June 23, 2025 -
- 516-935-5454
June 23, 2025 -
The name of this Congregation shall be MANETTO HILL JEWISH CENTER
Manetto Hill Jewish Center is a conservative, egalitarian synagogue that creates a warm and inviting home to secure the lifelong spiritual, educational and fellowship needs of our members and the community at large, dedicated to the greater Jewish community and the State of Israel. We embrace the entirety of Klal Yisrael (the Community of Israel). As such we seek to serve the entirety of Klal Yisrael regardless of their personal religious practice or sexual orientation. Interfaith families are an integral and welcome part of our community.
Manetto Hill Jewish Center shall be affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. A decision to terminate affiliation with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at a congregational meeting.
The auxiliaries and organizations of the congregation may only affiliate with the appropriate groups of the Conservative Movement. All other affiliations require the approval of the Executive Board.
Regardless of whether the congregation is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the congregation shall follow the Standards for Congregational Practice published by the United Synagogue as adopted in 1957 and amended in 2017.
Jewish persons from the age of 18 years or older shall be eligible for membership. A person born of a Jewish mother or who has been converted to Judaism according to halakhic requirements as determined by the Rabbi of the congregation in accordance with the standards and practices of the Conservative movement is a Jew. The parent or spouse of a Jewish person shall be eligible for membership in accordance with the parameters established by the Conservative Movement and the Board of Directors.
Any person who meets the qualifications of membership as set forth in Article IV Section 1 of these bylaws and who pays their annual sustaining pledge on schedule in accordance with their agreement in any given year shall be considered a member in good standing with full voting rights. This amendment will commence on July 1, 2022 and will terminate on June 30, 2024 unless the Congregation renews the Give From the Heart program, in which case it will remain in effect until said program structure ceases to be renewed. In accordance with this amendment, the term dues as set forth in these bylaws shall be defined as annual sustaining pledge. This amendment shall not affect Article V Section 3. Except for Article V Section 3, to the extent that any other provisions in these bylaws contradict or are inconsistent with this amendment, this amendment shall govern.
The Board of Directors shall establish all categories of membership.
Applications for membership shall be made in writing to the Membership Committee, which shall report to the Board of Directors for appropriate action.
A majority of the Board of Directors present and voting shall be required to elect an applicant to membership.
Section 6: Procedure for Suspension or Expulsion
A member may be suspended or expelled for conduct which brings disgrace upon this congregation, according to the following procedures:
The membership committee shall review all resignations with the Rabbi prior to forwarding same to the Board of Directors. Resignations shall be noted in the Board minutes.
Section 1: Dues and Assessments
Each membership entity shall pay annual assessments, if any, and annual dues.
Section 2: Special Assessments
Special assessments shall be levied upon this Congregation by a 2/3 vote of the members of the Board of Directors present and voting, and approved by a majority vote of the General Membership present and voting at a special meeting called for such purpose.
Section 3: Honorary Members
The Rabbi and other honorary members of this Congregation, as defined by the Board of Directors, and their respective spouses shall not be required to pay dues or assessments as a condition of membership.
Section 4: Administrative Year
The fiscal and administrative year shall be from July 1st through June 30th.
Members in good standing shall enjoy these privileges, among others, subject to halakha as interpreted by the mara d’atra and the parameters established by the Conservative Movement:
No business shall be transacted at a special meeting, except for the purpose stated in the call. Notice of such special meeting shall be given through appropriate means and sent not less than seven (7) nor more than twenty (20) days prior to such meeting. In the event that the Executive Board, by a 2/3 vote thereof, declares the existence of an emergency, such special meeting may be called upon three (3) days’ notice.
At all meetings of the Congregation, regular and special, a quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of twenty – five (25) members or 25% of the Congregation, whichever is less, including officers present. In the absence of a quorum the meeting shall be adjourned to a time, not less than six (6) nor more than forty-five (45) days from the date thereof, and notice of such adjourned meeting shall be given to the congregation through appropriate means and sent not less than three (3) days prior to such meeting.
Only members in good financial standing as defined by the Executive Board may vote at congregational meetings.
The management and administration of the affairs of this Congregation shall be vested in a Board of Directors, consisting of the Trustees, the Officers of the Congregation, the Presidents of Men’s Club and Sisterhood and the past Presidents of the Congregation. In order to serve on the Board of Directors, one must be a member in good standing. No one may hold more than one seat on the Board of Directors. With the exception of the current President(s) of the Congregation, each person who sits on the Board of Directors shall have a vote on the Board.
Section 2: Clergy Participation
The Rabbi shall be an ex officio member of the Board of Directors without voting rights.
