Ambassadors' Reports

Talks between Temple Emanu-El and Or Chadash - Ambassadors’ Report

For the week of 01/20/2020

The Ambassadors completed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between our congregations about our potential merger and the process to take to make that happen. 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...Read more...

Talks between Temple Emanu-El and Or Chadash - Ambassadors’ Report

For the week of 01/06/2020

Members of both congregations attended the Finance Task Force open meeting on Monday, January 6, 2020 at 6:30 pm in the Temple Emanu-El Schlanger Chapel.  Approximately 90 people were present to ask financial questions relating to the talks between Temple Emanu-El and Congregation Or Chadash.  Elaine Jones...Read more...

Talks between Temple Emanu-El and Or Chadash - Ambassadors’ Report

For the week of 12/16/2019

The Ambassadors are preparing a memorandum of understanding between our two congregations that will outline the elements of a merged congregation and the steps to be taken to move us to this new entity after approval by both congregations.  We will of course seek advice from...Read more...

Talks between Temple Emanu-El and Or Chadash - Ambassadors’ Report

For the week of 12/9/2019

The Ambassadors created eight task forces to actively envision what a merger of our congregations would look like, identify any hurdles that would conflict with this future, and provide possible solutions to these issues. Six of these task forces will be reporting to our congregations during November and early December in order for...Read more...

Clergy Taskforce Summary

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Rabbi Jose said: Dispose yourself to learn Torah, for it is not an inheritance, and let...Read more...

Task Force – Worship Report

December 8, 2018 Town Halls

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...Read more...

Talks between Temple Emanu-El and Or Chadash - Ambassadors’ Report

For the week of 11/25/2019

The Ambassadors will be meeting this week to review our last Town Hall meetings where the Religious School and Facilities Task Forces reported their findings.  Last week’s communication reviewed the information for you and remember, the final reports and presentations are posted to our synagogue websites. 

As we...Read more...

Talks between Temple Emanu-El and Or Chadash - Ambassadors’ Report

For the week of 11/11/2019

The Ambassadors met last week to discuss the recent Town Hall meetings at both congregations on the same day (Sunday, November 3rd).  Each synagogue met at a separate time to review the reports submitted by the Finance and Governance Task Forces.  The Ambassadors were pleased with the presentations and lively conversation...Read more...

Task Force Report

Religious School Task Force

November 14, 2019

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...Read more...

Executive Summary

Temple Emanu-El/ Or Chadash Finance Task Force Report

Congregation Or Chadash: Gary Kippur (First VP) and Mark Ross (Treasurer)

Temple Emanu-El: Scott Arden (President), Jeff Rein (Treasurer), Jerry Cohen (VP)

The finance task force members first signed a non-disclosure agreement in Spring, 2019, and then reviewed the budgets and...Read more...

Ambassadors’ Report

For the week of 10/28/2019

The Ambassadors’ reports earlier this month explored the national and local trends that spurred Congregation Or Chadash and Temple Emanu-El to begin a conversation about increased collaboration and considering a path toward a merger. 

We entered these talks to explore if we’d be stronger together than apart.  We formed task forces to create a clear picture...Read more...

At our last Ambassadors meeting, held on the evening after Yom Kippur, we discussed some of the common questions raised by our congregants both in group meetings and on an individual basis. One such theme was the concern regarding whether it was necessary for our congregations to begin this conversation in the first place. When we began down this road, we researched both national and local trends. We also spoke to lay leaders of congregations...Read more...

Temple Emanu-El and Or Chadash Ambassadors’ Progress Report – October 2019 Edition

The Ambassadors of Congregation Or Chadash and Temple Emanu-El met in early September and are on a brief hiatus till after Yom Kippur.   At the last meeting we discussed our communication strategy, working to provide information to our congregations in writing on both a weekly and monthly basis.  At this time, all of...Read more...