President’s Letter
Dear Temple Shir Tikva Congregants,
As we welcome a new year together, I want to take a moment to say how excited we are to have you as part of our Temple Shir Tikva family Whether you have been with TST since day one or this is your day one, thank you for enriching our congregation with your commitment to Jewish community and Jewish life We are stronger, more vibrant, and simply better because of each and every one of you
This year promises to be especially meaningful as we celebrate 10 wonderful years with our cherished Rabbi Danny Burkeman His leadership, wisdom, and compassion have helped shape our community in countless ways, and we can’t wait to honor this special milestone
We have so much to look forward to in the months ahead- innovative programming, engaging speakers, enriching educational opportunities, and more spiritual experiences offered by our clergy team and Mussar programs From meaningful worship and learning to social gatherings and community events, there will be many opportunities for people of all ages to engage, connect, and find their place within our congregation The highly successful Reyim dinners, speaker series, and Mah Jongg classes are just a few examples of activities that will be back by popular demand!
Whether your children find connection through our Early Learning Center, the Hineini or AISH educational programs, or through friendships and experiences built within our community, we hope they grow and discover themselves as part of their TST community
And perhaps you’ve noticed changes in the physical space this past year- a new kitchen, a paved parking lot, solar panels, and a new outdoor classroom This year, we are reimagining the back courtyard with extensive hardscaping, a pavilion, and accompanying landscaping These enhancements will offer more space at times when our building is at capacity, and different spaces when being outdoors might enrich the experience We eagerly await this exciting addition
One of the things that makes Temple Shir Tikva so special is the sense of belonging we create together We hope you will explore, participate, and discover the connections that make this community feel like home Truly, we are so happy you are here and look forward to connecting with you at upcoming events and services throughout the year
Please don’t hesitate to come say hello- I would love the opportunity to meet you personally Wishing you and your family a year filled with joy, connection, and peace
L’shalom, Amy O’Donnell
Temple Shir Tikva, President
Education Update
Dear Temple Shir Tikva Families,
I am delighted to welcome your children to a year of learning and engagement in TST’s K-12 programming Jenna Friedman, our Assistant Director of Education, Renata Feinstein, our Youth Engagement Professional/CLASP Fellow, Emma Lurie, our Education Administrator, our dedicated and nurturing teachers, and I plan and create experiences that help your children form strong connections to their Jewish identity and strong bonds with their Jewish community
Our K-6 program is called Hineini, which means, “I am here” or “Here I am” -- a statement of presence Now, more than ever, we know the power of being present and together Our curriculum is built on middot (character traits or values) that are both deeply Jewish and relevant to modern life Your children will be encountering middot like chesed (lovingkindness), chaveirut (friendship), hakarat hatov (gratitude or recognizing the good), exploring them in texts, stories, and situations in their lives, and connecting them to Jewish holidays, rituals, and tefilah (praying with lots of singing)!
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Hineini meets for in-person learning on Sunday mornings for PK-2 graders 3 -6 graders have a choice of Sunday or Wednesday as in-person learning days PLUS an additional online Hebrew decoding small group (45 minutes long) with Wednesday and Thursday options
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Our 3 through 6 graders also have engagement opportunities outside of classroom learning If your kids like board games, field-day-type outdoor activities, and outings to mini golf or trampoline parks, look for information from our Youth Engagement Professional about how to participate
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Our TSTeen (7 -12 grade) program is built on the deep belief in the importance of community, of exploration, and choice We seek to engage our teens in what Jewishly compels them – as well as to give them a place, and a people, they can call their second home Teens can choose from any and all of these options:
Madrichim – Our Classroom Leadership Program for Grades 7-12 Students
STIFTY – Our Synagogue Youth Group, for Grades 8-12 Students (Junior STIFTY for Grades 7+8) with opportunities for leadership on the STIFTY Teen Board
AISH – Our Wednesday Evening Teen Learning and Community Program for Grades 7-12 Students
T³ (T-Cubed): Team Teen Tikkun – Our Once-Per-Month Peer-Led Teen Social Action Initiative for Grades 8-10 Students
HeARTspace: Monthly parent + teen art and spirituality experience for Grades 9-12
Teen Time- our NEW monthly drop-in space for Grades 7-12 Students
Teen trips to NYC, Washington, D C , and other destinations, depending on the year
Education Update (cont.)
As in any year, families with specific concerns about schedules and special learning needs should be in touch with me to ensure that we can support your child’s participation Please note that our policy is that all children with current or upcoming B Mitzvah dates on our calendar must be enrolled in our learning program (Hineini through grade 6 and AISH, the learning program component of TSTeens in grade 7 )
If your child or teen was enrolled during this 25-26 year, we assume they will enroll for the 26-27 year, and you will see that reflected on your bill in your ShulCloud account.
We are filled with gratitude that you have chosen to share your children with us. We learn from them every time we meet, and they not only make our present community strong, but they also give us hope for the world we are building together.
