Uncategorised

Rosh Hashanah

Sunday, October 2

7:00pm            Erev Rosh Hashanah Services

Monday, October 3

8:00am                        Children’s Service

9:30am            Morning Services followed by Lipman Kiddush Lunch

2:00pm            Taslich at the Hallowell waterfront park will follow lunch

Tuesday, October 4

9:30am                        Morning Services followed by lunch

Yom Kippur

Tuesday, October 11

7:00 pm           Kol Nidre

Wednesday, October 12

8:00am            Children’s Service

9:30am            Morning Services with Yizkor

2:30pm                        Meditation Service

4:00pm            Afternoon Services

~5pm               Musaf (Additional) Service

~6:15pm          Neilah Services

~6:45pm          Havdallah

~7pm               Break Fast

Sukkot

Sunday, October 16

9:30am-Noon Sukkot Carnival

Friday, October 21

6:00pm            Shabbat services

7:00pm            Dinner in the sukkah

Saturday, October 22

10:30am          Torah study

12:00pm          Lunch in the Sukkah

Sunday, October 23

5:30pm            Potluck dinner

6:15pm            Simchat Torah services

Monday, October 24

8:30am            Services with Yizkor

Bylaws of the Augusta Hebrew Community, Incorporated

(Presented to Annual Meeting June 7, 2015)

Article 1: Name, Location

Section 1. The name of this corporation is the Augusta Hebrew Community, Incorporated. It is located in Augusta, Maine.

Section 2. Temple Beth El is the name we use.

Section 3. “Augusta” refers to the City of Augusta and environs.

Article 2: Purposes

Section 1.  The purpose of Temple Beth El is:

1. to provide an opportunity for worship;

2. to maintain a community center to encourage cultural, social, and athletic activities;

3. to promote the general welfare of the Jewish community of Augusta;

4. to foster the education of the Jewish community of Augusta;

5. to own, lease, rent, possess and operate real estate and personal property;

6. to hire professional persons as needed and to make such contracts as necessary to promote the purposes of the corporation with all the powers generally provided by the statues of the State of Maine for non-profit corporations.

Article 3: Membership

Section 1. 

1. Any person or family of the Jewish faith willing to subscribe to these bylaws may obtain a membership in Temple Beth El.

2. Each family or person shall have only one membership.

3. A Jewish family is defined as one in which at least one spouse or spousal equivalent or one child is Jewish. 

4. All officers of the corporation must be Jewish.

Section 2. Financial obligations and other standards of membership shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

Article 4: Meetings

Section 1.  Annual meetings of Temple Beth El shall be called by the president in May or June. Fifteen memberships in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the annual meeting.

Section 2. Notice of the annual meeting shall be announced at least 14 days before the meeting.

Section 3.  Special meetings of Temple Beth El shall be called by the president or at the written request of 15 memberships in good standing. Such requests shall be addressed to the president and shall state the purpose of the special meeting in the form of a motion or motions.  The president shall notify all members of Temple Beth El at least five days before such meeting.  No other business shall be transacted at the special meeting.

Article 5: Nomination and Election of Officers and Directors

Section 1.  Nominating Committee

1. At least 60 days before the annual meeting, the president shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three members who shall nominate a slate of candidates, consisting of members in good standing, to be officers and members of the Board of Directors. The selections of the Nominating Committee will be presented to the members at least two weeks before the annual meeting.

2. Additional candidates may be nominated by members in good standing during the annual meeting.

Section 2.  Officers

The officers of the corporation shall be president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer. Officers shall be elected to terms of one year or until their successors are elected. 

Section 3. Directors

1. a.The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers, the immediate past president and nine members-at-large. Three members-at-large shall be elected to the Board of Directors each year.

1. b.No director shall serve more than three consecutive full terms.

1. c.Directors elected under the previous by-laws shall serve out their terms.

Section 4.  Method of Election

1. Election shall be by open ballot; in the event of any contest, the election shall be by secret ballot.

2. All members in good standing are eligible to vote and hold office.

3. There shall be one vote per membership.

4. The newly elected officers and directors shall be installed at the annual meeting.

Section 5. Honorary Trustees

1. a.In recognition of service to Temple Beth El, the Board of Directors may elect three members of the Temple to serve as honorary trustees.

1. b.Honorary trustees shall serve for three years, with one trustee elected each year.

1. c.Honorary trustees shall be notified of all directors meetings and may participate in discussion but shall not vote or be counted for a quorum.

Article 6: Officers and their Duties

Section 1.  The president shall preside at all meetings of Temple Beth El.  He/she shall appoint all committees and committee chairs. The president shall be a member ex-officio of all committees and shall carry out such duties as usually pertain to this office.

