Welcome to Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Congregation Shaarey Zedek is committed to helping everyone live a full Jewish life, no matter the makeup of your familial unit. We warmly welcome singles, interfaith couples, those in the LGBTQ community, and their respective family members as well. As Rabbi Bigman puts it, “We may come from different backgrounds but here we are a mishpachah, a family.” ~ Click here to read more from Rabbi Bigman
Get Connected
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SHOW WE CARE
Contributions to the Temple Designated Funds as well as Endowment Funds are wonderful ways to show your appreciation of family and friends, to celebrate happy occasions and to honor the memories of loved ones. The Shaarey Zedek Board of Directors and the Shaarey Zedek Sisterhood gratefully acknowledge all donations and gifts to the various funds. Notice of your gift will be sent to the honoree or to the family and will also be published monthly in the Commentary. A minimum donation of $18 is appropriate for all Endowment and Designated Funds. Please send checks to the Shaarey Zedek office.
Bette Sue Rittman All Children Are Special Fund
Contributions are used to purchase equipment, educational supplies and furniture for use in the religious school by children with special needs. Furthermore, this fund may help defray costs of a special aide needed in the classroom. Started in 1997 and re-named in 2014 in memory of Bette Sue Rittman.Bernard Friedland Educational Materials Fund
Contributions are used to purchase educational materials for the religious school. This fund was established in memory of Bernard Friedland.Bubbe Lynn Rycus Beautification Fund
This fund was established in 2017 by Susie and Eddie Kleiman and family, in honor and memory of Lynn Kerner Rycus. Donations to this fund will be used to purchase, replace or repair furniture (i.e., chairs, tables, and related storage equipment), as well as floor coverings.
Donations to this fund will also be used for the general upkeep of all other reasonably identifiable Synagogue furniture, fixtures and floor coverings.Building Fund
Contributions are used to support building repair and maintenance.Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund
Contributions used to maintain the grounds of our cemetery.Congregation Shaarey Zedek Endowment (CSZ) Fund
Money is available on a request only basis for capital improvements, support of the religious school, and other activities of Congregation Shaarey Zedek.David and Carrol Kahn Cultural Fund
The purpose/intent of the fund is to promote/encourage and support cultural and artistic programming at Shaarey Zedek and in the community.Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
The discretionary fund helps those in need, provides scholarships to camp and religious school, supports synagogue special events, and supports organizations in our community and elsewhere
which do the work of tikkun olam (repairing the world).Ethel Wolfe Kitchen Fund (Sisterhood Fund)
Contributions are used to purchase kitchen equipment and supplies. This fund was established in memory of Ethel Wolfe. This fund will not be used for payroll or for building maintenance such as plumbing, electrical or structural problems within the kitchen.Florence Rudman Early Education Endowment Fund
This endowment was established in 2000 in memory of Florence Rudman. Earnings are to be used to enhance the educational programs of Kindergarten as well as the1st and 2nd grades of the Shaarey Zedek Religious School. Earnings of the Fund support the programs, curriculum development, teacher training, field trips, and other needs specified in the document.Harry Harris Scholarship Fund
The purpose of this fund is to support the Religious School in a manner as determined from time to time by the Religious School Board.
This fund is administered by PNC and we do not own the principal. We do not takecontributions to any fund we do not own.Henry Fine & Annette Fine Burke Memorial Library Fund
Contributions are used to maintain and enhance the library by the purchase of new books or other items needed to maintain the quality of the library. This fund was established by friends and family of Henry Fine in 1966-1967 and Annette Fine Burke was added after her death in 2011.High School Youth-Summer Program (Sisterhood Fund)
Contributions are used and distributed equally to those applicants of high school age attending a Jewish summer leadership enrichment program.Jerry Cohen Photography Fund
Funds are used to purchase yearly photographs of the Confirmation Class, President of the Congregation, Clergy and Sisterhood President Portraits, as needed. Individual class pictures are the responsibility of each participant.Joseph & Jeannette Lutvak Fund
Contributions to this fund go to the purchase of large print prayer books and other items needed by the synagogue. The fund was established in memory of Jeannette & Joseph Lutvak.Joseph and Mable Meites Religious School Fund
Funds to be used for the support of Congregation Shaarey Zedek Religious School.Justin Morrison Fund
The Justin Morrison Fund is for clergy requests, including support for special projects, programming, events and other miscellaneous items. The fund was established by the Morrison family in memory of Justin Morrison.L’dor V’dor Endowment Fund
The principal of this fund is invested and all income is given to the synagogue’s operating fund on a yearly basis.Landscape Fund
Contributions used to enhance the grounds of Shaarey Zedek.