The Board of Directors shall be charged with and assume control of all of the property of the congregation; shall approve the bank or banks wherein the funds of the Congregation shall be deposited; and shall be responsible for all expenditures and disposal of congregational funds and property. Congregational funds shall be invested only in instruments which are legal. All movement of funds other than transfers from one synagogue account to another shall require the authorizations of two of the following officers: President, and/or First Vice-President, and/or Treasurer.
A clergy discretionary fund shall be maintained in the name of the synagogue, administered by the Rabbi and shall be subject to the guidelines outlined by United Synagogue and Rabbinical Assembly.
It shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors to establish and approve the dues structure.
The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of ten (10) months per fiscal year. Special meetings shall not count toward this minimum. The President may call additional meetings as they feels is necessary. Meetings may be in-person, hybrid or fully virtual. A quorum for any meeting shall consist of at least twelve (12) members of the Board of Directors, at least eight (8) of which cannot be executive board members.
Section 5: Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President at the President’s discretion or at the written request of five (5) members of the Board. Said request shall state the reason for, and the purpose of the meeting. In the event that the President fails to issue a call for a special meeting within five (5) days after being requested to do so, any officer may issue such a call, and upon their failure to do so, any member of the Board of Directors may issue such a call. Meetings may be in-person, hybrid or fully virtual.
Section 6: Trustees
1) Trustees shall take an active part in reviewing and approving the synagogue budget as well as in monitoring the budget throughout the fiscal year.
2) Trustees shall attend Board of Directors meetings. A Trustee who does not attend three (3) consecutive regular board meetings or any three (3) regular board meetings within a consecutive six month period may be expelled from the board by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
3) Trustees shall be active in at least one committee and shall be required to attend two-thirds of that committee’s meetings. Trustees shall attend a minimum of four (4) Shabbat services per year. Trustees are strongly encouraged to take a leadership role in their committees. A Trustee who does not meet their obligations may be expelled from the board by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 7: Motions
Section 1: Composition
The Executive Board shall consist of the officers of the Congregation as defined in Section 5 herein, the immediate past president(s) of the Congregation, and the presidents of Sisterhood and Men’s Club. In order to be eligible to become an officer, one must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for three years. The three-year provision may be waived by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. The presidents of Sisterhood and Men’s Club shall have full voting rights on the Executive Board. Co-Presidents of these organizations shall share one vote between them whenever they are eligible to vote. Spouses may not hold two voting seats on the Executive Board simultaneously.
In order to have a vote on the Executive Board, the following conditions must be met:
Section 2: Clergy Participation
The Rabbi shall be an ex officio member of the Executive Board without voting rights.
Section 3: Administration
The Executive Board shall report and recommend to the Board of Directors upon any matters affecting the welfare of this Congregation. The Executive Board shall be apprised of all matters that will be brought to the Board of Directors by the standing committees and auxiliary organizations. The Executive Board shall have the sole authority to hire, evaluate, terminate or change the job status or conditions of employment of all employees, except the Rabbi. The Executive Board may delegate this authority as it sees fit.
Section 4: Schedule of Meetings and Quorum
The Executive Board shall meet a minimum of ten (10) months per fiscal year. Meetings may be in-person, hybrid or fully virtual. A quorum for any meeting shall consist of at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting members of the Executive Board.
The officers of the congregation shall be:
a President – There shall be up to two Presidents who will share one vote between them whenever the President is eligible to vote.
b First Vice-President
c Second Vice-President
d Third Vice-President
e Treasurer – There shall be up to two Treasurers who will share one vote between them whenever the Treasurer is eligible to vote.
f Financial Secretary – There shall be up to two Financial Secretaries who will share one vote between them whenever the Financial Secretary is eligible to vote.
g Communications Secretary
h Recording Secretary
It shall be the function of the President to preside at all meetings of the Congregation, of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Board of which the President shall be chairperson; to call all membership meetings of the Congregation and the Board of Directors; to sign all agreements, contracts, deeds, and other documents of the Congregation, pursuant to appropriate resolutions by the Congregation or the Board of Directors; to countersign all checks, vouchers, and notes together with the Treasurer or First Vice-President, if the Treasurer is not available, as may be directed by the Congregation or the Board of Directors; and to arrange for an annual financial inspection of the books and records by a third party who meets the qualifications for such engagement and who is not a member of the Executive Board. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee. The President shall not have the right to vote at Executive Board and Board of Directors meetings where the vote is not done via secret ballot, except to make or break a tie as well as to vote for Member of the Year.