Section 2. The vice-president shall perform the duties of the president in the event of the president’s absence, resignation, or inability to perform his/her duties. 

Section 3. Treasurer

1. The treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of Temple Beth El and shall deposit all funds of the Temple in accounts designated by the Board of Directors.

2. He/she shall keep all deeds, promissory notes and valuable papers of the corporation.  He/she shall keep a complete set of records of all money collected, deposited, and disbursed. 

3. He/she shall submit a financial report upon request by the president and shall submit reports regularly at meetings of the Board of Directors.  He/she shall submit a complete report at the annual meeting of the Temple Beth El.

4. Checks drawn Temple Beth El shall be signed by the treasurer or by an officer designated by the president in the event of the treasurer’s absence.

Section 4. Secretary

1. The secretary shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings of the corporation and board meetings. These records shall be maintained in an accessible form.

2. He/she shall perform other duties as designated by the Board of Directors.

3. He/she shall make reports upon request by the president.

Article 7: Directors and their Duties

Section 1. 

1. a.Directors shall have vested in them the management of the corporation in its activities and in its property subject to the provision of the charter and in accord with the bylaws of the corporation.

       b. The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of six times each fiscal year.

3. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called by the president or at the written request of five directors in good standing, said request to be addressed to the president.  Notice of special meetings shall be sent to members of the Board of Directors and shall state the purpose of calling the meeting. No other business shall be transacted.

4. When immediate action on a particular issue is deemed necessary by the president, the Board of Directors may be notified of that issue by email and may vote by email. If the number of votes is sufficient to constitute a quorum, actions taken by a majority of those voting represent the official action of the Board of Directors, provided that any such vote by email is subject to ratification at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. 

1. The office of any director or officer who is absent for three successive meetings without good cause may be declared vacant by the Board of  Directors.

2. If there is a  vacancy in an office or a vacancy on the Board of Directors, by reason of resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, but not because of expiration of term, such office shall be filled by the Board of Directors electing a successor to hold such office until the next annual meeting. A majority vote of the Board of Directors shall elect a successor.

Section 3.  A quorum for the transaction of business at a board meeting shall consist of one-half the total number of Board of Directors, plus one.

Article 8: Use of Temple Beth El Facilities

 The Board of Directors shall determine a schedule of minimum fees for the use of Temple Beth El and its facilities.

Article 9: Committees

Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees:

1. Hebrew School Committee

3. Ritual Committee
4. Special Events Committee
5. Development (fund raising) Committee
6. Rabbi Committee

Section 2. The president may appoint other committees as needed. No committees, subsidiary units, or members shall incur any debt or liability upon Temple Beth El

without approval of the Board of Directors.

Article 10: Youth Groups

Temple Beth El shall promote the activities of the Jewish youth of the community by giving them the right to organize groups under proper supervision.

Article 11: Amendments

These bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the corporation Temple Beth El by a vote of two-thirds of the members in good standing, present at such meeting, provided that such proposed amendments are stated in the call of such meeting.

Article 12: Rules of Order

Parliamentary questions or rule of order not otherwise determined by these bylaws shall be decided in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.

Our Passover Seder in April was a rousing success — nearly 100 people turned out for wine (or grape juice), singing, and story-telling. 

Board of Directors 
Emily Bessey
Chuck Cohen
David Faigin
Ellen Freed
Richard Goldman
Brian Harding
Nancy Kelly
Carrie McCarter     
Elizabeth Sizeler
                                                                                                          TBE Board Retreat
                      

President
Arwen Agee

Vice President
Jamie Orenstein

Treasurer
Julia Underwood

Secretary
Michael Levey

Immediate Past President
David Offer

Trustees
Anya Goldey, Hildie Lipson, and Deb Sewall

Temple Beth El welcomes your financial support. To make a donation, simply click the “Donate” button below. All gifts are tax deductible. We are grateful for your support. Thank you!

Or you may send a check to:

P.O. Box 871

Augusta, ME 04332-0871

Please indicate the particular fund to which you would like your donation to go. Undesignated donations will go to general operations. 

Annual Terumah

We no longer require dues or a set fee to join the synagogue. Instead, members make an annual, self-defined, financial commitment. This is the primary fund we use to support our general operations, including Rabbi and staff salaries.

You may contribute your terumah in the following ways: 

• Cash or check
• Monthly giving with a credit or debit card
• A gift of stock. Transfer securities electronically via DTC # 0701. Contact our office for more information.
• IRA gift: Make a gift directly from your required annual distribution. This is tax deductible. Contact your financial advisor or the office for more information. 

