membership letter 2020-2021 · if you elect to pay your entire balance by july 31, 2020, the shul...

CONGREGATION

ORTORAH

5779 | תורה אור

MEMBERSHIP 5781/ 2020-2021

EARLY RESERVATION

PRICING ENDS JULY 31, 2020.

Rabbi Zvi Engel Rabbi

Rabbi Yitzy Sprung Assistant Rabbi

Rabbi Harvey A. Well Rabbi Emeritus

Sarah Silvestri Executive Director

Board Of Directors Joel Gorenstein President

Daniel Rosenthal Executive Vice President

Laura Lerer Shevy Pressburger Vice Presidents-Membership

Leah Glickman Josh Prince Vice Presidents-Youth

Etai Sooliman Vice Presidents-Ways & Means

Aliza Belsh Yvette Miller Vice Presidents-Education

Steve Cohn Nathan Stelzer Vice Presidents-House

David Blumenthal Steve Greenspan Vice Presidents-Security

Mitchell Hoberman Ira Perlman Vice Presidents-Ritual

Michael Shiner Financial Secretary

Paul Towb Treasurer

Renee Rosenberg Recording Secretary

Larry Leonard Corresponding Secretary

Marc Pershan Immediate Past President

David Allswang Jane Best Stephanie Faratci George Hanus Gary Hoberman Jacob Kupietzky Mazel Levin Erik Moskovisch Sima Neiger Allen Ray Jennie Rothner Deva Zwelling Trustees

Andrea Herman Rachel Gradstein Presidium-Women’s Group

CONGREGATION OR TORAH 3800 DEMPSTER (847) 679-3645 SKOKIE, ILLINOIS 60076 Fax: (847) 679-3665

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Dear Congregation Or Torah,

Just three months ago, in the midst of planning a variety of shul programs, Friday Night Dinners, Youth Programs, Women’s Group events, Men’s Club events, Shavuot programming, a range of scholars-in-residence, and celebrating several upcoming member simachot, our whole world suddenly ground to a halt. For the first time in our community's history, we closed the doors to our building and moved into our new virtual reality and we have only carefully begun the return to our physical facility over the past couple of weeks.

And yet, although everyone expected it to be a very dark time for our community, it has turned into something truly amazing. Our community bond grew stronger through the establishment of our neighborhood initiative, Yad Or Torah Helping Hands and creating virtual Or Torah. Utilizing technology like Zoom, WhatsApp, and Facebook live, we launched regular online classes, social “gatherings” and davening, and initiated WhatsApp group connections. Within our community, members started to take on chesed activities, grocery shopping for some of our homebound members, and regular phone-call check-ins, and much more. In this new world of uncertainty, connection to the Synagogue proved to be more important than ever.

With that being said, we still cannot be sure what things will look like a month or three months from now. What we do know for certain is that whatever the situation may be, our Synagogue will continue to thrive and flourish, because of you and our entire membership.We would therefore like to invite you, once again, to renew your membership to Congregation Or Torah (July 2020 – June 2021). Membership dues will remain at $1800 per family for this coming year. If you elect to pay your entire balance by July 31, 2020, the shul will deduct $100 from an $1800 membership and $50 from a $900 membership. As security costs continue to rise, we are asking our membership to help in sharing this cost with a recommended contribution of $125 per member family unit. These additional funds raised will be used to secure our shul. We will certainly be having High Holiday services in some capacity, although at this stage we cannot plan them with any meaningful detail. Nevertheless, whatever the High Holiday plans may turn out to be we want you to know that we – the Rabbis, office personnel, and board members – are all here for you, and we intend to cater to your needs through this very difficult time until it is finally behind us.

As you know, membership dues represent the largest portion of our operating budget, and we are therefore counting on your continued loyalty and generous support. Our synagogue offers many services to our members beyond services in the building, and we also work hard to keep everyone connected to each other. Your membership donation provides us with the resources to continue offering the level of service you are used to, and of which we are so proud. As a reminder, even if you have established a payment plan in the past, please contact one of the individuals below to confirm the continuation of your payment plan terms.

Joel Gorenstein at [email protected] Michael Shiner at [email protected] Sarah Bernstein at [email protected]

Let us conclude by saying that it is you, our members, who make it possible for our community to forge ahead, and it is you who make us who we are. Thank you so much in anticipation of your generous support.