The First Vice-President shall be deemed to be the President-Elect. The First Vice-President shall assist the President in the discharge of the President’s duties, and in case of the absence or disability of the President, shall discharge the duties of that office; shall be an ex-officio member of all committees assigned to the First Vice-President by the President and shall oversee and select the chairpersons of those committees; and may countersign all checks with either the President or Treasurer.
Section 8: Duties of the Second and Third Vice-Presidents
The Second and Third Vice-Presidents shall, upon the absence or disability of the President and First Vice-President, respectively, discharge the duties of the President and each shall be an ex-officio member of all committees assigned to them by the President and shall oversee and select the chairpersons of those committees.
The Treasurer shall keep an accurate and correct record of the receipts and expenditures of the congregation and of the accounts between the congregation, its members and others. These records shall be open for inspection by the Board of Trustees and the Finance Committee. The Treasurer shall make authorized withdrawals in accordance with the by-laws. The Treasurer shall render a written report of the finances of the Congregation at all meetings of the Board of Directors, at the Congregational budget meeting and at such other meetings as the Treasurer may be directed to do so. Said report shall be affixed to the minutes of the meeting at which the same is presented. The Treasurer shall participate in creating the budget.
Section 10: Duties of the Financial Secretary The Financial Secretary shall notify all members of the congregation of their obligations and pledges; shall oversee a collection effort as appropriate; receive all monies which shall be payable to the congregation, and cause the same to be deposited or invested in the congregation’s name, as directed by the Board of Directors.
Officers shall be elected by the Congregation for a term of two years. The offices of Treasurer and Financial Secretary shall have a limit of three consecutive full terms and all other offices shall have a limit of two consecutive full terms.
In the event that the Nominating Committee is unable to nominate a candidate for a particular office, it shall seek the assistance of the Executive Board. After presenting its findings to the Executive Board, the Executive Board may recommend that the Congregation extend the term limit for that position for up to one year. In order for the term limit to be extended, this recommendation must be approved at a congregational meeting by two-thirds of those present.
No person may serve as a voting member on the Executive Board for more than twelve consecutive years, unless the office being held after the twelfth year is that of President or immediate past President. A person who has reached this term limit cannot assume a position on Executive Board until they has not been a member of the Executive Board for twelve months.
In the event of a permanent vacancy in any office whose term has not yet expired, except for the President, the Nominating Committee shall recommend a successor to the Board of Directors within thirty days of such vacancy. The Board of Directors shall vote on such candidate, along with any candidate nominated from the floor at its next meeting. In the event of a permanent vacancy in the office of President, the First Vice-President shall assume that office.
New budget expense lines may be added to a committee’s budget based upon the approval of that committee provided that such expenses do not exceed the committee’s total budget. A committee may also create an income and expense line and can expend those monies provided that the expense does not exceed the income for that line and such expenditures shall not be deemed an increase to the budget. Any expenditures which exceed the budget must be approved by the Executive Board. Any such expenditures which exceed $3,500 must be approved by the Board of Directors and expenditures which exceed $5,000 must be approved by the Congregation.
In the event of an emergency requiring an immediate expenditure of funds in order to preserve the assets of the synagogue, the Executive Board by a unanimous vote of available members (of at least 5 voting members) can authorize an emergency expenditure even if such expenditure exceeds the budget or has not been allocated in the budget.
A chairperson, with the approval of the appropriate Vice-President, may re-allocate up to Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars from one line of that committee’s budget to another line; except that in no event may the chairperson reallocate the budget line for salaries.
The Congregation shall establish auxiliary organizations as shall from time to time be authorized and constituted by the Board of Directors.
The auxiliary organizations shall be required to establish their own by-laws upon organization. Copies of these by-laws and any amendments thereto, as well as the financial records of the auxiliary organizations, shall be available for inspection by the Executive Board upon request. The by-laws and other regulations of auxiliary organizations shall be consistent with the by-laws of the Congregation. Subject to this provision, these organizations shall conduct their own affairs and elect their own officers and governing bodies in a manner consistent with the policies of this Congregation and the Board of Directors.
All Presidents of auxiliary organizations nominated after the effective date of these by-laws must be members in good standing of the Congregation.
The activities of auxiliary groups shall always be conducted in accordance with the Standards for Congregational Practice of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism as adopted in 1957 and amended in 2017 and in the best interests of the synagogue and Conservative Judaism.
Each year the respective Vice-Presidents and Secretaries, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall select the chairpersons of the committees to which they are assigned. Each chairperson shall be a member in good standing of the Congregation. Only members of the Congregation may serve on committees. Voting members of the Executive Board may not serve as permanent committee chairs. When necessary, the Vice President and Secretaries may remove a chairperson with the approval of the Executive Board.
