Life Cycle Events Now early into its second half century, Temple Micah is mature enough to have multiple-generation families among the membership. As the Granof family observed life cycle milestones Micah was there to help celebrate or mourn. As a young married couple, Helene and Gene Granof joined the temple in 1967. (Helene had grown…
Category: atavist-organization-22819
Social Justice
Social Justice (Tzedek) From its earliest days in the 1960s, Temple Micah has been guided by a deep commitment to social justice. Early newsletters announced meetings on civil rights, called on members to tutor at-risk students in the Southwest DC neighborhood where the congregation began, participated in community-wide social justice projects, and took an active…
The Micah Way
The Micah Way Temple Micah has always been a special place, which has often meant being different from other Reform congregations. What makes us special is hard to put into words, but the elements of our history may shed light on some of our distinctiveness. Born in the 1960s, we are congenitally egalitarian. From the…
Member Stories
Member Stories First and foremost, Temple Micah has always been about its people, the individuals that make Micah what it is. It began more than a half century ago as a small group of friends and neighbors. Although the congregation has grown much too large for everyone to know everyone else, Micah remains a community,…
Early Days
Early Days There is general agreement that Temple Micah was started in 1963 by a few families in Southwest Washington, DC. But the memories of the earliest members differ on the precise circumstances and reasons for its founding. To have a nearby place to observe the High Holy days, says one. To provide a religious…
Learning Together
Learning Together Temple Micah’s deep-rooted focus on learning isn’t just for kids. Adult education has always been taken very seriously. The temple sponsors an annual scholar-in-residence, Sunday speakers, adult ed series led by professional staff, adult Hebrew classes, discussion groups and other learning opportunities. Members themselves have organized lay-led study sessions. The longest-running is Torah…
A Home of Our Own
A Home of Our Own For the first few years after Temple Micah was born in 1963, services, religious school and other activities took place at various venues in the southwest neighborhood of Washington, DC. Although it began to hold worship services exclusively at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church at 6th and M St., SW, in…
Just Having Fun Together
Just Having Fun Together As Temple Micah has always been a community and not just a place of worship, its members have enjoyed getting together to do many things—learning, working on projects, raising money. Most of these activities have a fun component. The primary purpose of the Kallot, for example, was learning but participants also…
Our Rabbis
Our Rabbis The Southwest Hebrew Congregation hired Bernard H. Mehlman, its first full time rabbi, in 1967, four years after its founding. Prior to that, the fledgling congregation had relied on Rabbi Richard Hirsch, the director of the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center in Washington, and rabbis from other cities who happened to be visiting…
Raising Money
Raising Money Fund raising drives are probably as old as synagogues and Temple Micah has had its share—including two major capital campaigns, one to build its home on Wisconsin Avenue and another to expand that building. And, of course, the synagogue has a dues structure and encourages members to make donations for a variety of…