Mindy's Musings
May 2024
Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you after an uplifting season of freedom and renewal. Spring is definitely here and my garden is well underway. I hope you’re all enjoying the warming weather and signs of summer to come. This note will likely be my last to you during my tenure at Temple Emanu-El.
As some of you know, I own a small consulting company that I work for during my time outside the temple. My goal was to step in and help the synagogue while this Religious School position was open, and when I had some extra time during the end of the Pandemic. I will now be turning my attentions back to that work, which I do during the week – and want to pass along the torch to someone who can focus on TE education more readily. I hope that you will not be strangers and will keep in touch. I’m always up for phone calls, emails and lunch outside of temple. You have all meant the world to me – and I was so honored to be part of your community again for these last few years.
I want to say Thank You from the bottom of my heart -for all your kindness, help and enthusiasm in contributing to making the Temple Emanu-El Religious School the warm, loving place it is. We’ve had a great year, with some new families, some exciting new programming and staff, and I’m optimistic for our future.
Thank you to our teachers: Kim Callan, Rachel Hanson, Karen Godek, Amy Moldoff and Gwen Larsen, and Trudy Zakin (as an extension of our team) for all you’ve done this year. You have been a rockstar group of educators, and I have loved collaborating with you every minute. You have made our kids’ Jewish lives rich and wonderful.
Thank you to Lynn Martin, who has helped me in the office with our administrative work; Thank you to Shoshana Dodge, our RS chair, for all your support and amazing work with J-Play!
Thank you to Rabbi Ashira for your spiritual inspiration and support of our school in myriad ways. Thank you to Jenn Lampron for your leadership and hard work on budgets, programs and the administrative aspects of running a school.
Thank you to Lisa Anthony, our TE Administrator whose work often is behind the scenes and is so integral to keeping the institution flowing and working seamlessly. She always has a kind word and has been wonderful to collaborate with.
Thank you to Don Kumis, our Shamos. The word Shamos means guardian or keeper. Don has been such a loyal staff member at TE for so long, and I rely on his knowledge and expertise with the building and with all our programs. Don always takes good care of me and the school, anticipating our needs before we ask for them.
On May 5th, we will host a special End-of-Year potluck party to celebrate Kim Callan’s years with us. Please join us at 12:00 PM in Starensier and sign up HERE for a potluck dish.
Also, please remember to join us for Graduation Shabbat on Friday, May 17th at 7:00 PM as we say goodbye to our graduating senior and enjoy one last Shabbat together as a school for this school year.
When I arrived back at Temple Emanu-El, my goal was to help the school get back on its feet after the pandemic and try to help bring some new energy and enthusiasm to our kids, while also assisting the synagogue in future planning and transition to a new educational leader who will pick up the baton and be the next generation of educational leadership for us going forward. I know we will have some great new faces around the temple next year – please welcome them with open arms and help them be successful educators and community members, as you have done with me – and with all our staff.
Thank you for the privilege of leading your community again.
Have a wonderful summer –
Mindy Harris
(departing) Religious School Director
I hope this finds you after an uplifting season of freedom and renewal. Spring is definitely here and my garden is well underway. I hope you’re all enjoying the warming weather and signs of summer to come. This note will likely be my last to you during my tenure at Temple Emanu-El.
As some of you know, I own a small consulting company that I work for during my time outside the temple. My goal was to step in and help the synagogue while this Religious School position was open, and when I had some extra time during the end of the Pandemic. I will now be turning my attentions back to that work, which I do during the week – and want to pass along the torch to someone who can focus on TE education more readily. I hope that you will not be strangers and will keep in touch. I’m always up for phone calls, emails and lunch outside of temple. You have all meant the world to me – and I was so honored to be part of your community again for these last few years.
I want to say Thank You from the bottom of my heart -for all your kindness, help and enthusiasm in contributing to making the Temple Emanu-El Religious School the warm, loving place it is. We’ve had a great year, with some new families, some exciting new programming and staff, and I’m optimistic for our future.
Thank you to our teachers: Kim Callan, Rachel Hanson, Karen Godek, Amy Moldoff and Gwen Larsen, and Trudy Zakin (as an extension of our team) for all you’ve done this year. You have been a rockstar group of educators, and I have loved collaborating with you every minute. You have made our kids’ Jewish lives rich and wonderful.
Thank you to Lynn Martin, who has helped me in the office with our administrative work; Thank you to Shoshana Dodge, our RS chair, for all your support and amazing work with J-Play!
Thank you to Rabbi Ashira for your spiritual inspiration and support of our school in myriad ways. Thank you to Jenn Lampron for your leadership and hard work on budgets, programs and the administrative aspects of running a school.
Thank you to Lisa Anthony, our TE Administrator whose work often is behind the scenes and is so integral to keeping the institution flowing and working seamlessly. She always has a kind word and has been wonderful to collaborate with.
Thank you to Don Kumis, our Shamos. The word Shamos means guardian or keeper. Don has been such a loyal staff member at TE for so long, and I rely on his knowledge and expertise with the building and with all our programs. Don always takes good care of me and the school, anticipating our needs before we ask for them.
On May 5th, we will host a special End-of-Year potluck party to celebrate Kim Callan’s years with us. Please join us at 12:00 PM in Starensier and sign up HERE for a potluck dish.
Also, please remember to join us for Graduation Shabbat on Friday, May 17th at 7:00 PM as we say goodbye to our graduating senior and enjoy one last Shabbat together as a school for this school year.
When I arrived back at Temple Emanu-El, my goal was to help the school get back on its feet after the pandemic and try to help bring some new energy and enthusiasm to our kids, while also assisting the synagogue in future planning and transition to a new educational leader who will pick up the baton and be the next generation of educational leadership for us going forward. I know we will have some great new faces around the temple next year – please welcome them with open arms and help them be successful educators and community members, as you have done with me – and with all our staff.
Thank you for the privilege of leading your community again.
Have a wonderful summer –
Mindy Harris
(departing) Religious School Director