Committees shall be comprised of no less than three members of the Congregation, not including ex officio members. No vote may be taken unless at least three members of the committee are present, excluding ex officio members. In the case of an emergency as determined by the Vice President of the committee, or the President in the Vice President’s absence, the matter may be referred for resolution to three available officers of the Congregation.
Meetings may be in-person, hybrid or fully virtual. Upon attending two of three committee meetings, a member shall obtain voting rights in that committee. In order to maintain voting rights, a member must attend more than fifty percent of the committee’s monthly meetings.
Agendas shall be established for each committee meeting, minutes of meetings shall be recorded, and committees shall keep track of receipts and expenditures and, if applicable, propose a budget for submission to the finance committee for the Synagogue budgetary process. Attendance of all meetings and minutes of all open meetings shall be submitted to the Recording Secretary.
The standing (established) committees of this Congregation shall be defined as follows and shall meet as deemed necessary by the committee chair or member of Executive Board which is responsible for the particular committee:
Adult Education Committee – shall be responsible for developing a program of adult education for the Congregation. It shall also determine policy and formulate rules and regulations for the administration of such a program, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Committee – shall be responsible for coordinating and facilitating the Bar/Bar Mitzvah process.
By-law Committee – shall meet at least once a year to review the by-laws. It shall propose any amendments it deems appropriate and shall maintain a book of all amendments which have been passed.
Catering Committee – shall be responsible for coordinating food services and related facilities and recommend catering fees to members, nonmembers, and organizations.
Cemetery Committee – shall be responsible for managing the synagogue’s cemetery operations including the purchase and sale of burial plots; issuing permits for internment and headstone installation; communications with the congregation, the cemetery, and funeral homes as needed; and maintaining accurate financial and other (e.g., availability and usage of plots) books and records.
Education Committee – shall recommend the hiring and continuation of the education director to the Executive Board. It shall review the education director’s recommendations to hire faculty, shall review the curriculum developed by the education director under the guidance of the Rabbi and shall determine the policy and formulate rules and regulations for the administration of the Religious School as well as formulate the requirements for a child to be B’nai Mitzvahed by the synagogue, subject to the approval of the Rabbi as to halakhic issues and the review of the Executive Board on all other issues.
Finance Committee – shall have access to the books of the Treasurer and Financial Secretary, except to that portion which pertains to members’ personal records. The committee shall present at the annual meeting of the congregation a proposed budget approved by the Executive Board and the Board of Directors for the upcoming fiscal year for the approval of the congregation, shall review the financial operations of the congregation as well, as conduct a quarterly assessment as to the expectations of attaining the budgetary goals.
Fundraising Committee – shall be in charge of raising money through events and projects and shall oversee all fundraising endeavors.
House Committee – shall formulate and enforce rules governing the use of the premises by other organizations or persons; shall supervise the maintenance of the synagogue properties and equipment; shall investigate and report to the Board of Directors any repairs, additions, or equipment needed to maintain the buildings most efficiently; and shall be responsible for facility rentals that do not entail a food service component. It shall further recommend fees, procedures, and regulations for use of Congregant facilities for approval by the Board of Directors.
Interfaith/Keruv/Engagement Committee – shall be responsible for developing support programs and opportunities for intermarried couples, interfaith families and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer) individuals and families to draw closer to the Congregation.
Israeli and Jewish Affairs Committee – shall be responsible for developing and maintaining liaison with other Jewish and Israeli organizations; shall educate and advocate with respect to Israel and Jewish issues on both a local and global level and shall develop programming with respect to such issues.
Marketing Committee – shall be responsible for developing campaigns which support the activities of committees and the synagogue as a whole. The members of this committee shall be appointed by the President and/or the Communications Secretary.
Membership Committee – shall be responsible for the retention of existing members and the solicitation of new members, shall develop programs and incentives to encourage membership with the Congregation, shall investigate resignations and report findings to the President and Rabbi, shall call all appropriate committees to assist in membership retention and shall present prospective new members to the Board of Directors for approval.