Maureen Gladstone Endowed Flower Fund
Use of this endowment provides flowers for Shabbat as well as the High Holy days. The fund was established in memory of Maureen Gladstone in 2001.Prayer Book Fund
Contributions are used to purchase prayer books which may in turn be dedicated in honor of an individual, an occasion, or in memoriam. A donation card will be placed on the inside cover of the prayer book. The cost of a prayer book is $50. The cost for the Torah commentary is $100.Robert Goodman Music Fund
This designated fund was established in 1983 by the Shaarey Zedek Choir in memory of long time member, Robert Goodman. Contributions are directed to musical programs at the synagogue.The Ruth Rome E. Endowed Music Fund
All of the income is expended to promote, support and enhance the role of music in the life of the congregation, in particular as it relates to its young people. Donations become part of the principal, which is preserved. Monies are expanded for programming, scholarships, or other Congregation needs related to Jewish music. The fund was established in 1990 in memory of Ruth E. Rome by her parents, family and friends.Cantor Pamela Caring Community Fund
The Cantor Pamela Schiffer Caring Community Fund provides funds for the ongoing support of the Caring Community Program. Donations will provide funds for training programs, speakers, publications, ingredients for the “cook-ins”, materials, mailings, etc. (Fund re-named in 2017 to honor Cantor Schiffer for her 18 years of service to our congregation)Shapiro Religious School Endowment Fund
This fund was established in 1980 by Kay and Jim Shapiro. All income is given to the religious school once a year, to promote, support, maintain and operate the religious school educational studies and programs. Its purpose is also to advance the causes of Hebrew/Jewish education for congregational families.Sophie Radway PJ Library Fund
This fund was established in 2011. Donations to this fund will be used to provide books and music to Jewish children in the greater Lansing community, under the auspices of the National PJ Library, a program created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Children will receive an ageappropriate book or CD of Jewish music monthly. Children ages 6 months-8years are eligible to participate in the program.Rabbi Morton Hoffman and Aviva Hoffman Tzedakah Fund
The Tzedakah funds are used to support organizations/families within our local community and our congregation. They are also used to support international organizations. Some of the things Tzedakah Funds support are basic human needs such as food, clothing, shelter and education. This fund was re-named in 2013 and 2014 by the Hoffman family in memory of their father and
mother.Special Areas of Contribution
Tree of Life
The Tree of Life, with its many leaves, is located in the synagogues lobby. It is specifically intended to commemorate only happy events. Donations received are allocated to the general fund of the synagogue. A minimum donation for the Tree of Life is: $125 for a leaf, $250 for an
acorn, $500 for a rock. No more than four persons can purchase a single leaf.
Memorial Plaque
Monies received are used for the general fund of the synagogue. The minimum amount for a memorial plaque is $500.
Brick Fund
It’s a small testament to the memory of a departed one. Help to pave the way to the Serenity garden by purchasing a brick or bricks. Prices range from $125 to $500
Simcha-grams (Sisterhood Fund)
Simcha-grams are greetings sent to members on special occasions. Members are remembered on their 50th,65th, 70th, 75th,80th, etc birthdays. Simcha-grams are also sent for the following anniversaries: 10 years, 25th, 45th, 50th, 55th, 60th, etc. The money collected is used locally for youth activities and GLTY (Greater Lansing Temple Youth). Monies are also sent to the National Organization of Women of Reform Judaism to support the YES Fun, (Youth, Education andSpecial Projects Fund).The preceding policies are subject to change and were compiled in 2013, updated in 2014 and 2017.
