Clubs, Committees, and Volunteer Opportunities
At Temple Shalom, the best way to meet new friends and become an integral part of our community is to get involved. Below, you'll find a list of clubs, committees, and volunteer opportunities, along with the contact information for each organizer.
Volunteer Opportunities
There are a variety of volunteer opportunities at Temple Shalom.
1. Be an usher on Friday nights! Click here to register.
2. Get involved with the Caring Community! Click here for more information.
3. Help to make sure everyone in our community has what they need with the Newton Community Freege! Click here for more information.
4. If you would like to volunteer at our reception desk on weekdays, contact the office here.
5. Become a new member "Buddy" and help them become part of our community by emailing Ellen Nussbaum
For a downloadable version of the Clubs and Committees below, please click here.
Co-Chair Howie Sholkin
Co-Chair Ellen Nussbaum
At Temple Shalom, we believe vibrant Jewish communal life is grounded in learning, spirituality and worship, and a commitment to social justice. Therefore, we exist to inspire our congregants to engage, find meaning, develop deep human connections, and gain fulfillment in the practice of Reform Judaism.
The Temple Shalom Belonging and Connection Committee (congregants and Board members) exists to help our temple community establish these connections! We want congregants to feel a sense of belonging within a community that knows them personally, building deep and enduring friendships.
We work closely with Temple staff, Board, and other committees to:
Welcome new members to our community.
Help members discover programs and activities that are meaningful to them.
Facilitate the formation of deep, meaningful connections with the synagogue, and fellow congregants.
Support staff and volunteers in planning, delivering and reflecting on the many events and activities at Temple Shalom.
We look forward to building a stronger, more connected community with you!
Are you looking to meet new Temple Shalom members? Do you want to become a more active member of the Temple community? Do you miss discussions about social, religious and family issues? Is a sports outing of interest?
Brotherhood brings the men of Temple Shalom together through programs including:
Community service projects
Breakfasts and events that benefit the Temple, build community and enhance our educational programs
Sponsoring the annual Red Cross Blood Drive
Shtarkers: Temple Shalom's Men's Softball Team (All levels welcome)
At Temple Shalom, kehillah (community) is a core value. Our Caring Community encourages and nurtures a compassionate community where we support each other during difficult times and celebrate joyous occasions together. Our volunteers welcome newborns, reach out to the ill, provide rides, connect with isolated members, and comfort the bereaved.
Chair Emily Sienkiewicz
As a development committee, we are working together:
To better connect our fellow congregants with the mission of Temple Shalom and our vision for the future.
To be more transparent about both the exciting opportunities and the challenges that face our community.
And, lastly, to grow a culture of giving and gratitude at Temple Shalom.
If anyone would like to join our development committee and help amplify our work, we would love to have you.
Chair Susan Lunin
Are you someone who enjoys gardening and wants to learn more about horticulture and gardening? Do you want to be able to make a special centerpiece for your holiday table? Join the Garden Club!
We are a group with a mission of promoting the knowledge and skills of floral design, horticulture and gardening while serving our community and supporting Temple Shalom in their floral and gardening requests.
Chair Barbara Hecht
More information coming soon!
Chair Samuel Brenner
More information coming soon!
Chair Will Korn
The mission of the Israel Engagement Committee is to build and strengthen connections between the Temple Shalom’s community and the state of Israel. Our core principle is the recognition that the existence of the state of Israel is essential to the safety and prosperity of world Jewry. To this end, we believe that Israeli Jews and American Jews must redouble their efforts to understand, respect, and support one another. We will endeavor to help our congregants derive personal meaning from an ongoing relationship with Israel, and to feel kinship with our brothers and sisters in Israel. 
Chair Dick Morrison
More info coming soon!
Co-Chair Lillian Sober Ain
Co-Chair Michael Zimmer
More info coming soon!
Chair Ethel Furst
Despite Newton’s image as an affluent suburb, too many of our neighbors struggle to put food on their tables. The Newton Freedge is one way we can help. A free, 24/7 outdoor refrigerator and pantry, the Freedge offers food and personal supplies to anyone who needs them.
Based on the operating principle of “take what you need, leave what you can,” the Freedge is a volunteer-led initiative, organized by the Newton Food Pantry in collaboration with other local organizations. Temple Shalom is a Senior Partner in this collective and has established a Temple Shalom Freedge Team of volunteers to fulfill our responsibilities.
We have committed to servicing the Freedge once a week, hopefully for years to come. As we move this important initiative forward, we hope our members will help support us.
Chair Allan Cole
Ushers ensure that everyone is seated comfortably and safely, answering questions and providing directions when needed. They are also responsible for maintaining order, helping with crowd control, and addressing any issues that arise. Ushers play a crucial role in creating a positive experience for attendees by being courteous, attentive, and proactive in their duties. No previous experience required! Young adults (post BMitzvah) welcome. Standing and seated roles available.
