Table of Contents 03
President’s letter Amy O’Donnell
05
K-12 education at TST Alison Weikel
07
A note from the Treasurer Tom Feldman
09
FY 26 dues & fees Approved June 9, 2025 at the TST Annual Meeting
10
Alternate financial commitments Tom Feldman
President’s Letter Amy O’Donnell
Dear TST Community, Hi! My name is Amy O’Donnell, and I’m honored to be your next Temple Shir Tikva (TST) President. I joined TST at three years old as I walked alongside my parents and their friends to their new Jewish home, which they were starting at 141 Boston Post Road. It is surreal to walk alongside them 47 years later as their President, continuing their vision for creating a vibrant, welcoming Jewish community. As this journey and I have aged, I have been joined by my husband, Nick, and five children, Erica, Megan, Bridget, Zach, and Avery. The mutual embrace between my family and TST has been so natural. We can frequently be found at Friday night Shabbat services, religious school, youth group, Jewish holiday observances and celebrations, and other educational or social events. In addition to my husband and children, I am blessed to have my parents, Chester and Diane Black, frequently sitting with us, as well as actively engaged in their own growth at TST. Whether younger or older, introspective or social, daytime or evening, educational or whimsical, TST truly offers something for everyone. Our Early Learning Center is full of warm, nurturing energy, and our religious school, Hineini,, and TSTeen program, are developing thoughtful, empowered leaders. TST’s Adult Engagement and Education programming provides lifelong learning opportunities and connections covering speaker series, hikes, coffees, book groups, mahjong games, and more. Our Center for Jewish Spirituality offers enriching programs like Mussar, meditation, and mindful movement. TST committees are dedicated to important initiatives, including Tikkun Olam, mental health, inclusion of interfaith families, and combating antisemitism. Our Reyim dinners bring together our older congregants, and the David Passer Lecture Series continues to provide educational enrichment meant to inspire and inform. TST worship services, including Yeladim for young families and B'yachad for the community, are engaging and meaningful for all, enhanced by the monthly addition of the choir.
President’s Letter (cont.) This upcoming year promises to be exciting as we begin to actualize the dreams we envisioned during the Imagine the Possibilities campaign. We look forward to launching new initiatives that will strengthen our congregation through programming, spiritual connection, staff members, and enhancing our sacred spaces. The installation of solar panels in the parking lot represents our commitment to environmental and fiscal responsibility. While change can bring some unease, we are united in our vision and will navigate these challenges together. We extend our heartfelt thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to Temple Shir Tikva. Your dedication has been instrumental in driving our progress and success. As we look to the future, we warmly welcome your ideas and input, knowing that your perspectives and creativity are vital to our continued growth and enrichment. We encourage everyone to get more involved, participate in our programs, and join us in our collective efforts to make a positive impact. Together, we can achieve even greater heights and build a vibrant, inclusive community that thrives on shared values and mutual support. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. B’Shalom, Amy O’Donnell President, Temple Shir Tikva
K-12 education at TST Alison Weikel Director of Education
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, Emma Lurie, our fantastic Education Administrator, our new Youth Engagement Professional, 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)! Hineini meets for in-person learning on Sunday mornings for PK-2nd graders. 3rd-6th 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 Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday options. Our 3rd through 6th 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. Our TSTeen (7th-12th 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.
K-12 education at TST Alison Weikel Director of Education 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) AISH – Our Wednesday Evening Teen Learning and Community Program for Grades 7-12 Students T³ (tCubed): Team Teen Tikkun – Our Once-Per-Month Peer-Led Teen Social Action Initiative for Grades 8-10 Students Teen trips to NYC, Washington, D.C., and other destinations, depending on the year. 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 24-25 year, we assume they will enroll for the 25-26 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
A note from the TST Treasurer Tom Feldman At our Annual Meeting on June 9, 2025, the Congregation approved a balanced budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the proposed dues and school fees. In order to balance the budget, we have increased dues by 4% to cover increased costs for staffing, including salaries and benefits, security, and building related expenses. Last year we held our dues steady with no increase over the prior year’s dues, which hasn’t been done in many years. 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 cover only 60% of our total costs. We rely on fundraising for approximately 30% 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 2025-2026 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 tfeldman@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, Tom Feldman Treasurer
FY26 dues & fees
DUES, FEES & TUITION - July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
MEMBERSHIP DUES Category
Amount
Details
Family Single Parent/Single Person Young Family (for new members) Young Family Senior Single Senior
$4,750 $2,500 $525 50% of dues $2500 $1680
Member must be unmarried/widowed/divorced Oldest member in family <30 Oldest member in family <35 2 adults, both 65+, exempt from Facility Fee 1 adult, 65+, exempt from Facility Fee
Young Families from FY22-FY24 will remain under the original dues commitment structures
OTHER FEES Category
Amount
Details
Mandatory Facility Fee
$600
Applied towards mortgage & maintenance on existing building. Payable for six years for a total of $3600, or in full. Subject to increase at the discretion of Board of Trustees.
Facility Fund contributions made to other temples, up to $600, will be credited to Shir Tikva’s Facility Fees assessment. Please contact your previous synagogue and have them send us verification of payment.
Mandatory Security Fee Family Individual
$125 $65
EDUCATION PROGRAM FEES (per student) Year Ganeinu (preK) Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade 6th Grade TSTeen - 7th to 12th Grade B Mitzvah Fees
Fees $110 $945 $1,375 $1,710 $620 $2025
Details 1 day/month in year before Kindergarten 1 day/week 2 days/week, including small-group Hebrew 2 days/week, including small-group Hebrew All-inclusive fee for multiple programs. $775 + $1250 tutoring fee, billed approximately 1 year prior to B. Mitzvah date at the time of the initial meeting.
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 21st century for everyone. 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 attached to this email by June 30 and return it to tfeldman@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 any questions you can contact the Temple Shir Tikva Treasurer (tfeldman@shirtikva.org), Executive Director Dan Brosgol (dbrosgol@shirtikva.org), or call the office. As a reminder, prior year requests for alternative financial arrangements do not carry over year-toyear. 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 not to 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. Warm Regards, Tom Feldman, Treasurer