Archive Brenda Levenson’s History
Category: atavist-organization-22819
Music Leaders
Music Leaders During the 1960s, the volunteer choir directed by a temple member (Don Easter at first and then Jerry Breslow) provided most of the music at Micah services—along with the congregation, which has always been encouraged to sing along. By 1969, Breslow told the board that “the choir is suffering from a lack of…
Intro
Introduction Temple Micah has always been our home. For years after it was founded in 1963, the congregation remained small and tight knit and we acted like an extended family, celebrating holidays and life cycle events together and pitching in to teach in the coop religious school and work in the office. Because everybody knew…
Listen to the Music
Listen to the Music The Adult Choir performs 12 of the special songs they sing following the sermon at B’nai Mitzvah. Not pictured are Cantor Meryl Weiner, who solos, and Music Director Teddy Klaus, who leads the choir. The choir has recorded this music which is available on CD. See the translations below. I will…
The Living History Team
The Living History Team Top to bottom, left to right: David Diskin, project coordinator and web site designer Shelley Grossman – head writer Stu Schwartz – interviewer/videographer Jennifer Gruber – interviewer/videographer, choir recording Francie Schwartz – historical researcher Leslie Sewell – interviewer/videographer
Staff
Staff Even a do-it-yourself synagogue needs office space and someone to do the administrative work. In 1967, when Rabbi Bernard H.Mehlman came on board four years after the creation of the temple, an office was set up in his family’s basement, which turned out to be inconvenient for everyone involved. So, it wasn’t long before…
Education: History and Evolution
Before there was a rabbi, even before there was a temple, there was Micah education. As founding member Betty Ustun remembers it, four families living in Southwest, DC, “thought they should have religious education for their children. That’s how we got started.” Jewish education for adults as well as children has remained central throughout Temple…
Temple Officers
Temple Officers Serving on the Temple Micah Board of Directors has always been hard work. The policy-making body is just that–policy-making. In partnership with the rabbis, the board sets the tone, direction and substance of the congregation. Just like the no-plaques rule which refuses to honor wealthy members just because they are able to donate…
Life Cycle Events
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…
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…