Pursuant to Article 10, section 2 of the By-Laws of Temple Israel of Greater Miami, Inc.,the following members of Temple Israel of Greater Miami request that the Board of Trustees immediately convoke a Special Congregational Meeting to discuss the recent decision of the Board of Trustees not to renew the contract of Rabbi Heyn, including any procedural irregularities in respect of that decision. While we respect the Board's authority in this matter, we believe that a full congregation-wide discussion would be healthy and helpful.
58 Comments
I misunderstood this important turn of events. I thought that the decision to go was made by Rabbi Tom. I thought that he wanted/needed to pursue another path. The only way I would support his leaving is if "he" chose to go. I want Rabbi Tom to stay. Drew Werner
I grew up at Temple Israel, religious school, Bar Mitzvah, Confirmation. My wife converted with Rabbi Tom. Rabbi Tom married me and my 2 siblings. We looked forward to raising our family with Rabbi Tom and TI. He makes Temple Israel home for us. If he is gone, so is 40 years of me and my family and our future at the Temple.
We would like to know the reason the board has decided not to renew the rabbi's contract. Is there something he has done or did not do?
I am a member for the sole reason that Rabbi Heyn is the rabbi. He married me a year ago and I am quite certain there has never been a better ceremony! I fully support the reversal of the board's decision.
We fervently support renewal of Rabbi Tom Heyn's contract. The experience our son Robert had with Rabbi Tom in preparation for his Bar-mitzvah was an event we will remember and cherish for the rest of our lives. Please keep Rabbi Tom as the leader of Temple Israel's congregation.
My family and I have been shocked by the seemingly sudden and abrupt way the Board decided not to renew Rabbi Heyn's contract. The lack of transparency is anathema to a harmonious community, which is what we had found here. Our son was bar mitzvahed last year, thanks entirely to both Karen Susman and Rabbi Heyn. We believe the Rabbi is an asset to TI and if the Board feels otherwise, the Board needs to hold open meetings before a sea-change of this kind. We ask that if there are serious reasons for his dismissal, as with Karen Susman, we should know what they are. If there are none so egregious, we respectfully ask the Board to reconsider this decision. Otherwise we will be forced to go elsewhere, sadly.
I am so deeply disappointed to see the board declining to keep another Rabbi with whom My family has bonded and come to trust and rely on. It was hard for us when Rabbi Jody left to open our hearts fully to Rabbi Tom. But over time we did, thanks to his warm manner, his Commitment to social justice and inclusivity. The fact that once again the Temple is looking to greener pastures makes me question the vision and strategy of the leadership. We still remember the debacle at the end of the end of the ECC. We hoped the Temple was turning a page toward more stability. We have strongly supported Rabbi Tom's personal touch at the religious school as well as his vision to have the Temple engage with the local and global community even on tough and challenging issues.
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Pursuant to Article 10, section 2 of the By-Laws of Temple Israel of Greater Miami, Inc.,the following members of Temple Israel of Greater Miami request that the Board of Trustees immediately convoke a Special Congregational Meeting to discuss the recent decision of the Board of Trustees not to renew the contract of Rabbi Heyn, including any procedural irregularities in respect of that decision. While we respect the Board's authority in this matter, we believe that a full congregation-wide discussion would be healthy and helpful.
58 Comments
I am a long standing member of Joseph's Table and enjoy the insight and different approach the Rabbi utilizes. I appreciate his introduction of modern commentaries to the discussion. My family has enjoyed High Holidays conducted by Rabbi Heyn. He really is a good fit for an urban, historic congregation and is imbued with the Temple's social justice philosophy,
I misunderstood this important turn of events. I thought that the decision to go was made by Rabbi Tom. I thought that he wanted/needed to pursue another path. The only way I would support his leaving is if "he" chose to go. I want Rabbi Tom to stay. Drew Werner
I grew up at Temple Israel, religious school, Bar Mitzvah, Confirmation. My wife converted with Rabbi Tom. Rabbi Tom married me and my 2 siblings. We looked forward to raising our family with Rabbi Tom and TI. He makes Temple Israel home for us. If he is gone, so is 40 years of me and my family and our future at the Temple.
We would like to know the reason the board has decided not to renew the rabbi's contract. Is there something he has done or did not do?
I am a member for the sole reason that Rabbi Heyn is the rabbi. He married me a year ago and I am quite certain there has never been a better ceremony! I fully support the reversal of the board's decision.
We fervently support renewal of Rabbi Tom Heyn's contract. The experience our son Robert had with Rabbi Tom in preparation for his Bar-mitzvah was an event we will remember and cherish for the rest of our lives. Please keep Rabbi Tom as the leader of Temple Israel's congregation.
My family and I have been shocked by the seemingly sudden and abrupt way the Board decided not to renew Rabbi Heyn's contract. The lack of transparency is anathema to a harmonious community, which is what we had found here. Our son was bar mitzvahed last year, thanks entirely to both Karen Susman and Rabbi Heyn. We believe the Rabbi is an asset to TI and if the Board feels otherwise, the Board needs to hold open meetings before a sea-change of this kind. We ask that if there are serious reasons for his dismissal, as with Karen Susman, we should know what they are. If there are none so egregious, we respectfully ask the Board to reconsider this decision. Otherwise we will be forced to go elsewhere, sadly.
I am so deeply disappointed to see the board declining to keep another Rabbi with whom My family has bonded and come to trust and rely on. It was hard for us when Rabbi Jody left to open our hearts fully to Rabbi Tom. But over time we did, thanks to his warm manner, his Commitment to social justice and inclusivity. The fact that once again the Temple is looking to greener pastures makes me question the vision and strategy of the leadership. We still remember the debacle at the end of the end of the ECC. We hoped the Temple was turning a page toward more stability. We have strongly supported Rabbi Tom's personal touch at the religious school as well as his vision to have the Temple engage with the local and global community even on tough and challenging issues.
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I am a long standing member of Joseph's Table and enjoy the insight and different approach the Rabbi utilizes. I appreciate his introduction of modern commentaries to the discussion. My family has enjoyed High Holidays conducted by Rabbi Heyn. He really is a good fit for an urban, historic congregation and is imbued with the Temple's social justice philosophy,