Committees

The Adult Education Committee sets the goals and direction of our adult programming and helps to coordinate the calendar of adult learning activities. Committee members assist with programming and publicity. The Adult Education Committee organizes a film series and a lectures series. They plan these events at annual or semi-annual meetings, and are open to suggestions from congregants about both film and lecture possibilities.

Committee Chair: Nancy Summers

The Building Committee is responsible for the review, analysis, and monitoring of building needs and projects at CBI. The goal is to assure that the historic but aging building is maintained and protected in a professional and financially viable way, with priorities based on urgency, cost, and need.

Committee Chair: Diane Hillman

The mission of the Caring Committee is to build a caring community that provides help and assistance to CBI members who are experiencing life transitions or crises such as childbirth, illness, or death and need support. The Caring Committee serves as a connecting point to support CBI members in time of need. Opportunities to contribute include providing meals or gift cards for meals, transporting those meals to members, rides, visitation, and telephone check-ins. We know that caring for others builds connection and community, along with joy and a sense of purpose. The Caring Committee is open to all that wish to serve in this mitzvah.

Caring Committee requests should be directed to the CBI Administrative Office.

The purpose of the CBI Council is to provide a broader context for discussion of current and anticipated issues. The Council provides input on topics brought to it by the Board of Directors, makes suggestions, and brings relevant issues to the Board for review and/or action. It is composed of leaders within the CBI community, including committee chairs, Trustees not currently serving on the Board, program directors , and past presidents.

The Hebrew Cemetery of Charlottesville is maintained as a service to the local Jewish community by Congregation Beth Israel. The Hebrew Cemetery at Riverview was recently added to provide higher inventory of and options for burial plots. Committee members provide asssistance when selecting plots, correspondence with families to ensure accordance with Jewish customs, check cemetery regularly, and oversee all aspects of property maintenance.

Committee Chair: Kent Schlussel

Financial planning is necessary to the life of the congregation. The Finance Committee makes a detailed estimate of the income and operating expenses for the ensuing year, submits an annual budget for the ensuing year, monitors and reports income and operating expenses to the Board of Directors, and recommends policy for the Board’s approval on financial matters related to the fiduciary responsibility of the Board of Directors. The chair of the Finance Committee is the Treasurer of the Board of Directors.

Treasurer: Louis Citron

The Forest School Committee provides guidance and support to the Director of Education, and assists in the functioning of CBI Forest School. Committee activities include parent programming, family programming, budget and tuition development, fundraising, and promotion of the education of young Jewish children. The committee assists in outreach to the parents and acts as a sounding board for Forest School decision making.

Committee Chair: Mara Sprafkin

The Green Team develops strategies and processes to reduce energy use by becoming carbon neutral, to educate and change behaviors of our community about the need for conservation, to collaborate with other local, regional, and national groups, and to serve as a role model locally and regionally.

Committee Chair: Diane Hillman