The strength of our Jewish community and of our congregation depends on active and hard-working committees. Below, you will find descriptions of the important work each of these groups does. If you would like to become involved in the activities of any of the committees, please contact the current chairperson or email us. If you see the need for a group or committee that does not yet exist, contact any Board member or Rabbi Alexander.

Adult Education Committee
This committee sets the goals and direction of our adult programming and helps to coordinate the calendar of adult learning activities, including lectures on selected Jewish topics by guest speakers, Jewish-Catholic dialogues and films relevant to Jews and the Jewish experience. Committee members assist with programming and publicity. See the Adult Education page for more information.

Caring Committee
See the Caring Committee page for more information.

Cemetery
See the Cemetery page for more information.

Chevrah Kadisha
The role of the Chevrah Kadisha ("Holy Society") is to show honor to the dead by preparing the body for burial according to Jewish custom. There are separate coordinators for men and women. Those who wish to involve the Chevrah Kadisha should indicate this to Rabbi Alexander or to the Funeral Director when making funeral arrangements.

Chutzpah! Chorus
The Chutzpah! Chorus meets weekly to sing a wide variety of Jewish choral music in a fun, informal atmosphere. The chorus holds periodic public performances and also sings during selected religious services. Men and women who love to sing are welcome - no prior choral singing experience is necessary.

Finance Committee
Financial planning is necessary to the life of the congregation. This committee recommends financial policy to the Board, oversees the financial management of the synagogue, manages long-term financial planning and provides oversight of the monthly budget and balance sheet. The Board has delegated the collection and receiving of money for the synagogue to the Executive Director. The Treasurer oversees all money that is spent by the synagogue. These two positions work together with the Finance Committee to oversee the finances of the congregation.

Green Committee
In response to the Rabbi's message delivered during Rosh HaShanah services in the fall of 2006, the Green Committee was established to: make the synagogue, its building and procedures more environmentally friendly; educate our congregation and the Charlottesville community at large about environmental issues; and to promote, encourage and facilitate our congregation's engagement in conservation of energy and natural resources for environmental sustainability. The Green Committee is working on reducing CBI's carbon footprint through activities such as replacement of light bulbs with more energy-efficient ones, sponsoring and encouraging 'green' Kiddush luncheons and Onegs, creating a collaborative purchasing arrangement with an on-line company specializing in environmentally-friendly products (www.LetsGoGreen.com) and making available for purchase a CBI tote bag to encourage less paper and plastic bag use. Future projects include installation of a solar ner tamid and coordination of a lecture series (in collaboration with the Adult Education Committee).

IMPACT
The Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together (IMPACT) is an interfaith action organization comprised of several different religious groups in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, including Congregation Beth Israel. Each year, IMPACT chooses two areas of social injustice which lend themselves to a specific action that will promote systemic change. Using an expanding network of congregational members to research and then propose specific actions, the success of IMPACT ultimately depends on the attendance of as many congregants as possible at three interfaith rallies: the Fall Assembly where the two target areas are chosen; the Rally in February when the targeted actions are approved; and the Nehemiah Rally in March when the actions are presented to the appropriate officials, usually members of the City Council and the County Board of Supervisors.

Membership Committee
To build a true sense of Jewish community life in the Charlottesville area, we need the involvement of our Jewish families in the synagogue's activities. To that end, the Membership Committee continually seeks congregants who are interested in welcoming new members and nurturing existing members. The committee assings new members "buddy families," plans the annual New Member Shabbat dinner and service, creates profiles of new members for the monthly Bulletin and makes recommendations regarding membership policies.

Oneg Shabbat & Kiddush
Friday night before services and Saturday morning after services, CBI holds an Oneg Shabbat or Kiddush luncheon. The Oneg and Kiddush can be hosted by an individual, family or a group as a way to honor an anniversary, birthday, birth, or B'nei Mitzvah. Please contact the Oneg or Kiddush coordinator to volunteer to host an Oneg or Kiddush.

Preschool Committee
The Preschool Committee provides guidance and support to the Preschool Director and assists in the functioning of CBI Preschool & Kindergarten. Committee activities include review of the curriculum, safety and security, parent education, family programming, budget and tuition development, fundraising and promotion of the education of young Jewish children. For more information about CBI Preschool & Kindergarten, please visit www.cbipreschool.org.

Religious School Committee
The Religious School Committee supports the growth and development of religious education for children and their families at CBI. The committee assists in the development of curricula, policies and procedures for the Sunday Religious School (Kindergarten through high school) and the Wednesday Hebrew School (third through seventh grades). The committee provides guidance, planning and support for room parents, Junior Congregation and other educational programs for youth. The committee works closely with the Rabbi Educator and acts as a vehicle for congregants and school staff to communicate suggestions and concerns about the school. For more information about CBI's Religious School, please see the Religious School page.

Ritual Practice Committee
The Ritual Practice Committee works with the rabbi to ensure meaningful religious ritual practices at CBI for all occasions. These include all worship services, life cycle events, holidays and special programs. The committee also provides for the care of the synagogue's Torah scrolls, prayer books and all other ritual items.

Shabbat Connections
Shabbat Connections began as a grant-funded pilot initiative in 2007 to strengthen Shabbat practice and, at the same time, to deepen and grow the sense of community among CBI members, younger, older, singles, couples and families. With Shabbat (and holidays) as the venue, congregants gather together in small groups for study and celebration, attend Shabbat worship at CBI and periodically gather together for large group activities of mutual enrichment. It is hoped that the patterns of strengthened community that emerge from Shabbat Connections will have positive ripples throughout the CBI family.

CBI Sisterhood
See the Sisterhood page for more information.

Social Action Committee
The Social Action Committee works on projects to exemplify Jewish values and the mitzvot of our faith by our actions. The committee works with synagogue members to provide service to others, on both local and regional levels. The committee encourages involvement by providing service opportunities for specific projects as well as for ongoing activities.

Youth Committee
The Youth Committee supports Jewish and recreational programming and education, including Jr. and Sr. BITY (Beth Israel Temple Youth) and Camp Noar. The committee raises funds for CBI youth activities, and its members offer advice and support to youth programs.