Committees

The Membership Committee’s mission is to make sure that Congregation Or Chadash remains a warm and welcoming community where all can experience God. Our goals include:

• Understanding the spiritual and communal needs of the broader Tucson Jewish community
• Recruiting new members
• Integrating new members
• Retaining current members

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The Religious School Education Committee is made up of parent volunteers. We are an Accredited Religious School through ARJE (Association of Reform Jewish Educators), a division of the Union for Reform Judaism. We are always looking for ways to involve our families and welcome additional committee members. The committee meets a few times throughout the school year.

We provide both introductory and advanced learning opportunities to provide adults in our community with sacred learning which can empower individuals with the tools to make their own Jewish decisions and delve deeply into Jewish spirituality and values. Our teachers are passionate about Jewish learning and are excited to learn with you in the coming year.More

The Arts & Acquisitions Committee evaluates all artistic donations made by our congregants and decides if it can be part of Or Chadash. In the past, we have evaluated all the existing art work, arranged for professional evaluations to be made on certain pieces of art work, hung all the presidents’ pictures on the wall to the Board Room, purchased new chairs for the Community Room, and worked with Lynn Rae Lowe on the design for the Rabbi’s Circle plaque.

The Special Events Committee, formerly known as the Fundraising Committee, plans and produces activities contributing to the major fundraising for Or Chadash. The committee invents, plans, and executes two to four major annual activities for the members and guests of Or Chadash. Often non-members are invited to participate as well. The committee develops the venue, hires contractors (e.g. caterer), produces marketing and advertising, administrates the event, and handles the finance. Meetings are held two or three times a month during the event planning cycle.

Newly formed in 2018, the Governance Committee will bring together the right people to create best policies and to evaluate the work of the Board of Directors to insure the Board is living up to its potential and gain confidence and respect of the Or Chadash community. We will utilize best practices in board governance.More

The committee is in charge of selling burial plots in the Or Chadash section of Evergreen Cemetery. Membership is open to any congregant of Or Chadash. No regular meetings. The committee meets as needed.

This is a bylaws-mandated committee to oversee all the financial obligations of Or Chadash. The finance committee oversees adherence to the current fiscal year budget and assists with the formulation of following fiscal year. The finance committee also assists with the long term strategic financial planning of the congregation as well. The congregation treasurer chairs the finance committee and selects its members.

Congregation Or Chadash’s Social Justice and Action Committee pursues the Jewish tenets of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and Gemilut Chasidim (acts of loving kindness). There are two basic facets to what we do. First is to partner with existing organizations to help the needy in our community and second is to inform our congregants of important issues that can influence life in Arizona. Membership on the committee is open to all members of the congregation. Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m.More

The Ritual Committee is a Bylaws-required committee of congregants who help Clergy regarding elements of worship.

The committee reviews changes in ritual and worship-related issues raised by Clergy, and is also writing and reviewing a new congregational prayer book. Meetings are held monthly.