Engagement Opportunities

Temple Emanu-El is pleased to offer ways for you to be involved and enjoy your temple.
Please feel free to reach out to a temple leader to learn more.

• Adult Education Committee: offers cultural and religious oriented programs, classes and movies designed to entertain, enrich and expand our horizons. Committee Chair: Sara Weinberg.
• Art Committee & Art Excursions: plans an adult or youth art show for the temple and has a group that plans art focused excursions in the community. Committee Chair: Linda Joffe, Art Excursions: Rookie Shifrin.
• Beautification Committee: assists with beautification projects around temple. Committee Co-Chairs: 
• Gloria Weed and Judy Fleischer.
• Brotherhood:  participates in a wide variety of service activities and sponsors social and learning programs throughout the year. Our programs promote fellowship with other temple men. Proceeds from fundraising activities benefit the temple and temple community. Brotherhood President: Ken Simon. *
• Bulletin Committee: meets monthly to edit and electronically correct all material submitted for publication. Committee Chair: Dr. Eleanor Wachs.
• Caring Committee: helps congregants in need of phone calls, visitation and comfort and meals. Committee Chair: Joni Steinberg.
• College Committee:  a team of parent volunteers who make sure that our young adults feel the support of our Rabbis and Temple all year long. We keep in touch with holiday care packages, handmade cards from our religious school students, and emails from our Rabbis - while enjoying time together! Committee Co-Chairs: Lauren Hofing and Bari Rudin.
• Endowment Committee: seeks to obtain donations as well as planned gifts which are payable to the Endowment Fund upon the death of the donor. Committee Chair: Diane Farber.
• Gift Shop Volunteers: assist customers and completes sales transactions in the gift shop before and after Friday night services and special events held at temple. Gift Shop Manager: Alice Cotman.
• Greeters/Ushers: assist at Friday Shabbat services with one of the following: greet members as they enter the temple for services, hand out programs and assist people with seating (as needed), hand out member name badges or sign-in guests. Contact: Kim Sheintal.
• Havurah Program: encourages temple members to have small social groups based on a common interest. Committee Chair: Nancy Bortinger.
• Israel Committee: coordinates programs to learn about Israel, celebrate Israel, and support Israel. Committee Chair: Nina Levitt.
• Jewish Story Writing Group: writes stories that help shape your identity as a Jew. Contact: Barbara Field.
• Jr. Sisterhood: coordinates activities for our younger women with Jewish and interfaith families. Junior Sisterhood President: Shera Friedman.
• Library Volunteers: assist with in-take of new books and in keeping the temple library organized. Contact: Cindy Aminoff.
• Membership Committee: recruits new members by preparing materials/events/communication geared for prospects and developing practices/events/programs that enhance the membership experience for current members via the volunteer program, neighborhood ambassadors, greeters, social gatherings, and outreach. Committee Co-Chairs: Susan Meisel and Ellen Taub.
• Members in the Middle: a social group at Temple Emanuel designed for members in their 50s and 60s to connect with peers, foster new friendships, and engage in temple and community activities. Committee Co-Chairs: Leslie Podolsky and Robin Speigel. 
• Mitzvah Bakers: assist in providing baked goods for Lunch with the Rabbis and other events. Contact: Kary Wortman.
• Mitzvah Day Committee: plans Temple Emanu-El’s annual Mitzvah Day – an afternoon of hands-on community service projects and donation drives to make a difference in our community and our world. Opportunities abound for all levels of involvement. Committee Chair: Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman.
• Mitzvah Knitters: knits with other members. Contact: Lori Klein. 
• Neighborhood Ambassadors: represent a specific area (such as by zip code or subdivision) and coordinate gatherings for temple members living within that area. Contact: Kim Sheintal.
• Office Support Volunteers: assist with mailings and similar clerical tasks, may make phone call reminders to congregants and may even answer the phones if we are short staffed. Contact: Office Administrator, Bonnie Clarke.
• Philanthropy Committee: cultivates relationships with prospective donors, pairing their own priorities and wishes with the temple’s long term needs to achieve meaningful change and personal fulfillment via philanthropy. Oversees the Cornerstone Society and Large Gifts. Committee Chair: Barry Gerber.
• Religious School Volunteers: support the religious school staff by working with children during activities and projects. Contact: Religious School Director, Snait Ben-Herut. 
• Shomer: help be a watchful greeter at Shabbat services and around campus. Contact: Bob Heller.
• Sisterhood: participates in a wide variety of service, social and learning activities, and develops meaningful relationships with other women of all ages. Proceeds from fundraising activities benefit the Temple Emanu-El Religious School. Sisterhood Co-Presidents: Judy Fine and Susan Simon.*
• Social Action Committee: develops programs in the areas of community social action and charitable works. Coordinates outreach efforts within the Sarasota-Manatee community, globally, and with people and organizations of other faiths. Committee Co-Chairs: Bettianne Marcus and Brian Miller.
• Social Justice: a non-partisan, social justice organization which works as an advocate for social justice in all forms consistent with Jewish values. Committee Chair: Dr. Vicki Lachman. 
• Starfish Initiative: brings congregants together to super-serve Kindergarteners at a high-poverty school through various programs to increase reading readiness, inspire a love of reading, support STEAM learning experiences, and boost students’ self-esteem and confidence through intergenerational mentoring.  Committee Chair: Dr. Tanice Knopp. 
• Susan Schwaid Early Learning Center Committee: notifies the temple membership of school events to which the temple members are invited and recruits volunteers and attendees for such events. Committee Chair: Elaine Sharrock.
• Tot Shabbat Volunteers: help plan and organize fun, meaningful Shabbat experience for young Jewish and interfaith families. Contact: Marni Mount.
• Youth Group Volunteers: assist Youth Group Advisor with overall support during events and planned activities for teens (8th-12th grade). Contact: Rabbi Michael Shefrin.
• Volunteer Choir: participates in volunteer choir and performs at different events. Contact: Kathy Rance.
• Zip Code Gatherings: arranged by hosts (in their home, clubhouse restaurant, etc.) for Temple Emanu-El members living within their zip code. Contact: Kim Sheintal.

*Brotherhood and Sisterhood both host interest groups such as cycling, photography, book clubs, golf, investment, and travel.

For additional information, contact the Temple office at (941) 371-2788 or email us HERE.

Revised February 28, 2025