Ya’akov Berman Community Center for Torah and Prayer

1. The Amuta’s Constitution

We the undersigned declare our desire to form an Amuta to be called the “Ya’akov Berman Community Center for Torah and Prayer”. In accordance with the provisions of the law, we take upon ourselves the following regulations:

2. The Amuta’s Mission
   1. To cultivate and develop cultural and national values in Rehovot and the neighboring area, while maintaining a strong connection to Jewish tradition.
   2. To establish and operate synagogues, places of learning and other institutions in order to achieve the aforementioned Mission.
   3. To develop and encourage learning groups for study of Torah and Jewish philosophy, using classes, lectures and libraries.
   4. To foster connections with all Jewish communities, everywhere.
   5. To assist in the financial, social and cultural acclimation of new immigrants in Rehovot and the neighboring area.
   6. To establish institutions of mutual assistance for the Amuta’s members.
   7. It is clearly stated that it is not the Amuta’s Mission to make financial profits of any kind.

3. Joining the Amuta
   1. The Amuta is open to any person above eighteen who accepts the Mission and decisions of the Amuta and pays membership dues according to the set amount.
   2. Every member will have the right to vote.

4. The Amuta’s Board
   1. The Amuta will choose from among its members a Board with eleven members, as follows:

I.      A member for the position of Chairman of the Amuta.

II.     A (male or female) member for the position of Treasurer.

III.    Three members for the position of Gabaim.

IV.     Six (male or female) additional Board members.The Board’s Function

I.      To represent the Amuta before the authorities and institutions.

II.     To manage the Amuta’s books according to the requirements of the law.

III.    To collect the money owed to the Amuta from its members and/or others.

IV.     To execute payments and spending within the framework of the Amuta’s budget.

V.      To prepare a detailed report of the Amuta’s activities to be presented to the Amuta’s annual general meeting.

VI.     To prepare a financial report of the Amuta’s activities to be presented to the Amuta’s annual general meeting.

VII.    To prepare a financial budget to be presented to the Amuta’s annual general meeting.

VIII.   To convene the Amuta’s general meeting as specified below.Sub-Committees

Within 45 days of its election, the board will choose the following sub-committees from among the Amuta’s members:

I.        Tzedaka committee, G’mach committee, Education committee, House committee, Chessed committee, and Culture committee.  The Tzedaka and G’mach committees will consist of at least three members.

II.       The board is entitled to form additional sub-committees as needed and as it sees fit.

III.      The sub-committees will present a report on their activities to the Board from time to time, according to the Chairman’s request.

IV.      The membership of a member of a sub-committee is terminated with the election of a new committee unless the Board has renewed it.

V.       The membership of a member of a sub-committee is terminated with his or her resignation.

4.  
   4. The decisions of the Board will be determined by a simple majority and will be written in the book of minutes, which the Chairman of the Amuta will sign.
   5. The legal quorum of the Board is six members.
   6. The signatures of at least two of the following: the Chairman, Treasurer or another Board member who was so approved by the Board, together with the Amuta’s stamp, will bind the Amuta.  The Board can appoint Board members to sign on the Amuta’s bank accounts. The Board can appoint Tzedaka committee members to sign on the Amuta’s Tzedaka bank account. The Board can appoint G’mach committee members to sign on the Amuta’s G’mach bank account. 
   7. The previous Amuta Chairman will have the right to participate on the Board, as an Observer, without the right to vote for a year following the end of his term.
   8. The Board will meet at least once every two months. Board meetings will be open to any Amuta member, who can participate as an Observer.
   9. The Board will be elected by the Amuta’s members by secret ballot.

5. General Meetings
   1. The Board will convene a general meeting of the Amuta each year in the in the synagogue of the Amuta’s members on the Sunday of week of Lag Ba’omer at 20:00. 
   2. The Board can convene a general meeting on a different date. In the event the board does so, it will give notice two weeks in advance. 
   3. In all cases a notice of general meeting will be printed and posted in a prominent place in the synagogue of the Amuta’s members.  The notice will provide the location, date and time of the meeting.
   4. The legal quorum for the meeting is ten percent of the Amuta’s members living in Rehovot.  In the event that quarter of an hour after the time the meeting was to be convened the legal quorum is not present, the meeting will be delayed by a quarter of an hour, and will be legal regardless of the number of members present.

1. The subjects discussed at the general membership meeting    will be:

I.        The election of the board and the audit committee.

II.       Receiving a report on the activities of the Amuta during the past year from the outgoing board.

III.      Receiving the report of the outgoing audit committee.

IV.      Receiving and approving an audited financial report on the activities of the Amuta during the past year.  The Board is entitled to present interim financial reports at the meeting, on the condition that they were previously presented to the audit committee and have already been approved by the audit committee and passed on for the consideration of the members at least seven days before the date of the meeting.

V.       Approving the Amuta’s plans for the coming year’s activity.

VI.      Approving the financial budget of the Amuta for the coming year.

VII.     Expelling members from the Amuta (as detailed below).

VIII.    Changes in the Amuta’s Constitution.

IX.      Any other subjects related to the Amuta’s activities that are raised by the members of the sub-committees, the audit committee and/or members of the Amuta.

