The Ritual Committee, under direction of the Rabbi as the mara d'atra, supervises and adopt policies and procedures concerning rituals; helps to educate the leadership and membership on worship and religious practices; makea recommendations for raising the level of congregational worship, both by increasing attendance and by enhancing the level of worship experience; and providea assistance and input to the Rabbi and the Cantor in the conduct of services.  The Rabbi, and Education Director are ex officio members of the Committee.

The Ritual Committee is pleased to report the following highlights of the 2008-09 year.

Tisha B'Av

• Joy Krinsky and Rebecca Canter planned and led a beautiful service in the gazebo at the Eastern Prom - there were a variety of readers of Eicha in Hebrew and English along with some beautiful readings.

High Holidays 2008

• Meaningful Selichot service focusing on music.
• Delicious honey cakes baked by a very enthusiastic kitchen crew headed by Arlene Schwartz.
• Assignment of honors very ably led by Debbie Kanter, Hedy Cohen and Barbara Epstein with assistance from the Ritual committee.
• Dov Goldberg led beautiful High Holiday Services in the sanctuary
• The family service was led by Rabbi Solomon Goldberg, Dov's father.

Lay Leadership

• Congregants have read Torah for most weeks on Shabbat during the past year
• Many services or parts of services have been led by TBE congregants
• Thanks to Debbie Kanter for organizing our students to read Torah and lead services on February 7.

Chagim (holidays)

• Another successful karaoke night to accompany the Magillah reading on Purim.  The evening included wonderful costumes, along with congregants reading chapters of the Megillah.
• Shavuot will include Tisch ("Table") Style Services, a festive meal, and our confirmation class discussing: "This I Believe: A Confirmation of Jewish Teen Commitment."  
• TBE has once again been fortunate to have Aaron Weininger, JTS Rabbinical students, join us for Sukkot and the last two days of Pesach to daven, read Torah and deliver very thought provoking d'vrai Torah. 

Other accomplishments

• Alternate Shabbat services - Bagel Breakfast at 10:30 am to coincide with Kids Kehillah.
• Partnering with Sisterhood to provide new beautiful new in three sizes tallaism for TBE.
• Begun work of revising and update the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Handbook
• Developed a plan for Youth HH service 5770 (2009)

Ritual Committee members include: Paul Muscat (chair), Hedy Cohen, Adam Arens, Rebecca Canter, Joy Krinsky, Debra Kanter, Barbara Epstein, Janine Collins, Barbara  Dichter, Rabbi Braun, and Dov Goldberg.  If you would like to become more involved in the work of the Ritual Committee, please contact Paul