Our Membership Commitment Committee has been reaching out to TBK congregants to encourage everyone to consider annual payments to temple as a charitable commitment rather than a fee for service or "dues." We have adopted the slogan "Charitable Giving Starts at TBK," an approach that merits consideration at each stage of our lives.

During the past two years more than $100,000 has been raised in additional annual membership commitments from generous members. In order to recognize our most committed members, we have created new enhanced membership categories:

Kavod (honor) $2,026 to $3,000
Simcha (joy) $3,001 to $5,000
Shalom (peace) $5,001 to $7,500
Bracha (blessing) $7,501 to $10,000
Tzedek (justice) $10,001 and over

If you have any questions about these new enhanced membership categories or would like to make an additional membership commitment please contact Debbie Zeger, Director of Development, at 244-7060 ext. 229 or dzeger[at]tbk.org. Your generosity will help make temple more accessible and available to all who wish to be affiliated. It is a part of our mission to welcome all and I'm thankful for all the members who help us to realize this vision.

Tom Fink
Membership Commitment Committee Chair

Temple B'rith Kodesh welcomes your contributions as a vital component of supporting our congregation. You may make a contribution by printing out the contribution form and mailing it to:

Temple B'rith Kodesh
2131 Elmwood Ave.
Rochester, NY 14618

For more information please call Debbie Zeger at 585-244-7060 or email: DZeger[at]tbk.org.

The new Reform Siddur

Mishkan T'filah will be introduced at the Shabbat Service following the Temple Brith Kodesh Annual Meeting on June 4. Many individuals, organizations, and funds within our TBK family have contributed generously to the Prayerbook Fund, to make possible the purchase of the new Siddurs. No funds from the TBK Operating Budget have been or will be expended for them.

Members of the congregation have the opportunity to buy books as gifts and to honor and memorialize family and friends with a special commemorative Book Plate to be inscribed in each new book. The cost for this dedication is $36 per book. Click on the link "buy books as gifts" or contact the TBK office at 244-7060 if you would like assistance.

We are thrilled to announce that the 2009 - 2010 TBK Tzedakah Campaign has reached a new fundraising record. As of March 31 the Tzedakah campaign has raised $41,592 from 201 donors.

On behalf of all who will benefit from these generous donations, we would like to offer our sincere thanks to all who have participated in this year's campaign.

...to which you might consider directing your contribution.

Endowed Funds

Arthur Altman Children of Israel Memorial Fund
Enables 3 to 5 high school students (or others) to receive a portion of their expenses to travel to Israel and spend a summer studying life in Israel, giving community service and teaching skills to Israeli children.

Nancy Beck Learning Lab Fund
Established for the computer lab and its ongoing support. The computer lab is highly utilized by the religious school.

Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein Society Fund
Provides funding and leadership for expanded and enriched programming and projects to cultivate an understanding and appreciation of our Jewish heritage, and to perpetuate the memory of the late Rabbi Bernstein.

Stuart & Betsy Bobry Adult Lounge Fund
To provide for continued upkeep and renovation as needed of the Adult Lounge.

Aaron D. Braveman Education Fund
To provide funds for books and materials for the teacher resource room and religious school enrichment.

Building Fund
Used for repairs and upkeep of the facilities.

Campership Funds
Helps with scholarships to Camp George and other Jewish camps.

• Ann Margaret Taylor Memorial Fund
  An annual award to a TBL affiliated student of architecture or the fine arts attending an accredited college

• Ben Leve Campership Fund
  Funds something for the benefit of children: nursery school, religious school and camp scholarships, as well as other youth-related programming.

Dorothy M. Cohn Institute
Maintains a youth institute for the purpose of instilling knowledge of and dedication to Judaism as well as loyalty and service to the congregation.

Bertha O. Cravets Library Fund
Used to buy books and materials for the library, and funds the position of librarian.

Debra Lynn Memorial Fund
Supports a memorial youth seminar - to enhance and enrich Judaism and the Jewish way of life for the youth of TBK.

Joanne Diamond Fund
Provides honorariums to professionals providing in-service training for Temple school teachers.

Paul Dworkin & Family Memorial Fund
Established in the 1960s to create and sponsor a Jewish Camp Institute aimed at 10th - 12th grade students.

Endowment Fund
The interest income from this fund provides operating funds in perpetuity for TBK. The donations remain invested; the earnings on the investment provide funds for whatever is deemed necessary.

Harry Ettlinger Endowment Fund
Provides for the faculty of the religious school to further their enrichment as Jewish educators.

Bert & Mollie Falk Music Fund
This fund sponsors an annual music festival and different guest musicians throughout the year.

Ben Goldstein Fund
Toward expenses for High Holy Days
Provides funding for various TBK seniors events.

Lily & Kalman Haber Judaic Studies Fund
Can be used for scholarships for members in good standing or their dependant children.

Israel Scholarship Funds

• Lester & Ethel Levin Memorial Youth Pilgrimage Award
  An Israel scholarship program.
  
• Rabbi Judea B. Miller Israel Scholarship Fund
  In memory of Rabbi Miller, for the purpose of providing scholarships for children to go to Israel.
  
• Eric J. Roth Scholarship Fund
  Provides an annual scholarship for a high school student to study in Israel.

Jewish Art Fund
To provide art in the temple building.

Liheyot Fund
Provides a source of funds for projects or programs related to accessibility, instruction or education concerning disabilities.

Clifford N. Lovenheim Fund
Provides an annual scholarly lecture series

Museum Fund
Used for upkeep, programming and occasional purchases.

Elliot & Fayga Press Fund
Used for speaker fees and continuing education.

Rabbi's Discretionary Funds (each Rabbi has their own)
Each Rabbi may use their fund for whatever purposes (s)he desires. May be used to make donations to organizations the rabbi considers worthwhile, bringing in special musical or spiritual guests for programs, etc.

Stephen Rosenberg Memorial Fund
Provides programs designed to enhance and enrich Judaism and the Jewish way of life for members of TBK.

Bessie & Louis Spector Music Fund
Supports music programming which is designed to enrich and enhance Judaism and Jewish music.

Jeannette G. Wilburn Fund
Provides funds for Senior programming for the needs of our aging congregants. The fund helps with transportation, refreshments, materials, etc.

Youth Funds

• Florence Rothman Fisher Creative Service Fund
  Used for enhancing the religious school program.
  
• Harold G. Movsky Memorial Fund
  In memory of Harold Movsky, longtime educator at TBK. Used to support educational activities.
  
• Elizabeth Schwartz Fund for Education & Youth Programming
  Supports youth education and programming and enhance religious school activities.
  
• Horace & Ruth Wolf Fund
  Funds a book prize for an outstanding student in the religious school.

WRJ/Sisterhood Floral Fund
WRJ/Sisterhood Belle Rose - Beck Bernstein Fund
WRJ/Sisterhood Liheyot Fund
WRJ/Sisterhood YES Fund
These funds belong to the TBK Sisterhood under the umbrella of TBK. Sisterhood supplies and provides funding for many worthwhile TBK projects and events. Questions should be referred to Sisterhood.

Operating Funds

Gift Fund
A general fund for accepting donations that are non-specified - covers annual budget expenses.

Religious School and Religious School Scholarship Fund
Used for enhancing the religious school programming and providing scholarships to students/families who would otherwise be unable to afford the religious education.

Social Action Fund
Used for enhancing Social Action projects/activities.

TBK Brotherhood
For Brotherhood Activities

TBK Youth Fund
Used for enhanced youth group programming.

TBKers Fund
Used to supplement TBKer dues to increase programming opportunities for TBK seniors.