5.   Regardless of other special meetings held throughout the year, a standard general meeting will be held on the aforementioned date.
6. All the decisions made at the general meeting will be based on a simple majority, except decisions to modify the Constitution, expelling members or disband the Amuta, which will be made according to the regulations detailed below.
7. Votes will be cast personally, and not through a representative.
8. The voting procedures will be determined by the Board except in the case of electing Board members and members of the audit committee, which will be done by secret ballot.
9. A month before the general meeting, the Board will provide a list of the Amuta’s members.  Members who are over three months late in the payment of their membership dues will not have the right to vote.

6. Special Meetings
   1. The Board is entitled to convene a special general meeting with two weeks advance notice.  The Board will perform all the steps necessary to convene the meeting as if it were a standard general meeting.
   2. Ten percent of the Amuta’s members can convene a special general meeting at any time, although they must take the following steps:

I.        Send the Chairman of the Amuta a list of the names and their signatures of ten percent of the Amuta members who support convening a special meeting.

II.       Notify the entire Board on the subjects and issues that will be discussed at the special meeting.

III.      The notifications and the list of names must be sent at least 15 days before the date of the special meeting.

3. 3. Upon receiving the announcement on convening the special meeting as detailed above, the Board will take all the steps necessary to convene the special meeting as if this were a standard general meeting.  Members who are over three months late in the payment of their membership dues will not have the right to vote.
   4. Only subjects included in the notification sent to the Board (according to sub-section 2 (II) of this section) will be discussed at the special meeting.

7. Changes in the Amuta’s Constitution
   1. Any change in the Amuta’s Constitution requires the approval of the general meeting or a special general meeting.
   2. The proposed changes will be detailed in the announcement given to the members two weeks before the meeting.
   3. The majority necessary to approve changes in the Constitution is three quarters of the members present at the meeting, but not less then fifteen percent of the Amuta members who reside in Rehovot.
   4. The name of the synagogues, the Amuta and sub-section 9 in section XI below (“Miscellaneous”) may not be changed.

8. Expelling Members or Resignation
   1. Expelling members from the Amuta on a temporary or permanent basis requires the approval of the general meeting or a special general meeting.
   2. The name/s of the member to be removed from the Amuta and the reason for their removal will be included in the announcement given to the members two weeks before the meeting.
   3. The Board will send personal notifications by registered mail to the member/s that the Amuta wishes to expel as least 21 days before the meeting is convened.  Copies of the letters and confirmation that they were sent by registered mail will be presented at the general meeting or at the special general meeting that was convened for such purpose.
   4. The majority necessary to remove a member from the Amuta is three quarters of the members present at the meeting, but not less then fifteen percent of the Amuta members who reside in Rehovot.
   5. While discussing the member’s removal, the member in question will be present and given the opportunity to have his voice heard.  Although if 30 minutes after the meeting is convened the member to be expelled has not arrived, and no reasonable explanation has been given for his absence, the meeting will be permitted to discuss and approve the removal as detailed above.
   6. Resignation from the Amuta may be done by written notification to the Board, seven days prior to member’s planned resignation or member’s refusal to pay annual membership dues.

9. Disbanding the Amuta
   1. The disbanding of the Amuta will be decided upon at a general meeting.
   2. The intention to disband the Amuta will be detailed in the announcement of the general meeting.
   3. The majority necessary to decide to disband the Amuta is three quarters of the members present at the general meeting, but not less then fifteen percent of the Amuta members who reside in Rehovot.
   4. At the same time the general meeting will determine the manner in which the Amuta’s assets will be divided.

10. The Amuta’s Audit Committee

1.   The Amuta will choose three of its members as an audit committee.

2.   A (male/female) member of the audit committee may not be a (male/female) member of the Board or one of its committees.

3.  The role of the audit committee is to audit the activities of the Amuta and to check the Amuta’s financial records and its finances.  The committee’s comments and recommendations will be brought before the general meeting.

4.  The members of the Amuta will elect the audit committee by secret ballot.

11. Miscellaneous

1.  Within the framework of its budget, the Amuta has the authority to purchase real estate and other assets necessary to fulfill the Amuta’s Mission.

2.  Selling real estate in the possession of the Amuta requires approval by the general meeting.

3.  The membership dues will be collected by the Board of the Amuta.  The head of the family will pay the fee and in so doing acquire full membership for his wife and the members of his household, excluding the right to vote for his children.

4.  The Amuta’s financial records, which will be managed in accordance with the law, will be open to the review of any member and will be kept in an accessable place.

5.  The Amuta hereby declares that it is not subordinate to any political body, and will under no circumstance be under the influence or pressure of a political body of any kind in Rehovot and outside of it.

6.  After approval is received from the Registrar of Amutot regarding changes to the Constitution, the Amuta will distribute its revised Constitution.

7.  After approval is received regarding the registration of the Amuta, the board will request an income tax exemption on its revenue from the income tax bureau in accordance with section 9 (2) of the Tax Code.

8.  The members’ responsibility for the Amuta’s financial commitments, in the event that the Amuta is disbanded, is a sum of 10 NIS per member.

9.  The synagogues will be managed in accordance with halacha as established by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

10. The Amuta’s assets and revenue are intended to be used solely for the Amuta’s Mission, and distributing profits or benefits of any kind are forbidden.

11. In the event that the Amuta is disbanded, the Amuta’s assets will be distributed to other public institution, in accordance with section 9 (2) of the Tax Code and will not be distributed amongst Amuta members.

Approved at the May 17, 2009 AGM. Checked and certified by the Rasham HaAmutot - July 20, 2009.