Bet
Mishpachah Funds
What is an offering to God? Charity to God's children. Talmud
Bet Mishpachah maintains several funds to which
money may be donated at any time of the year. Both members and nonmembers are encouraged
to make donations in honor or in memory of some special person or occasion. a Donation Form is available for Download from our Forms page. Acknowledgement cards will be sent upon request.
Your donations are an expression of support for Bet Mishpachah.
Operating Fund
All our dues and most donations go
into what we refer to as the Operating Fund. It is the fund used to cover our day-to-day operating expenditures throughout
the year and build reserves for the future.
Housing Fund
The largest of the special funds is
our Housing Fund. This fund was established so that we would be able to someday invest in a "place of our own." As we continue
to grow, our future housing needs will initially be covered by this fund. Until we have our home, this fund is used to pay
any costs of making our rental space more comfortable or of moving to a new space. Items such as new cabinets and bookcases
have been paid for out of this fund.
Ritual Objects Fund
The Ritual Objects Fund is dedicated to providing and repairing
religious and ritual objects for our congregation's use. Our Torah and the development of our High Holy Days Machzor
have been paid for by this fund.
David Green Memorial Special Projects Fund
The David Green Memorial Special Projects Fund was established
through donations made in memory of David Green, one of Bet Mishpachah's past presidents. In honor of David, up to half of
this fund can be used in any one year to pay for special projects not covered by our operating budget. This fund paid for
our new Ark, the bereavement and membership brochures we have produced, Sign Language interpreters for our services, as well
as the launching of this web site.
The Richard Kopley Memorial Emergency Assistance Fund
There are times and situations in which we sometimes find ourselves
in need of help of one kind or another. Sometimes that need is financial. We could be facing a problem paying the rent because
we are out of work, or we are short of funds to buy books for school or to pay tuition, or maybe we are starting up anew,
a refugee from one kind of persecution or another. Being in need is not a sin; not helping those in need is. We may not be
able to solve the whole problem, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do what we can.
Several years ago some anonymous donors established Bet Mishpachah's
Emergency Assistance Fund. In 1994 the fund was endowed and renamed in memory of Richard Kopley. The purpose of the fund is
to provide short term, emergency financial assistance to people in need, through small grants or loans.
The dignity and privacy of one in need is no less important
than the financial need. The only thing necessary is that the individual (or a friend, for that matter) have a confidential
discussion with either the Rabbi or the President of the congregation.
There are limits to what we can do. There are restrictions on
how much can be disbursed in a given year. Individual grants or interest-free loans can range from $50 to a few hundred dollars.
The recipients can be individuals or organizations of any race or creed. They do not have to be members of the congregation.The
names and circumstances of any individual beneficiary will be kept strictly confidential. If there are no individual beneficiaries
in a particular year, a grant will be made to a charitable organization which provides assistance to people in need.
If you know of someone who may need
some help, tell her or him about this fund and how Bet Mishpachah can help. You can also observe a mitzva by contributing
to the fund. If we do not receive contributions then we cannot offer assistance. For those of you whose lives were touched
by Richard Kopley, a contribution to this fund also perpetuates his memory and the good works he did.
Richard Krampf Memorial Social Action Fund
The Richard Krampf Memorial Social Action Fund was formed to
honor the memory of Richard Krampf, a member of the congregation and an active member of the Social Action Committee. The
Fund augments the services and contributions of the Committee which have included serving dinner at the Luther Place Women's
Night Shelter, running a professional clothing drive for needy persons entering the work force, and allocating money to a
wide variety of organizations in the Jewish and Gay/Lesbian communities. The fund helps continue these and many other social
action activities of the congregation.
Mark Goldfarb Memorial Accessibility Fund
Mark Goldfarb was born with a severe hearing deficiency. Nevertheless,
he was a Ph.D. who excelled in educational and professional pursuits. He was an also an active member of Bet Mishpachah, who
at the time of his death was the Webweaver for this site.
Mark's life was dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities
have access to beauty and culture so that they do not become isolated and insular. The Mark Goldfarb Memorial Accessibility
Fund honors his memory by funding projects to promote and facilitate increased accessibility to the religious, social, cultural,
and educational activities of the congregation. It will be used both to stimulate awareness of the needs of people with physical
challenges in the areas of hearing, speech, vision and mobility and to provide resources to meet these needs. Examples of
programs eligible for funding include conducting more frequent Sign-Language interpreted services, providing interpreters
at events such as the Women's Program or educational programs, printing large type prayer books, and printing prayer books
in Braille.
Monica Lobo Filho Baruch Fund for Visiting Artists and Scholars
This fund is established in memory
of long-time Bet Mishpachah member, Monica Lobo Filho Baruch (z'l). The fund is dedicated to enriching the Congregation's
cultural life by providing a permanent source of support for visiting artists and scholars programs at least once per year.
Rabbi Saks Discretionary Fund
This fund was established by contributions from members of the
congregation. As the name suggests, this fund is for the sole use of Rabbi Saks, to use at his discretion.