Nominating Committee – shall be responsible for recommending a slate of officers and trustees annually. The committee shall send a copy of its slate to the General Membership at least 21 days prior to the general or special membership meeting at which elections are to be held. The committee shall consist of nine members. A maximum of three members shall be from the Executive Board, none of whom shall be eligible for re-election. Spouses shall not be permitted to serve on the committee simultaneously. The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall appoint five (5) members, one of whom shall be the chairperson. The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall have the option of selecting a co-chairperson. The remaining four (4) members shall be elected by the Board of Directors. A quorum shall consist of five members. The committee shall not nominate more than one candidate for each position and shall not nominate any candidate for two positions. They shall be responsible for running the election as per ARTICLE XIV, and the counting and reporting of the results. The Nominating Committee shall make no restrictions on eligibility other than those appearing in these by-laws. The members of this committee shall be appointed for a term of two years.
Ritual Committee – shall be in charge of all religious services subject to the authority of the Rabbi as the mara d’atra of the congregation. It shall formulate rules and regulations for religious practice subject to the approval of the rabbi as to halakhic issues and the Board of Directors as to all other issues. It shall offer to the Rabbi advice and guidance regarding the character and mode of the various services. The committee shall also be in charge of all aspects of services during the High Holidays, the festivals, Shabbat services and all holiday observances. The committee shall have the responsibility of appointing gabbaim for religious services.
Shofar Committee – shall be responsible for publishing a periodic bulletin. The chairperson of this committee shall be called the Editor.
Social Action and Community Relations Committee – shall be responsible for developing and maintaining liaison with other organizations in in the community. It shall have the responsibility of studying community problems which may arise from
time to time and shall develop projects in consonance with the principles of tikun olam [improving the world], darchei shalom [creating paths for peace] and tzedek u’mishpat [justice and righteousness].
Special Committee – shall be comprised of the President, First Vice-President and the Financial Secretar(y)(ies). It shall be responsible for giving special financial consideration for those members unable to meet their synagogue financial obligations and its decisions shall not be subject to review.
Strategic Planning Committee – shall be responsible for “looking into the future” and recommending programs and actions that will best assure the continuity and growth of Manetto Hill Jewish Center. The recommendations will be brought forth to the respective standing committees and the Board of Trustees.
Youth Committee – shall recommend the hiring and continuation of the youth director to the Executive Board. It shall review the programs of youth activities developed by the staff, shall determine the policies and formulate the rules and regulations for the administration of such activities including Kadima (pre-teen), USY (teens) and Koach (college age), and shall be responsible for the retention of existing youth group members and the solicitation of new youth group members. The president(s) of our youth organization(s) shall be (a) non-voting member(s) of the Youth Committee.
ARTICLE XIV: ELECTIONS
Section 1: At least 21 days prior to the General or Special Membership meeting at which elections shall be held, the Nominating Committee shall send a copy of the slate to the membership, with instructions for nominations from the floor. Such nomination shall require the signature of a nominator, and two seconds, with the consent of the proposed nominee, none of whom shall be from the same immediate family. The final date for receipt of such nominations shall be seven days before the General or Special Membership meeting at which elections shall be held. Nomination forms shall be addressed to the attention of the chairperson of the Nominating Committee.
Section 2: No later than 2 days after the close of nominations from the floor, notice will be sent to the Congregation of any contested positions.
Section 3: No nominee shall be a candidate for more than one office. For the purpose of the election, a trustee seat shall be deemed an office.
Section 4: For each position that is uncontested, the recording secretary shall cast one vote to approve that candidate for that position.
Section 5: In the event that a position is contested, voting shall take place by secret ballot. In the event of a tie, a run-off election will take place seven days later, unless precluded by a Jewish holiday, in which case the election will be held the day after the holiday.
Section 6: Those elected shall assume the duties of their office on July 1st.
Section 7: If the number of trustees recommended by the Nominating Committee and elected in accordance with Article XIV is less than 24, the Nominating Committee may nominate additional members to fill trustee positions during the (next) fiscal year, provided that the total number of trustees does not exceed 24. Those nominations shall be presented to the Board of Directors for election at the next Board of Directors meeting following such nominations by the Nominating Committee.
Section 1: Any officer or trustee may be impeached for good cause, pursuant to the following procedure:
As Conservative Jews, ethical and moral behavior is imperative and values of derech eretz and kavod, mutual respect and honor, take precedence in guiding our discussions and deliberations. Members shall be required to speak and act accordingly at all times in order to promote shalom bayit (peace in the house). Lashon hora (evil words) shall not be permitted. Meetings shall otherwise be conducted in accordance with the then-current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, unless superseded by this document.
A proposal for amendment, suspension or revocation which does not receive the requisite number of votes for passage, may not be resubmitted unless twelve (12) months have elapsed since the time of such rejection.
These by-laws shall take effect immediately upon ratification.
Manetto Hill Jewish Center
244 Manetto Hill Road, Plainview, NY 11803
516-935-5454|Email Us
