Our Committees

About Us

Committees and Chairpersons

Adult Education: Charles Cohen
The Adult education Committee seeks to enrich our congregation and the greater community by offering a wide range of educational programs of the highest quality. A sample of our programs include: Weekly Nosh and Knowledge Class, Book and lunch Lecture Series, Havruta Study groups, Fall and Srping Lecture Series, Film Series, Scholar-in-Residence Weekend, Torathon- an evening of Jewish learning.

Books & Bagels: Ellen Wertheim
Description of this committee is forthcoming.

Bridge Committee: Edward Davidson
A bridge group meets every Monday and Wednesday mornings at 9:30 AM. Members and Non-Members are welcome.

Catering Committee: Ritchard Rosen
This committee acts as a liason between our exclusive caterer and the Fair Lawn Jewish Center.

Cemetery:
Description of this committee is forthcoming.

Dues Abatements:
Description of this committee is forthcoming

Finance: Brian Frisch
Prepare Center Budget

Gifts and Memorials: Myra Rosenblatt
The Gifts and Memorials Committee seeks and approves donations and gifts from Center members and outside organizations that wish to honor or memorialize a group or individual. Based on a set of rules approved by the Center’s Board of Directors, the committee reviews requests and works with families or organizations to assure that the interests of all parties are considered. Anyone seeking to make a donation to the Center that has a monetary value of at least $5,000.00 should contact the Center’s Executive Director who will direct the request to the Committee. The Center maintains a list of open items that can be endowed at a family’s request. In the past, the committee has approved donations of works of art, endowments that name rooms in a person’e honor, and scholarships of all sorts.

House Committee: Alex Shinkar
Review and make recommendations for all building maintenance.

Investment Committee: Ken Spokony
Manages Center investments.

Israel Political Action: Gary Baskind
The State of Israel, the ancestral and modern homeland of the Jewish people, is central to Judaism. The mission of the Israel Committee of the Fair Lawn Jewish Center/Congregation Bnai Israel is to support and promote Israel among congregants and the larger community. The Israel Committee brings speakers, films, lecturers, informational materials, and cultural programming to the community. Our aim is to increase awareness of Israel, encourage political action and advocacy relevant to Israel, promote travel to Israel, and provide opportunities for dialogue and education.

Religious School Committee: Adam Lifson
Welcome to our innovative and successful Religious School! The FLJC Religious School has been growing and continuously improving its programs and events under the fine leadership of our school director, Cantor Wasser, and the active members of the Religious School Committee. Our committee serves as an advisory board for the school director and as an active member of our Shul’s Board of Directors.

Our Religious School Committee works closely with Cantor Wasser and Rabbi Roth to support our school’s mission by representing the voices of our congregation and our school’s families. We meet monthly to set policies and guidelines, discuss suggestions and concerns, share ideas and assure our students receive the highest quality educational program possible. We welcome our family members to participate in our committee by sharing your thoughts, talents, and ideas. Please look for our flyers informing you of meeting dates, so you may join us in supporting your children’s education. It’s a worthy and rewarding opportunity for you and your family, as your involvement sends powerful messages to your children about how important their Judaic education truly is. We look forward to seeing you soon! You’ll especially enjoy our refreshments!

Jr. Congregation Committee:
Junior Congregation at the Fair Lawn Jewish Center/Congregation Bnai Israel creates an environment for our youth that will instill in them an appreciation of davening in a group setting. The services provide our children an opportunity to experience, develop and reinforce their skills as they actively participate in service and rituals. The goal is to make them comfortable and kindle their desire to eventually take part in adult services. Junior Congregation is designed specifically to reach each age group. The children enjoy meaningful and interactive programming that is tied to what they learn in their religious instruction whether in the FLJC/CBI Religious School, Solomon Schechter or elsewhere. At the end of services, the children join the main sanctuary to conclude Shabbat services-bringing the entire congregation together. Junior Congregation Services are held Shabbat mornings from 10:30 AM-12:00 PM beginning in September and running through June. All children in first through sixth grades are welcomed. Have your children join their friends and have some fun while participating in Shabbat Services!

Kiddush Committee: Jerry Weiner & Floyd Levy
Designed to take the stress out of your Bar/Bat Mitzvah Kiddush. Our talented and creative team will create a kiddush for any occasion that will be a treat for your palate as well as your pocketbook.

Membership Committee: Diana Finkel & Heidi Seigel-Laddy
“Do not separate yourself from the community.” – Pirkei Avot 2:5. Hillel’s words remind us that jews have an obligation to be part of their community. With these words in mind, the FLJC Membership Committee is working with the entire FLJC family to build a warm and welcoming environment to welcome new and prospective members. Our mission is to attract, welcome, integrate, and retain Center members and we are concerned with all aspects of membership, including introducing new members to the congregation, and integrating those new members into Center life. Each new FLJC member family is personally welcomed to the Center with personal attention from members of our committee, as well as our religious leadership, and we aim to include all members, new and old, in our activities. We also believe that the responsibility of attracting and retaining new members is shared across the entire FLJC community. We look forward to meeting and working with all of you.

Men’s Progress Club: Ira Lieman

News & Views: Norma Pollack, Editor

Library Committee: Norma Pollack

Nursery School Commitee: Jennifer Merenoff &
Danielle Reiffe

Outreach Committee: Jerry Weiner
The Outreach Committee, through telephone contact to our members, solicits feedback relative to members impressions of Center related operations and activities. All comments and concerns are forwarded to the proper leaders and Committees and shared with the Board of Directors with the goal toward positive improvement or change.

Personnel Committee: Robin Baer

Programs and Events Committee: Frances Kessler

Publicity: David Tratner

Religious Affairs: Charles Cohen
The Religious Affairs Committee is charged with the responsibility of overseeing all religious services, and working with the Rabbi and Cantor to provide our membership with the best possible service. They work “behind the scenes” to maintain our various ritual objects and members of our committee are responsible for the “mechanics” of the services (i.e., organizing Gabbaim and Ushers). Another area of responsibility includes education and raising the level of Jewish awareness of the congregation. Learning minyanim are available to those who would like to learn more about services, enabling them to be able to participate more freely. In cooperation with other committees and groups, such as Adult Education, Jewish Education, Men’s Progress Club and Sisterhood, we sponsor Jewish skills workshops and other learning programs. We also work with the Holiday Committee to plan special events for the different holidays. As you can see, we are very busy trying to enrich the lives of our members, making them feel part of a thriving Jewish congregation.

Sisterhood: Gail Rottenstrich, President

Fundraising: Scott Pass

Social Action Committee: Mark Meisel & Craig Mont
The purpose of the Social Action Committee is to assist and facilitate the congregation’s particiaption in acts of tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (“repair of the world”).

Youth: Neil Garfinkle
The Fair Lawn Jewish Center is committed to the future, our youth. We are a partner in a community-wide effort, co-sponsored by Temple Beth Shalom and the Glen Rock Jewish Center, providing activities for students in grades 4 -12.