Finance Committee
The Synagogue Finance Committee is responsible for the general oversight of all financial matters, from operating and capital budgets, to current investments, to short- and long-term financial planning for the fiscal health and growth of the RJC. The Synagogue Finance Committee is not involved with bookkeeping or cash management, which is the function of the RJC Treasurer.
Fundraising Committee
As you might imagine, keeping an organization like the RJC in the black requires more than just membership dues. The Fundraising Committee is responsible for bringing in additional dollars to keep our busy community going strong, both today and in the coming years. This committee solicits tzedakah in the form of planned giving, yearbook advertising, and family dedicated giving, in addition to orchestrating special fundraising events, capital campaigns, and writing grants.
In conjunction with these activities, the Fundraising Committee also concerns itself with non-monetary gifts such as goods and services.
House Committee
The House Committee is responsible for the RJC's physical plant, including all aspects of the building's structure and systems. This committee is charged with keeping the RJC in good condition, both inside and out. This includes arranging for repairs and upgrades to the building and grounds and dealing with technology issues such as telephony, computers and Internet service. In addition, the House Committee is charged with set-up and coordination of cleanup for events, coordinating rentals, and purchasing maintenance items. It also oversees the Aesthetics Committee, a subcommittee responsible for the details of the building's decor.
Liaison Committee
In many ways, the Liaison Committee is a rabbi-congregation “relationship success” committee. Its main duties are to provide the rabbi with constructive and confidential feedback on how members perceive him/her personally and professionally, and to offer confidential guidance on how to interact with individual members in given situations and contexts.
Mazon (Food) Committee
The Mazon Committee is a very busy committee that works with many other committees to set policy, coordinate and oversee all food matters of the RJC, from matters of Kashrut and keeping the kitchen in supplies, to dealing with individuals bringing in food for events as well as outside catering services. The Food Committee helps coordinate the food arrangements for potluck suppers, Onegs, Shabbat meals and Kiddush luncheons, meals of condolence, holiday meals and seders. Almost every RJC event has food as at least one aspect, and the Food Committee is there to help make that aspect a success.
Membership Committee
The RJC Membership Committee is charged with maintaining and growing the synagogue's membership, to foster a vital, vibrant Jewish community here in central Vermont. The Membership Committee is responsible for outreach to individuals and families who are interested in learning more about the RJC, as well as extending involvement and interest within the current membership, and providing general information to the community at large. This committee works with other committees to publicize information, evaluate the dues structure, and deal with general issues pertaining to affiliation.
New Year's Card & Yizkor Book
The New Year's Card and Yizkor Book are two important fundraisers that are produced during the High Holidays each year.
Newsletter Committee
The Newsletter Committee produces the RJC's quarterly publication, The Whole Megillah.
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee works on behalf of the membership to assist in the selection and nomination of the slate of officers and board members each year.
Ritual Committee
The Religious Committee helps to establish guidelines for conduct of rituals during Shabbat and holidays; is responsible for selection and training of the gabbai; establishes guidelines for and extends invitations for participation on the bimah; and addresses various ritual requirements of the RJC community.
Service Committee
The Service Committee deals with matters of Hesed (spiritual care and kindness) such as visiting ailing members and helping those in need, and assisting members in bereavement, whether working with the Mazon Committee to arrange for meals of condolence; Hevre Kadisha (burial preparation) or, when needed, assisting with funeral home relations. In addition to its work within the RJC community, the Service Committee also represents the synagogue in working with local charities or volunteer efforts within the greater Rutland community.
Sisterhood
Sisterhood provides social and service opportunities throughout the course of the year, from meetings and potluck gatherings to book club, to organizing and hosting our much-heralded semi-annual Rummage sales and other fundraising activities in support of the Rutland Jewish Center and various area organizations, such as our annual Red Cross Blood Drive.