Supportive & Commemorative Opportunities

The generosity of TBC members enhances the way we all experience Reform Judaism, through inspiring worship services, thought-provoking study, and meaningful personal relationships. Our connections with ourselves, one another and the world beyond our walls are deepened by incredible donors like you. Gifts to Temple B’nai Chaim are a wonderful way to celebrate friends and family members on their birthdays, anniversaries, and special life cycle moments as well as to honor the memory of our loved ones.

Donations

Donations may be made in honor or memory of a loved one and the family will be notified. In addition to the operating fund, the congregation has established a number of restricted funds.

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Ways to Give

Temple B’nai Chaim welcomes all donations. Please direct a donation to any of these funds:

Operating Fund Unrestricted and used for the operations of the congregation.
Clergy’s Discretionary Fund For use by TBC clergy.
Capital Fund To support the capital needs of the congregation.
Chesed Fund To help our members in unique times of need.
Religious School and PTO Funds To improve and enrich our children’s education.
Tzedakah Funds Donations are collected and directed to charity.

High Holidays Giving

Appeal: This Appeal is one of the three major ways in which the congregation raises the money we need to operate (dues/tuition and our annual fundraiser are the other two). We share this tradition with many congregations around the country and around the world. As we pray for a good and healthy new year for our families and ourselves, and we reaffirm our intentions to be the best people we can, there is an opportunity to begin to turn those good intentions into reality. The High Holy Day Appeal has a broad format providing opportunities for volunteerism and financial pledges of all amounts. Our hope is that 100% of our families participate.
Break-fast: Each year, at the conclusion of the High Holidays, Sisterhood provides a complimentary break-fast. Any financial expression of gratitude would be greatly appreciated. Email to inquire about break-fast sponsorship opportunities.
Flower / Oneg Donation: Everyone has the opportunity to help sponsor the High Holiday flowers. Some years there is also an Oneg following Erev Rosh Hashanah. All members are encouraged to contribute when they complete the annual registration.
Memorial Book: Temple B’nai Chaim honors Jewish tradition by remembering those individuals who gave life to us, those to whom we have given life, and those special people who have had extraordinary influence on us. Our tradition is to create a Book of Memory for Yom Kippur to memorialize our loved ones who have died and to read their names during the Yizkor service. It is also customary to honor those we memorialize with a financial contribution. Members will be sent information with their Annual Registration Package.
Tickets: High Holiday tickets are provided to members at no charge. Members can purchase tickets for relatives and guests. Members will be sent information with their Annual Registration Package. Temple B’nai Chaim participates with other URJ affiliated congregations to provide out of town members with High Holiday tickets at no cost. Visitors who are members of another URJ congregation should contact their congregation to request tickets. If you will be out of town and wish to attend High Holiday services at another congregation email officeadmin@templebnaichaim.org to request tickets.

Chai Greeting Cards

Chai Greeting Cards: The Chai Greeting Cards are an opportunity for our members to reach out to one another during times of illness, struggle or bereavement. The cards have a modern, yet warm look and feel and include a heartfelt message and space for personalization. Scroll down to view images of the cards. Click here to send a card. If you have any questions, please email cards@templebnaichaim.org
Condolence Card – This card contains a message of condolence for those who have lost a loved one. $36 each, with the donation going to your choice of the Operating Fund, Clergy Discretionary Fund, Chesed (caring) Fund.
Mazel Tov Card – This card contains a message of congratulations for those celebrating a happy occasion. $54 each, with the donation going to the Operating Fund, Clergy Discretionary Fund, Religious School Fund, Sisterhood Fund, Tzedakah (social action) Fund, or Youth Fund.
Mi Shebeirach Card – This card contains a message of caring and support for someone struggling with illness or other challenges. $18 each, with the donation going to the Chesed (caring) Fund.
Click here to send a card

Leaves on the Tree of Life

Whether you celebrate a birth, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, wedding, anniversary or other special event, inscribing the event on the leaves of the Tree of Life will ensure your memories shine brightly at Temple B’Nai Chaim for years to come.
It’s easy to order – so just fill out the Tree of Life order form. Each leaf costs $300 and will be engraved upon receipt of the completed order form and full payment. Your leaf will be placed on the tree within 6-8 weeks after the order is placed. Examples of leaves may be seen below. Contact officeadmin@templebnaichaim.org if you have any questions.

Wilton Turnover Shop

Turnover Shop: Temple B’nai Chaim receives 60% of the proceeds from your donations to the Wilton Turnover Shop, a non-profit thrift shop located in the Village Market building in Wilton Center. The Turnover shop is run entirely by volunteers and benefits the Wilton schools’ PTA and local nursing and home care. If you are cleaning out your closets, the shop will accept seasonal clothing, house wares, small furniture and collectibles. For further information, contact officeadmin@templebnaichaim.org.

Additional Supportive Opportunities

ARZA Dues

ChaiLites and Directory Advertising

Dues – Be a Mensch

Mensch: “someone to admire and emulate; someone of noble character. The key to being “a real mensch” is nothing less than character, rectitude, dignity, a sense of what is right, responsible, decorous”. Leo Rosten, The Joys of Yiddish (1968). Please be a Mensch, Benefactor, Fair Share or Chai Society member if you have the financial means to do so. By doing so, you are performing a mitzvah by helping to cover the costs for those members of our community who have severe financial difficulties.

Endowment

Endowment gifts are truly special. You may make a one-time gift, a recurring gift, or many used planned giving as a way to build our endowment. There is also an option to begin a new restricted endowment. Please email officeadmin@templebnaichaim.org if you would like more information or are considering making a contribution to our endowment fund.

Fundraising

Planned Giving

A gift made through one’s estate plan or will is a prudent and thoughtful way of providing for the future of Temple B’nai Chaim. You may be able to maximize a charitable gift by minimizing the after-tax cost while securing allowable benefits for you and your family. Two convenient ways to support Temple B’nai Chaim through a legacy gift are to name the temple as a beneficiary on an insurance policy and to include Temple B’nai Chaim in your will. Please email officeadmin@templebnaichaim.org if you would like more information about planned giving options.

Shabbat Flower / Oneg Donation

A wonderful way of celebrating special family simchas, such as birthdays and anniversaries is by sharing your nachas with the entire congregation and sponsoring the Oneg Shabbat for the Friday of your special week. We do all the baking and setting up, all you do is send a minimum donation of $180 for the Oneg. If you would like to sponsor an Oneg Shabbat or flowers, please email the office at officeadmin@templebnaichaim.org and we will contact you about the cost of the flowers and scheduling your special Shabbat.

Yahrzeit Memorial Plaques

We could not think of a more appropriate way to honor our loved ones than to have them with us in the sanctuary as we pray, and as we celebrate life-cycle events. The engraving on the plaque will include the name of your loved one in English as well as Hebrew (if desired) and the dates of death based on both the Jewish and Gregorian (modern-day) calendars. Plaques will be ordered upon full payment. Placement in the sanctuary will occur when the plaque is received (6 to 10 weeks from order date). The Yahrzeit Memorial Plaque order form is available here. Please email officeadmin@templebnaichaim.org if you have any questions.

URJ Reform Israel Appeal

The Union for Reform Judaism Reform Israel Appeal supporting the growing Reform Movement in Israel. The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, through its 30 congregations and a growing network of schools, educational and community centers, offers immigrants and native Israelis a modern approach to Judaism. The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute offers both degree-granting and informal programs, while the Israel Religious Action Center advocates for the rights of all Israel’s citizens. All funds collected are sent to the URJ. Visit the URJ website donation page for more information and other URJ donation opportunities.

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