Volunteer

Service in the synagogue and the local Jewish and civic communities is an essential part of our mission. This page lists many ways to get involved. We welcome people of all skill levels, interests, ages, and abilities.

Most of the volunteering opportunities are team activities. They are easy ways to meet people and build long-lasting friendships. You can join a committee or volunteer for a one-time event. What’s most important is to find something that you personally enjoy and bring your energy and passion to it. The list is not exhaustive. We also welcome new ideas, but be prepared to help get them off the ground!

To get involved or learn more, email volunteer@beki.org or call Peggy in the office at (203) 389-2108 x114.

Like to cook? Bake? Shop for groceries? Eat? Join a Kiddush Team! Our kiddush lunches on Shabbat and holidays are prepared in-house by our amazing kiddush teams. The cooking usually happens on Thursdays; each team has a slightly different schedule.

Don’t like to cook? Sponsor a kiddush! Commemorate a loved one or friend, or celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or other occasion.

Tikkun Olam means repairing the world. Help us repair and strengthen our community, from Westville to the Greater New Haven area and beyond. Foster relationships with other community-based organizations, develop events and initiatives, and find big and small ways for us to make our world a better place.

Help fellow BEKI members during times of need, through our Hesed Committee, Lotsa Helping Hands, and other groups. Provide meals to families with newborns and families who are sitting shivah. Make calls to BEKI members who are ill or would just like some company. Help members get to the grocery store and appointments. Provide career advice and make professional connections.

Children’s and Youth Programs help the youngest members of our congregation learn, pray, and grow as Jews. Alongside the Education Director, adult volunteers lead children’s Shabbat services and holiday celebrations, plan enrichment activities for our religious school, and chaperone fun events for middle schoolers and teens.

In our recent congregational survey, there was strong demand for more programs and events of all kinds. Join the Programming Committee and help organize events of interest to you – speakers, book talks, social events, learning opportunities, and classes, for a range of ages, topics, and interests.

The Membership Committee promotes BEKI, welcomes new members, and retains members. We are adding a new emphasis on helping all members, whether new or not, feel like an integral part of the community. Activities include everything from organizing dinners and other social events to welcoming prospective members.

Love books? The Library Committee maintains our beautiful Rosenkrantz Family Library, develops the collections, and organizes related programs.

The Art Committee works with artists to curate exhibitions for the gallery walls on our main and lower floors. Help plan exhibitions and related programs, publicize them, and hang and de-install art.

Join Sisterhood, an affiliate of Women’s League of Conservative Judaism. Help plan book talks, organize events, and volunteer in the Gift Shop. bring your ideas and interests.

Calling all engineers, architects, designers, handy-people, not-so-handy-people, gardeners, and weekend warriors! The House Committee is responsible for keeping our building and grounds looking great and functioning properly.

Save the planet! Join the Green Team to help with projects and initiatives on conservation, environmental awareness, energy efficiency, and recycling, at BEKI and in our community.

Our Safety & Security Committee is focused on keeping us safe. They work with security experts to select and acquire equipment, organize training sessions, arrange drills, advise on events, and serve as greeters during Shabbat services. We are especially looking for more Shabbat greeters.

Come to Daily Services! Once a week or whenever you can. We meet every morning and evening. Whether you are a devout davener, an interested learner, a motivated schmoozer, and/or want to help organize the services, we need you. If everyone came just a handful of times a month, we would have a minyan (10 adult Jews) for our fellow members who are saying kaddish. Build a new habit for the new year: choose one service, like Monday afternoon/ evening, and regularly attend.

All daily, Shabbat, and Festival services are led by members, though sometimes we let the Rabbi lead. We are always looking for more Tefillah leaders and Torah and Haftarah readers. If you don’t know how but want to learn, let us know!

Your writing, proofing, designing, logistical, and technical talents are needed for BEKI’s formal and informal emails and website communications and publications, including our Beki.org, weekly Happenings, monthly Bulletin, flyers, emails, social media, Yizkor book, and more.

We need people familiar with Audio-Visual equipment like computer-driven projectors and basic audio mixers to help us set up the equipment for presentations, movie nights and web seminars.

Accountants, financial analysts, investment advisors, and the financially inclined are invited to join the Finance Committee. Work with the Treasurer to prepare the annual budget, grow and monitor our endowment funds, review insurance coverage, and perform other activities.

The Income Development Committee helps raise funds, mostly via the annual appeal, to pay our operating expenses. We are fortunate to have a growing endowment and a strong membership dues base, but those do not cover our entire budget.

Most of the actual work of the shul gets done in the many committees and other groups listed in this brochure. The President, the Officers, and the Board of Directors enable that work to happen by allocating resources, providing strategic guidance and operational oversight, and maintaining BEKI’s long-term institutional health. There is a formal nominating process each spring to fill available Board seats. We are always looking to develop future BEKI leadership.