When Jen and I moved to Colorado Springs eleven years ago and joined Temple Shalom, I never imagined that I would someday be so honored as to be your president. Maybe I never knew that I could care so much for an organization, or that I had the skills, or I would ever have the time. Despite my initial fears, I have made volunteering at Temple Shalom a priority in my life, and I look forward to serving you in my newest and most important role.
I am proud to be a leader in this community! I am proud of our Rabbi – for his guidance, leadership, and outreach. For his unique connections to each and every individual that comes through our temple doors and for his warmth and compassion during those moments when we must say goodbye to our dearest friends. I am thankful for our staff that works so hard to keep our day-to-day operations running so we may keep our doors open, and of course their work behind the scenes to keep our house in repair and set up for services and special events. I also know how blessed we are in this community to have such dedicated teachers to educate our children in the traditions of Judaism.
We have just honored our past, with our 40th Anniversary gala behind us, and we are now poised to start a bright and exciting future. I am thrilled to be leading a congregation that is already connected and involved in shaping our future with new and innovative ideas.
Each of us will play a vital role in our future: for some it will be getting involved as a volunteer – chairing a committee, ushering on a Friday night, or being a room parent; for others it will be about attending services, events, or being a member of an auxiliary; and for some it will be through paying a higher level of dues or the giving of a significant financial gift. However you engage with Temple Shalom, you are needed and welcomed with open arms.
Over the next several months the board will be working hard to set goals and objectives for not just the coming year, but for the next five and ten years, and possibly even beyond. Our focus will be on community presence, financial stability, and continuing to strengthen our Jewish connections.
As I enter my first year as president, I do so with the knowledge that I am part of something bigger than just me, that I am a part of a community that loves and cares. Most importantly, I enter with friends all around me, and with my best friends, Jen and Kate, at my side.
L'Shalom,
Daniel Israel Mirer
President
Temple Shalom
