They actually listened and Michelle is staying on which feels like a total fever dream honestly. I am sitting here staring at the screen and shaking a little because the board finally backed down after all that noise we kicked up together. We need to stay sharp though because trust …
June 27, 2017
Final supporters
Last week I sent a letter out to all of you raising concern that the Board was going to fire Michelle Schwartz. My fears have been confirmed and their plan will be executed tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. This will be the 5th staff to either quit because of the unbearable work conditions or be forced out under the bullying of our current President. Please sign this Petition to let the Board know that you do not agree with this decision and that you will not support this choice as it is not in the best interest of our Congregation. Further, let the Board know that if they do continue with their plan you will be present at the Annual meeting at 5:00 p.m. on June 9, 2017 and will vote against the current slated Board retaining office. Please let the Board know this will effect whether you teach at Temple Sinai next year or continue your membership. As Hillel stated in Avot, "If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" The time is clearly now....
Updates
June 3, 2017
I have been reading through all the emails coming in and it is clear that people are genuinely terrified about what this means for the future of the congregation. Behind the scenes the atmosphere is just suffocating but seeing how many of you are ready to stand up at the annual meeting makes me feel like we might actually have a path forward here.
Reached 100 supporters
June 3, 2017
133 Comments
I have known Michelle for many years. She taught both of our boys in Religious School. As a 30 plus veteran teacher, I can recognize a quality educator. Michelle is top notch as the Director of Education for Temple Sinai. Please do not let her go..
As a former Board member, I am very concerned about the turnover among our professional staff at Temple. It is hard to imagine the extreme circumstances that would lead to this level of turnover but the matter deserves much closer examination and congregational involvement.
The unjust firing of Michelle is outrageous. The Board talks about building a sacred community at Temple Sinai. How hypocritical, especially since she was terminated on Shavuot, the very day that we received the Torah.
Michelle has been a wonderful leader at the school. She has been very supportive of my family since we arrived to Denver for the past three years. She has helped my daughter settle in which was important given her ADHD. She also helped set up tutoring for her in prep for her bat mitzvah.
If Michelle Schwartz is no longer at Temple Sinai, I do not see a reason to stay here. She is the one person who through the years has encouraged my children to continue with their religious studies. This decision is not in the best interest of our congregation.
I and the entire Denver Community are so disappointed in everyone, regardless of what "side" you take. First, to those who speak ill of Michelle Schwartz, the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director, Staff Members or any other person by publicly posting on this thread, that is the definition of "lashon hara". As a mother with no particular view on whether Michelle was wrongfully terminated or not, to publicly shame people is shameful in itself. How would you feel if this was your child? Or your parent who serves as a Trustee, director or staff member? It seems like this issue has been festering for years...and to let it get this far. As I tell my children (because everyone is acting like one), "I am not mad...I am disappointed."
The unrest that this decision has created in our community is a telling that the problem is not that of the individual terminated but rather the current board members. The board is here to serve this community and not their own egos. In protest of this decision, I would encourage a membership fund boycott and empty seats on the Sabbath. The boards actions should not go unchallenged.
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They actually listened and Michelle is staying on which feels like a total fever dream honestly. I am sitting here staring at the screen and shaking a little because the board finally backed down after all that noise we kicked up together. We need to stay sharp though because trust …
June 27, 2017
Final supporters
Last week I sent a letter out to all of you raising concern that the Board was going to fire Michelle Schwartz. My fears have been confirmed and their plan will be executed tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. This will be the 5th staff to either quit because of the unbearable work conditions or be forced out under the bullying of our current President. Please sign this Petition to let the Board know that you do not agree with this decision and that you will not support this choice as it is not in the best interest of our Congregation. Further, let the Board know that if they do continue with their plan you will be present at the Annual meeting at 5:00 p.m. on June 9, 2017 and will vote against the current slated Board retaining office. Please let the Board know this will effect whether you teach at Temple Sinai next year or continue your membership. As Hillel stated in Avot, "If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" The time is clearly now....
Updates
June 3, 2017
I have been reading through all the emails coming in and it is clear that people are genuinely terrified about what this means for the future of the congregation. Behind the scenes the atmosphere is just suffocating but seeing how many of you are ready to stand up at the annual meeting makes me feel like we might actually have a path forward here.
Reached 100 supporters
June 3, 2017
133 Comments
I'm very concerned about the discord in our temple caused by the conditions that led to the loss of Michelle and other staff members who were so competent, devoted and respected. I was appalled by the description by the 6th grade teacher of the way her staff review was conducted.
I have known Michelle for many years. She taught both of our boys in Religious School. As a 30 plus veteran teacher, I can recognize a quality educator. Michelle is top notch as the Director of Education for Temple Sinai. Please do not let her go..
As a former Board member, I am very concerned about the turnover among our professional staff at Temple. It is hard to imagine the extreme circumstances that would lead to this level of turnover but the matter deserves much closer examination and congregational involvement.
The unjust firing of Michelle is outrageous. The Board talks about building a sacred community at Temple Sinai. How hypocritical, especially since she was terminated on Shavuot, the very day that we received the Torah.
Michelle has been a wonderful leader at the school. She has been very supportive of my family since we arrived to Denver for the past three years. She has helped my daughter settle in which was important given her ADHD. She also helped set up tutoring for her in prep for her bat mitzvah.
If Michelle Schwartz is no longer at Temple Sinai, I do not see a reason to stay here. She is the one person who through the years has encouraged my children to continue with their religious studies. This decision is not in the best interest of our congregation.
I and the entire Denver Community are so disappointed in everyone, regardless of what "side" you take. First, to those who speak ill of Michelle Schwartz, the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director, Staff Members or any other person by publicly posting on this thread, that is the definition of "lashon hara". As a mother with no particular view on whether Michelle was wrongfully terminated or not, to publicly shame people is shameful in itself. How would you feel if this was your child? Or your parent who serves as a Trustee, director or staff member? It seems like this issue has been festering for years...and to let it get this far. As I tell my children (because everyone is acting like one), "I am not mad...I am disappointed."
The unrest that this decision has created in our community is a telling that the problem is not that of the individual terminated but rather the current board members. The board is here to serve this community and not their own egos. In protest of this decision, I would encourage a membership fund boycott and empty seats on the Sabbath. The boards actions should not go unchallenged.
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I'm very concerned about the discord in our temple caused by the conditions that led to the loss of Michelle and other staff members who were so competent, devoted and respected. I was appalled by the description by the 6th grade teacher of the way her staff review was conducted.