Collaboration with Temple Emanu-El

Our collaboration with Temple Emanu-El has gone through several stages. On this page, you can view the documents and reports from each of those stages, as well as read the most recent updates from the Joint Executive Committee.

Joint Executive Committee Update

The Joint Executive Committee, which includes members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of both Temple Emanu-El and Congregation Or Chadash, have continued to meet for the purpose of moving our communities toward being a new congregation.

At this week’s meeting, our consultant Rabbi David Wolfman presented communication norms and a conflict resolution process. Our steering committees, formerly the Ambassadors and now the Joint Executive Committee, have developed good relationships and a foundation of trust to work on building a new congregation. The proposed process helps us to determine what level of conflict an issue presents and how to resolve differences in the most appropriate manner. Information from our currently formed sub-committees about the work underway includes the following:

Vision/Naming (Scott Arden)

  • team includes members of both congregations, kick-off meeting held.
  • team to make use of data from Listen/Shape/Share campaign.

Listen/Shape/Share (Beverly Sandock)

  • facilitators and notetakers (a.k.a. scribes) organized and training to be scheduled soon.
  • three-minute video distributed to congregations.
  • looking for participation from many congregants of both congregations to capture all voices.

Youth Education (Rina Liebeskind and Seth Ruskin)

  • developing protocol for returning to school in a virtual and/or on-site setting.
  • began communications with families.
  • social programs planned for students/families to get to know each other.

Facilities (Steve Tofel)

  • former task force members invited to participate in new committee.
  • will review pending facility’s issues and establish reasonable priorities.

Innovative Practices (Rabbi Louchheim)

  • developing committee for representation of both congregations.

There will be multiple opportunities for you to be involved and to have your voice heard. We want to know your thoughts, ideas, and vision for our new congregation. Please contact your congregation’s president to advise Scott Arden/Elaine Jones of your interest by sending an email to: president@tetucson.org or president@octucson.org.

As always, thank you for your commitment and the passion you bring to our congregation!

Mona L Gibson, Temple Emanu-El, IPP.

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Introduction to the Task Force Reports

In early 2019, the Boards of Directors of Congregation Or Chadash and Temple Emanu-El initiated discussions between representatives of each congregation (“Ambassadors”) to consider a possible future together under two scenarios:

  1. Continued or increased collaborations in targeted areas, such as Religious School and Sisterhood.
  2. A future merger with analysis of potential positive outcomes, negative aspects and possible strategies to address barriers to successful merger.

In August 2019, with the guidance of Rabbi Fine of URJ, we populated eight (8) task forces to explore key aspects of the two scenarios. 1) Finance 2) Governance 3) Facilities 4) Religious School 5) Worship 6) Clergy 7) Communications 8) Joint Programming. The reports for the first six will be sent out to congregations ahead of town halls as follows: There will be no reports from Communications or Joint Programming as these dealt with ongoing activities not with projections about our future.

Sunday, Nov 3: Finance and Governance reports at Or Chadash 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and at Temple Emanu-El 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Sunday, Nov 17: Facilities and Religious Schools at Or Chadash 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and at Temple Emanu-El 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Sunday Dec 8: Worship and Clergy at Or Chadash 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and at Temple Emanu-El 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Please click on the tabs below to read the Finance and Governance reports.

Task Force Reports

Clergy Task Force Report

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Rabbi Jose said: Dispose yourself to learn Torah, for it is not an inheritance, and let your actions be for the sake of Heaven.  (Pirke Avot 2:12) Just because your parents were scholars or that you once learned Torah does not exempt yourself from exerting yourself to learn more of the deep values of God. […]

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Worship Services Task Force Report

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Task Force members: From Congregation Or Chadash (OC) – Cantor Janece Cohen, Sarah Bollt, Kathylynn Saboda, Susan Winkler. From Temple Emanu-El (TE) – Cantorial Soloist Marjorie Hochberg, Harold Blatter, Andy Iventosch, Amy Ruskin. Representing Ambassadors – Elaine Jones, Dana Adler, and Mona L. Gibson. Background: This Task Force was formed to review what the worship […]

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Religious School Task Force Report

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Click here to view the PowerPoint. Task Force Attendees: Rina Liebeskind, Or Chadash Exec. Admin & Director of Youth Engagement Jill Sobieszyk, 3rd-4th gr. Or Chadash RS Teacher Suzie Stadheim, 4th & 7th gr. Or Chadash Parent Abby Limmer, Temple Emanu-El Kurn Religious School Director Allison Neja, 6th gr. Temple Emanu-El Teacher, 5th gr. Parent […]

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Facilities Task Force Report

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Click here to view the full report. Below is the Executive Summary. In early 2019, the Boards of Directors of both Or Chadash and Temple Emanu-El initiated discussion between representatives of each congregation (hereafter, “Ambassadors”) to discuss what a future state might look like under two Scenarios: Continue more of the same targeted collaboration (Religious […]

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Introduction to the Ambassadors' Reports

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Ambassadors' Reports

Ambassadors’ Report

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The Ambassadors met to review proposals from consultants to assist our congregations in implementation of our move to a united congregation.  We will communicate to you the chosen consultant once the respective Boards have an opportunity to review the Ambassadors’ recommendation and take action.

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Results of the Voting on Proposed MOU

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Temple Emanu-El and Congregation Or Chadash counted ballots on Sunday, February 9th regarding the proposed Memorandum of Understanding to move forward with merging our congregations. Both congregations gave strong approval for the MOU. A total of 140 Temple Emanu-El congregants voted, with a 95% (n=133) “yes” votes. A total of 264 Or Chadash congregants voted […]

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Ambassadors’ Report

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The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between our congregations about our potential merger was distributed to both congregations. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is an agreement between two or more parties outlined in a formal document. It is not legally binding but signals the willingness of the parties to move forward with a common line […]

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Ambassadors’ Report

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The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between our congregations about our potential merger and the process required for a merger was distributed to both congregations last week. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is an agreement between two or more parties outlined in a formal document. It is not legally binding but signals the willingness of the […]

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