Co-chair Joanna Stavins
Co-chair Jennifer Borhegyi
In Sisterhood, female-identifying people of all ages join together for friendship, mitzvot, socializing, and learning. We hope you'll join us for the fun and interesting events we have planned this year, from museum outings and book readings to festive holiday celebrations and cooking workshops. Sisterhood spans and celebrates all ages and stages and puts great value on intergenerational connections and friendships. We are committed to tikkun olam (repairing the world) and our past presentations on reproductive rights, mental health, and domestic violence have earned us praise on the national Sisterhood stage. See you at Sisterhood!
The Tzedek Team is for all congregants interested in various types of Social Justice projects. Tzedek Team members have been involved in ongoing projects such as the Freedge and Family Table collection to fight hunger, household collection efforts to help rehoused people, advocacy efforts such as the Reproductive Justice Initiative, and resettlement assistance for new immigrants. A monthly Tzedek newsletter highlights opportunities in the area and ways you can get involved. The Tzedek Team can help you get going in YOUR favorite initiative! Contact Elizabeth Connolly (econnolly@srsmedical.com) for more information. Contact Mitchell Benedetti (mbenedetti@templeshalom.org) to be added to the Tzedek Mailing list.
Reproductive Justice Initiative
The Temple Shalom Reproductive Justice Initiative (RJI) supports the right to choose when and if to have a child and to raise a child in a safe environment. The RJI has three component parts: education, advocacy and direct service. We present several educational programs a year; partner with the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action to alert congregants of opportunities to speak out in support of reproductive justice issues especially to their legislators; and organize direct service projects to benefit the patients of HealthQ Reproductive Health in Lawrence.
For more information, contact Becca Yudkoff
Welcome to our vibrant community for families with children from infancy to age 5! We provide a wide range of social and developmental programs for parents, children, and caregivers, including our monthly open classrooms (Little Explorers), Tot Shabbat, community celebrations, meet-ups, and more! All of our events are open to the community (members & non-members), and we look forward to collaborating with you to explore new and exciting ways to bring our community closer together!
For more information, contact Lois Maisel
Do you enjoy playing Mahjong? Join Temple Shalom's Mahjong club. This group meets every Tuesday at 1pm in Room 202.
For more information, contact Fred Cohen
Come spend Shabbat morning with Temple Shalom's Minyan and Torah Study group!
For more information, contact Barbara Hecht
The Open Your Eyes Fund is dedicated to strengthening the relationship of Temple Shalom members to the arts to deepen our connections to Judaism and Jewish learning. Established in 2012, the Fund honors the memory and creative spirit of Anita Winer, a founding member of Temple Shalom. The mission of the fund is to bring us together to better see, understand, and appreciate the beauty of our Jewish heritage. Open Your Eyes is administered by a volunteer committee, including Temple clergy and Board members. The committee brings innovative programs and events that embrace the full range of the arts to our Temple community. Past events have been organized by themes that explore core Jewish ideas and include Shine the Light, Celebrating Creation and Creativity, and Entering the Heart of Jewish Stories.
For more information, contact Renee Brant
An hour of Shabbat-inspired stillness and reflection led by members of our community. Shabbat Mind includes guided imagery, meditation, discussion, and sharing. Appropriate for all experience and comfort levels.
For more information, contact Cantor Keren
Music is at the heart of congregational life at Temple Shalom! It imbues each moment with meaning, enhances our joy in moments of celebration and soothes our hearts in times of sorrow. If you like to sing and want to get to know members of our temple community while learning new Jewish music, Shir Shalom is the place for you! You’ll have the opportunity to participate in services and community programs throughout the year, including High Holy Day services!
For more information, contact Becca Yudkoff
It takes a village to raise a child! We find deep wisdom in this saying and hope to help all NS families find or create this village at the Nursery School and Temple Shalom. Our mission is to build connections between families, organize whole school and class meetups, play dates, parents-only meetings and other gatherings; and fundraising efforts to support our teachers, families, and community.
For more information, contact Liz Shiro or Marriah Vengroff
The Parent Advisory Committee is a group of parents who want to help build community among the K-7 families. The Committee works together with Marriah and Liz to make sure we are meeting the needs of our students. We look to this group for volunteers to help with our bigger projects like Purim Palooza and latke frying! Members of this committee may also help out by sitting at the front desk on Sunday to be a greeter and help be connectors for families.
Do you have innovative or exciting ideas to help parents connect? Do you care about education and community, and want to help envision the future of youth engagement across the grades? Maybe you’d like to learn more about our education program, or connect with other parents who care about building connections? If so, the Parent Advisory Committee is the place for you!