Sincerely,

Joel Gorenstein Daniel Rosenthal President Executive Vice President

of 5

Congregation Or Torah Membership 5781

FEE SCHEDULE FORM

Name:_______________________________________________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________

Email:_______________________________________________________________________________________

Phone #___________________________________ Cell Phone #___________________________________

Due Payments Worksheet Dues $1,800 for family or $1,700 if paid in full by July 31, 2020

$900 for single or couples under 30 years of age, Or $850 if paid

in full by July 31, 2020

Dues $900 for first year family memership

Payment towards Building Fund Obligation**

Security Fee $125 (Suggested Fee.)

$___________

$___________

$___________

$___________

$___________

Total $___________

**The building fund obligation is a one-time obligation for $3,500, payable $700/year for 5 years beginning with the member’s 4th membership year. Please see page 6 for more information.

Payment Options:

◯ Enclosed is my check for the full amount.

◯ Enclosed is my check for 50% and a second check dated no later than, December 1, 2020 for the balance.

◯ Please bill my credit card (details on the following page) for the full amount.

◯ Please bill my credit card for 50% today and again on December 1, 2020 for the balance.

◯ I have contacted either the President, Financial Secretary, or Executive Director and have made specific

arrangements for payment. I understand that the President, Financial Secretary, or Executive Director will be required to approve the arrangement prior to me receiving a seat.

Congregation Or Torah Membership 5780 | 3800 Dempster St., Skokie, IL 60076 | (847) 670-3645 of 5


FEE SCHEDULE FORM CONT’D

Please note that all outstanding obligations (including any required building fund debt) to the Shul must be settled at this time unless specific arrangements have been made with the president and/or treasurer on how the balance will be paid over time. No one will be turned away due to financial circumstances.

Please Check One: ◯ VISA ◯ MASTERCARD ◯ DISCOVER ◯ AMEX

Credit Card Number__________________________________________________________________________________

Exp. Date___________________________________________________________________________________________

Address that the CC is registered at

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name on the Credit Card______________________________________________________________________________

Cardholder Signature_________________________________________________________________________________

Amount to be charged $______________________________________________________________________________



BUILDING FUND EXPLANATION

Dear Members,

The purpose of this letter is to clarify the building fund obligation for each member family of Congregation Or Torah. Please note that this refers to the existing building fund and does not represent a new obligation. We would like to both emphasize the importance of the building fund to Or Torah’s Financial security and provide a detailed explanation of the payment process.

This building fund was instituted when the plans for the purchase of the current Or Torah building were made. The funds raised were critical for the building our current space and have been used to pay off some of the debt on the building. The continued commitment of our members to the building fund has enabled Or Torah to undergo the recent expansion without having an additional capital campaign. It is imperative for us to continue the building fund to ensure the growth and expansion of our shul - our Mikadash Me’at.

The building fund obligation is a one-time obligation of, $3,500, payable over 5 years at a suggested $700/year (with a minimum of $500) beginning with the member’s 4th year as a member of Or Torah. Participation in and payment of the building fund is required in order to be considered a member in good standing. If a member joined Or Torah in the 2006-07 (5767) membership year or later, the building fund obligation would be as follows:

Some families have given authorizations for $50 to be paid monthly from their first year as a member to pay it off slowly in less than 6 years. Other families have been paying $60 a month beginning from their 4th year to pay off their obligation over the required 5 year period.

Of course, the building fund obligation can be satisfied at any earlier time as well. In accordance with the long-standing policy or Or Torah, nobody will be denied membership due to financial hardship as long as arrangements are made with the Treasurer or President.

The building fund is an important component in the financial well-being of Or Torah and allows us to meet the capital needs of the ship as our membership grows. We hope this letter eliminates any confusion and we ask those members who have not yet satisfied their building fund obligations to please do so as soon as possible.

Best regards, The Finance Committee

Membership Year Amount

5767 (2006-07) $0

5768 (2007-08) $0

5769 (2008-09) $0

5770 (2009-10) $700 suggested or a minimum of $500




5774 (2013-14) Balance Owed


membership letter 2020-2021 · if you elect to pay your entire balance by july 31, 2020, the shul...

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