L’Shalom
(towards peace),
Alison Weikel Director of Education
Treasurer Update
Dear TST Member,
At our Annual Meeting on June 8, 2026, the Congregation approved a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 and the proposed dues and school fees In order to balance the budget, we have increased dues by 3% to cover increased costs for staffing, including salaries and benefits, security, and building related expenses Last year we increased our dues by 4% and the year before we held our dues steady with no increase The budget supports our current level of programming and staffing as well as the increased expenses in the categories referenced above
As members of our congregation, it is important for you to understand what the budget covers In its simplest form, the revenue represents dues and fees paid plus fundraising and other miscellaneous income The expenses cover professional services, building operations, administration, religious school, any urgent repairs or maintenance, and other miscellaneous costs
The leadership team has continued to keep expenses low, closely monitoring existing expenditures, and obtaining grants to cover strategic investments While doing this, we have also made important and needed investments in the building's infrastructure, and in our staffing to support the needs of our growing congregation Congregational dues and fees cover only 70% of our total costs, and we rely on fundraising for approximately 20% of income, with the balance coming from other smaller revenue sources While we continue to look at and challenge our expenses, we count on dues and additional donations to cover most of our costs and any additional contingencies A modest increase in dues and school fees is necessary to balance the budget in a way that keeps the temple fiscally sound
Bills for the 2026-2027 year will be emailed to you within the next week All bills can be paid directly through your online account, or you can work with the office to process your payments We recognize that during any given year, a member might have circumstances that make paying current dues difficult The cost of membership should not factor in your decision to remain a member; we will never turn anyone away because of an inability to pay If you need financial assistance, you can access the financial assistance form in the members section of the website or you can feel free to reach out to Christina Loftus for assistance in accessing the form at cloftus@shirtikva.org or by calling the office
Thank you for your continued support of our community If you have any questions about the Temple’s finances, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at jrosenbaum@shirtikva.org I hope that you and your family enjoy a fun and healthy summer and look forward to seeing you at the temple again soon
Warm Regards, Jennifer Rosenbaum Treasurer
FY 27 dues & fees
Single Parent/Single Person
Young Family (for new members)
$2,575 To qualify as single, member must be unmarried, widowed, or divorced
$550 50% Due For families in which oldest in the family is under age 30. During the entire period in which the oldest in the family is under 35
both 65 or older; exempt from Facility Fee
Mandatory Facility Fee3 $600 Applied toward mortgage & maintenance on existing building. Payable for 6 years for a total of $3600, or in full. Mandatory Security Fee
EDUCATION PROGRAM
FEES
(per student)
B Mitzvah Fees
All Inclusive fee for multiple programs.
+ $1,250 tutoring fee, billed approximately one year prior to B. Mitzvah date at the time of the initial meeting.
1 PaymentisrequestedinfullbyJuly1.PaymentsmaybemadeviaACHthroughthewebsite,creditcard,orcheck.Paymentplansareavailablethroughthe memberaccountareaonourwebsite,orbyrequestthroughtheoffice.AllbalancesmustbepaidinfullbyApril1,2027.
2 AssociateMember:Anymembersorformermembersingoodstanding,whonolongerresidewithin65milesoftheTempleforatleast6monthsoftheyear, mayattheirrequestbecomeAssociateMembers.AssociateMemberswillpayduesat75%ofthemembershipcategoryinwhichtheyfallandshallnotbe requiredtopaytheBuildingFund.
3 Subjecttoincreaseatthediscretionoftheboardoftrustees.FacilityFundcontributionsmadetoothertemples,upto$600,willbecreditedtoShir Tikva’s FacilityFeesassessment.Pleasecontactyourprevioussynagogueandhavethemsendusverificationofpayment.
Alternative Financial Committments
Dear Friends,
Thank you for being a member of Temple Shir Tikva! We believe that our temple is the heart of Jewish living and practice in MetroWest, and our goal is to make Judaism relevant and meaningful for the 21 century for everyone st
Membership dues and school fees are our primary source of support, and our temple has never turned anyone away for financial reasons No matter what you can contribute, you can afford to belong
Our membership dues are based on what we need to operate the temple, and we understand that different members may have changing needs each year that impact their ability to contribute. If your needs vary this year from our request, please complete the form on the following page by July 30 and return to treasurer@shirtikva.org
We will consider any request
All requests for financial support are kept confidential. Requests are reviewed to confirm need and support an equitable distribution of financial assistance Please help our decision-making process by providing as much context around your request as possible
If you would prefer that your request be handled separately, please contact whomever you feel comfortable reaching out to and explain your preference.
If you have questions you can contact me (treasurer@shirtikva.org) or Dan Brosgol (dbrosgol@shirtikva.org) or call the office
As a reminder, prior year requests for alternative financial arrangements do not carry over year to year If you have received a fee reduction in the past, we ask that you consider increasing your contributions this year to help us offset increases in expenses As you consider the amount that you can contribute, note that school fees are already subsidized by membership dues, and we encourage families to cover school fees if possible
If your family will be celebrating a B Mitzvah this year, remember that those fees are billed one year in advance of your child’s B Mitzvah date While our policy is to not reduce those fees, we recommend that you consider those fees as you are budgeting for your overall financial commitment to the temple
Please understand that your continued involvement with our TST community is our primary goal. We are all ready for an amazing year, full of exciting new programming, learning, spirituality and social interactions and we are glad that you will be a part of our community
I send warm wishes to you and your family for a happy, healthy, and restful summer
Sincerely,
Jennifer Rosenbaum Treasurer