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Our Spiritual Communal Family Helping One Another
Learn more about the Caring Community Program
This program is a way for us to live our Jewish values by caring for one another, helping each other in concrete ways, and becoming a spiritual, communal family.
Performing mitzvot are part of daily Jewish life. In the daily morning prayers, a passage from the Talmud (Shabbat 127a) enjoins us to honor our parents, do deeds of The lobby, provide hospitality, visit the sick, and comfort the bereaved.
Everyone can participate
Everyone’s life has different demands and whatever one can do is greatly appreciated and valued.
No mitzvah is too small!
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events at this time.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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TVGone Jewy—-Esther D. Kustanowitz will speak on Jewish on-screen identity
You are invited to the Zoom meeting.
When: Jan 14, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUtduqqrD0qGtNR5jvttHrO5S_gJPrb_07g
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting
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Virtual game nights
As we ring in 2021, Sisterhood is hopeful the COVID-19 vaccinations will allow us to return to some in-person events later this year. In the meantime, please join Sisterhood for a series of Virtual Game Nights. We plan to offer a variety of games that require only your presence to play!
Please save the following dates:
· Thursday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m.
· Tuesday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m.
· Thursday, March 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Call information will be provided in the weekly announcements the week before the Game Night.
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Sing Unto God—Commemorate Debbie Friedman’s Legacy—January 28, 8:00 p.m.
Register here–http://huc.edu/sing-unto-god-january-28-2021-8pm-et
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
For the foreseeable future, we will be live-streaming both our Friday and our Saturday morning Shabbat services. Please join Rabbi Bigman for candle lighting and Kiddush at 7 p.m. on Fridays (with Shabbat worship to follow) and on Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. The link for streaming is www.shaareyzedek.com. From the home page, scroll down to “Get Connected”—live stream services and press the arrow in the middle of the word StreamSpot.
If you join us on Friday evenings, you can find a copy of the prayer book here: https://www.ccarnet.org/publications/resources-repaginated/
We look forward to worshipping with you! Stay safe! Stay healthy! Stay Jewish!
If we can assist you in any way, Rabbi Bigman can be contacted at rabbibigman@shaareyzedek.com. Patty Warshaw can be contacted at 899-1215 or executive@shaareyzedek.com. Patty is in the Shaarey Zedek office at 351-3570 ex 1. sporadically.
LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY?
Congregation Shaarey Zedek — During this difficult time, the staff is doing its utmost to help members of our congregation and community. We are here for you. Jewish tradition teaches that we are to help others, beginning with family and then continuing with our larger communities.
Child and Family Charities (www.childandfamily.org) was to be the recipient of the Tzedakah Committee’s April Fill-A-Bucket Campaign, to benefit its Housing Young Families Program.
The American Red Cross (www.redcrossblood.org) is holding blood drives throughout the country. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood. Please schedule your appointment to donate blood at redcross.org using your zip code to locate the closest location.
Greater Lansing Food Bank: Please support the Greater Lansing Food Bank with monetary donations: www.greaterlansingfoodbank.org
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger (www.mazon.org) provides funding to a range of anti-hunger organizations including food banks, legal-service organizations, groups which provide job skills to enable people to get jobs to provide for their families on their own, and more.
Contact Information
Rabbi Amy Bigman: rabbibigman@shaareyzedek.com
Todd Cook , President: toddmss@gmail.com
Patty Warshaw, Executive Director: executive@shaareyzedek.com
Margot Valles, Director of Congregational Lifelong Learning: menahelet.margot@shaareyzedek.com
Cantor Emerita Pamela Schiffer: pschiffer@comcast.net
Twitter and Facebook
Follow us on Twitter @shaareyzedekEL and check out our Facebook page!