Congregation members may fund new initiatives or provide budget relief for costly projects so that more funds will be available for education and other activities. A donor can either totally or partially underwrite a project. Contact Lyndsie Levine, at 646.454.3050 or llevine@crsnyc.org if you would like to make a contribution or have questions.

Ongoing Opportunities

Youth

1.  Religious School Scholarships – We believe that every Jewish child is entitled to a Jewish education and our policy is to never turn away families in need. Gifts of any amount will be appreciated. A gift of $40,000 will cover the shortfall needed for scholarships for this year; a gift of $1,925 will allow one fourth grade child to attend Religious School, including all textbooks, materials, snacks, and special family programs.

2. Our Youth programs continue to grow, especially popular trips like CRuSTY Fall and Spring conclave, our High School trip to the Religious Action Center (RAC) in Washington DC, the 8th grade trip the New Orleans, and our SNL all night outing for the recruitment of freshmen. Your support can help us cover ever increasing costs of retreat centers/hotels, transportation, and meals so that every child can participate regardless of family finances. ($25,000 for the year)

3. Family B’nai Mitzvah Program dinners – As children attend this important and required program after school, and parents often come directly from work, the evening would be much more pleasant and productive for all with “real food” offered, rather than just the cookies and a beverage as budgeted. A gift of $15,000 will provide possibilities such falafel or pizza to @ 75 individuals over the six sessions of the program.

4. Religious School retreats – time away to refresh, retreat, renew — a chance to “unplug” and connect with family, friends, clergy and educators. An experience of learning and having fun together as a community.   A gift of $5,000 will underwrite one of two one-day retreats planned for each year, making it possible for the Religious School to pick up all costs.  A gift of $16,000 will cover a weekend retreat, from Friday Shabbat to Sunday, making it possible to greatly lower a families’ cost so that more can participate.

5. P. J. Library – our partnership in this award-winning Jewish family engagement program, created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, will deliver free, high-quality Jewish books each month to 400 CRS families and prospective members raising children aged 6 months to 6 years. A gift of $15,000 will ensure that Rodeph Sholom can fulfill our commitment for one year. A gift of $25,000 would give us the opportunity to offer this program to families with children from 0-8 years old, increasing the age span by two years. It would also expand programming to include activities such as Jewish holiday cooking workshops, Shabbat dinners, Alef Bet Yoga, PJ and Play Story and Music time, and more activities that are designed to engage both member and non-member families in synagogue life.

6. Tuesday night Religious School dinners – help provide variety for religious school students once a month, in place of the usual weekly pizza. ($4,500 for the year; $500 for one month).

Community Building

7.  Live Streaming – this technology will make it possible to broadcast what is happening at Rodeph Sholom to those who cannot be here, perhaps because of illness or distance.  The home-bound member can “attend” Shabbat services or an Adult Education class, grandparents in another state can enjoy a B’nai Mitzvah or the school play,  to name just a few of the many possibilities provided by installation of this system in the Main Sanctuary, Schnurmacher Chapel, Eisner Auditorium, and Schafler Forum.  A gift of $100,000 will cover all costs of purchasing and installing the system.  A gift of $15,000 will cover on-going operation and equipment cost for one year.

8.  Young Families dinner – CRS sponsors two dinners a year for our Young Families, for which we must charge each participant.  Your gift of $4,000 would make it possible to offer these meals without charge, a much more “inviting invitation” for this important group representing the future of CRS.

9.  Baby Boomer and Empty Nesters Shabbat dinners — We know that as our members’ lives change, engagement in the community evolves as well.  For Baby Boomers and Empty Nesters who might be looking for a new type of connection within our synagogue, we schedule a series of special Shabbat dinners throughout the year. A gift of $2,000 will underwrite a full year’s schedules of dinners.

10.  Adult Education Program – help underwrite one year’s worth of Hebrew, or other continuing education opportunities for the synagogue and community. ($30,000). A gift of $10,000 will help underwrite a multi-week course or other significant Adult Education event.  A gift of $5,000 will underwrite a Shabbaton with one of our outstanding guest lectures.

11.  Shabbat Sholom for 2015/2016 – underwrite the materials and set-up charges for this weekly publication that is distributed to all who attend Shabbat services on either Friday evening or Saturday. Your gift will be credited weekly.($5,500 for the year)

12.  Congregational Passover Seder – Our beautiful congregational Seder brings together a wide spectrum of our community, from young families, singles, and Senior Citizens, members and non-members. A gift of $10,000 will cover the synagogue’s expenses over and above revenue from participants.  A gift of $1,000 will cover the costs of guests from a nearby senior citizen center who are seeking a place to celebrate Passover but are unable to pay.

The Arts and Education

13. Shabbat items – Every year, Tallitot need to be cleaned, kippot replenished, and Shabbat candles restocked. Your gift of $3,000 can cover all these needs for one year.

14. Adult Education Brochure – the Adult Education brochure provides a comprehensive list and description of the year’s Adult Education offerings. Your gift of $6,000 will underwrite the production and printing of this important congregational tool which is distributed at the beginning of the synagogue’s year of activities in September.

15. Music Compilation – a digital compilation of music from the synagogue’s Shabbat service for all of our members, those unable to get to the synagogue, and all who love our music($25,000).

Social Action

16. Mitzvah Weekend:  Each October, we celebrate our commitment to social action with a weekend dedicated to that broad theme. With speakers, programs, and our annual Mitzvah Day, we offer opportunities to engage with issues and needs in the community through education, advocacy—and, of course, direct action. A gift of $6,000 will cover all costs of supplies, refreshments.

17. Sign Language Interpreters – Can you help CRS offer Sign Language Interpreters at Erev Shabbat services once a month? A gift of $5,000 covers a full year’s calendar of services.

as of November 2015