Building Fund

We still welcome contributions to this fund to help pay off the costs of the completed renovation of our Temple building. Please make a note on your check or donation to designate funds towards the Building Fund.

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

This fund helps Rabbi Asch meet special needs in the greater community.

Memorial Plaques

Remember a loved one with a memorial plaque in the synagogue.

Donation: $250

Payment due at time of order.

Tree of Life

Acknowledge a milestone in someone’s life by adding an inscribed leaf to the Temple’s Tree of Life. 

Donation: $36

Payment due at time of order.

Bookplates

Dedicate a high-holiday or everyday prayer book in honor or memory of a loved one (birthday, anniversary, bar/bat mitzvah, birth or other event).

A bookplate in honor or memory of a loved one will be inserted into any new books that you would like to donate to our reference or children’s library. Please contact the office for our book wish list, and let us know how you would like your bookplate to read.  Donation: $18                                                                                                                                                                 Payment due at time of order.

Temple Beth El accepts Visa & Mastercard. Please contact the office with any questions. Our federal tax ID is 01-0360783.

Read more about our giving options, including planned giving, below:

Interested in converting to Judaism? You have already taken a big step by finding us and looking for more information. We welcome those who are interested in learning more about Judaism and are thinking about conversion. The first step is to meet with Rabbi Asch— simply contact her to make an appointment (rabbi.asch@gmail.com). Anyone is welcome to come to a service, Torah study or other Temple event. Those in the conversion process typically study with Rabbi Asch privately for about a year and participate fully in the life of the community. We have many members who found Judaism as adults. We hope you will begin your journey with us. 

Thank you for your interest in our synagogue. Below are some common questions that you may have about becoming a member of our congregation. Please do not hesitate to contact the Office Manager at the Temple if you have other questions: (207) 622-7450; bethelaugusta@gmail.com.

Where is Temple Beth El?
Temple Beth El is a small, vibrant synagogue located at 3 Woodlawn Street, just a few blocks from the Maine State Capitol Building, in Augusta. We are the only Reform Jewish congregation in Central Maine. 

How many members does TBE have?
TBE is the center of Jewish activity for more than 100 member households living within a 50-mile radius of Augusta. Our membership spans a broad spectrum of ages, professions, interests, and backgrounds. 

What kind of activities does TBE offer?
TBE offers a range of religious, cultural, and social activities that belie our small size. Our congregation encompasses all age groups; we have a robust and growing Hebrew School program (Pre-K through a teen group), an active adult community, and a significant group of seniors, many of whom live in Maine year-round. We hold regular services and study sessions for Shabbat and holidays, and host numerous adult education programs, including adult B’nai Mitzvah classes, conversion groups, visiting scholars, Torah study, lectures, annual Ice Storm Wine Tasting, and social gatherings. Through the temple, our rabbi and congregants also engage in community and social justice activities.

How much are dues?
TBE does not charge our members “dues.” Beginning in 2017, Temple Beth El changed our financial structure. We no longer require members to pay “dues” or a set fee established by the Board. Instead, members make a self-defined financial commitment to TBE called a “terumah,” or offering. We believe that this terumah approach will help meet TBE’s annual budget and reduce the need for additional appeals througout the year. Most importantly, it sends a powerful message about our welcoming community. 

How much should my “terumah” be?
The amount of your terumah is up to you. For guidance, you may read the following documents:
• Factors to consider when setting your terumah
• Suggested giving levels based on income

How can I apply to become a member? 
Please contact Dawn Fecteau at the Temple and fill out our Membership Application. We look forward to meeting you!

Temple Beth El is a learning congregation. From the rabbi to the youngest Hebrew School student, we embrace a spirit of curiosity, questioning, and life-long learning. We encourage you to visit our Torah Study on Saturday mornings or Hebrew School on Sunday mornings to see our learning activities in action. 

Jews are a small minority in central Maine, so we recognize how important it is for our young people to feel a sense of belonging at the temple. We seek not only to give our youth a solid Jewish education but also to offer fun social opportunities to help them develop strong relationships with each other and with our rabbi.

Temple Beth El is a diverse, welcoming community that embraces inclusiveness, promotes lifelong Jewish learning, and encourages active participation in Jewish life in Central Maine. We are committed to the progressive ideals of Reform Judaism, and we welcome members and visitors who represent a wide range of Jewish experiences. We seek to deepen our members’ connections to Judaism, foster a spirit of community within our congregation, and engage in social action in the world beyond our synagogue.