Committee Chairs
#OhebStrong
Our members give their time and energy to the groups that keep Oheb Shalom thriving as a spiritual, social and educational community.
Interested in joining a committee or getting more information? Contact the committee chair(s) listed below:
1860 Legacy Society: Paul Schechner
The Legacy team encourages and informs members to include Oheb Shalom in their estate plans.
Bobrow Kosher Food Pantry: Sandra Kaplan (Chair); Meredith Katz (Volunteer Organizer); Meredith Lambert
The Bobrow Kosher Food Pantry provides groceries, toiletries and disposable household items to members of the community experiencing food insecurity. Donations and volunteers are always needed and welcome.
Budget Committee: Robin Sherer
This committee is responsible for preparing and monitoring the congregation's annual budget. It meets monthly, September through May of each year.
Free Will Committee: Richard Prince and Paul Schechner
This committee is responsible for Oheb Shalom's largest annual fundraising program. Voluntary contributions help us maintain affordable membership dues, ensuring inclusivity for all within our community.
House Committee: Jay Murnick
This committee ensures that our building space is inviting and well-maintained, both inside and out.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Jenny Nesenjuk
Oheb Shalom seeks to celebrate and promote the stunning diversity within our community. Our members make up a mosaic of cultural, ethnic and racial differences, sexualities and gender identities, differing abilities, multigenerational and interfaith families. The DEI Committee's mission is to create a welcoming home of acceptance through advocacy and education. With pride and joy, we invite all to participate in our social and religious life. The DEI Committee is composed of five sub-committees: Pride, Inclusion, Interfaith, Multiracial and Newcomers (families and members who have immigrated or relocated to the U.S. from other countries).
Investment Committee: Bob Sochor
This committee is charged with the responsibility of handling, investing and managing congregational funds in a wise, responsible and reasonable manner.
Lifelong Learning: Allan Mendels
We encourage members to be active participants in Judaism by providing engaging speakers, seminars and small group programs that appeal across generations and different levels of learning. One People / Many Voices / Join the Conversation.
Library Committee: Linda Willner
The Fan and Hyman M. Jacobs Library is always open and available to the Oheb Shalom community. A special card system even enables congregants to take out books on Shabbat. Visit our library page, where you can also link to our collection.
Men’s Club: Stan Spiegelman and Daniel Blint-Midrony
The Oheb Shalom Men's Club believes in "giving back" by conducting fundraisers and giving our time and energy in support of various charitable projects. First and foremost, we are a social organization. Join us to make some new friends, spend time with old pals and make a difference.
Miriam Sisterhood: Jo Ann Boyko and Eve Wasserman
Our award-winning Sisterhood awaits you! Founded in 1880, we strive to offer quality, relevant programs for women of all ages, while supporting one another and our beloved synagogue. As one of the founding members of our parent organization, Women's League for Conservative Judaism (WLCJ), we take pride in our group, which offers something for everyone. We contribute annual gifts to Oheb, including the Mickey Fried Preschool, Zeman Religious School and our b'nai mitzvah students. In addition, we support the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), which educates our rabbis, cantors and Jewish educators in the Conservative movement, through the Torah Fund campaign. We look forward to welcoming back our members of many years and our newest trendsetters!
Morning Minyan: Paul Nagelberg
Our morning minyan meets every day of the year, Monday through Friday at 8am and Sunday at 9am. Memorial prayers for loved ones (El Maley Rachamim) can be recited on days when the Torah is read (Mondays and Thursdays). Prayers for healing can be said privately every day and are recited publicly when the Torah is read.
Music Committee: Robin Sherer
We help to foster an environment of musical appreciation and advocacy within the congregation and work to showcase Jewish culture through arts and music.
Program Council: Doug Magid and Leo Gordon
The Program Council oversees the Oheb Shalom program calendar.
Purim Project: Leslie Gilman and Debra Ginsberg
This important fundraiser enables congregants to fulfill the mitzvah of mishloach manot by sending gifts of food during Purim. This committee oversees the purchasing, bagging and distribution of the Purim bags.
Religious Affairs Committee: Stuart Schulman
This committee consults with the clergy on matters of prayer service design and innovation, as well as acting as a sounding board for the Rabbi in her capacity as Mara D'atra. Recent work has included reviewing and codifying shul policies on our practices on Shabbat and festivals, Kashrut in the building, inclusion of non-Jewish individuals in various aspects of synagogue life, policies regarding funerals and mourning at Oheb, and standards for our B'nai Mitzvah celebrations.
Security Committee: Lorraine Survis and Sharon Pidgeon
This committee focuses on the safety and security of our members and our building through training, equipment, procedures and more.
Repair the World (Tikun Olam): Susie Nakley
Social justice is a foundation of Jewish ethical, philosophical and spiritual traditions. At Oheb Shalom, we practice Judaism with a sense of responsibility for cultivating peace, love and justice to repair our world, locally and globally. Let's engage our collective energy and make a difference.
Social Justice Committee: Abe Bunis and Terri Harrison
This committee was formed by members in the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd and the increased awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement. The group's objective is to create programs to discuss systemic racism and unconscious bias, to become more aware of social justice issues and to create opportunities for positive action.
Ushering Committee: Gloria Aaron
We welcome everyone who comes to our synagogue to pray with us.
YOFI (Young Oheb Family Initiative):
Want to socialize and learn with other families with young children? YOFI activities serve families raising Jewish children under 8 years of age.
Zeman Religious School Board: Freyda Mechlowicz
The Zeman School Board provides guidance and direction for our Zeman School program, as well as our youth and family services.
