What are the different tiers of membership? What do I get out of being a member?

This year (5785) there are three tiers of membership:

Full Membership ($500 yearly)

Affiliate Membership ($300 yearly)

Associate Member ($180 yearly)

By becoming a member, you are showing your support for the shul and the Rav and becoming a partner in the shul’s growth. We don’t believe that shul membership is a transactional relationship. The tiers of membership represent your level of affiliation and partnership with the shul. If you always daven at the shul on shabbos and ask Rabbi Iser your shailos, then Full Membership is right for you. If you don’t really daven at the shul and are not very involved, then Associate Membership would make sense. For example, we have several members who live out of town, and are associate members. The new Affiliate Member tier is intended for people who still consider Rabbi Iser to be their Rav, but might not be walking to daven with us every Shabbos.  

What is the difference between Associate Membership and Affiliate Membership?

As above, the main distinction between tiers of membership is about the degree of partnership and affiliation you want to have with the shul.

Will Affiliate Members get seats for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur?

Affiliate Members an also purchase seats for $25 per seat, like Full Members. See shaareiavodah.com/seats for more information.

If membership is for the Jewish year, why am I getting billed in July?

For ease of accounting, the shul follows the fiscal year ending June 30. Charges for the coming membership year are billed as of July 1.  

Can I make a monthly payment plan?

Yes, you can easily set up  a recurring payment in Shulcloud. After logging in to your account, on the payment screen there will be a dropdown box called “Pay this amount”. You can select the option that works for you. 

Can maaser money be used for shul membership?

Yes, Rabbi Iser has said that shul membership can be paid entirely from maaser money.

Is shul membership tax deductible?

Yes. Kehilas Shaarei Avodah is a registered 501c3. Our tax ID is 86-3040210.

Will I receive a tax receipt?

At the end of the calendar year, we will send a tax receipt to all members with their contributions from the year. 

How do I become a member?

You can become a member by filling out the membership form at https://ksa.shulcloud.com/form/membership. Once your shulcloud account is activated, the appropriate membership charges will be added to you account and you will receive a log-in link to set a password for your account and pay your membership.

I don't feel I can afford the full cost of membership now. Are discounts available?

As always, no one will be turned away due to their financial situation. If you feel you cannot afford the full cost of membership at this time, please reach out confidentially to the Rav or to Yosef Backer to find an amount that works for you.

If I become a member partway through the year, how much will I be charged?

If you joined the shul after sukkos, we will prorate your membership using the first day of the month you joined in through the end of the fiscal year. So for example if you joined the shul on January 15, you will be charged half of the membership tier that you chose.

If I want to pay by check, where do I send the check to?

Although we prefer you pay through ShulCloud, you can mail a check to the treasurer, Yehuda Weinberger 2119 Sugarcone Rd Baltimore MD 21209. Checks can be made out to Kehilas Shaarei Avodah.  Please enclose clearly who it is from and what it is for so that your account can be properly credited.