Michelle practically raised me at Temple Sinai. She organized the girls group Rosh Hodesh which I was a part of for many years and she provided me with a safe space always during my middle school and high school years. After Bryan left temple, Michelle was my only reason to keep coming back. As I am a college student now my involvement with the temple has dwindled, but you can bet I will be at the board meeting to show my support. I returned home for the summer just this past weekend and received the news of Michelle's 'termination' from my mother. I was livid to say the least. The temple's future is at stake if Michelle is not a part of it.
I
Ira and Claudia Cohn
9 years ago
So sad to see the temple take on a corporation mentality rather than an organization to serve it congregants
W
Weisberg Charlie
9 years ago
Bring her back.
A
Anita Fricklas
9 years ago
I support this action.
R
Roger Gershaw
9 years ago
We are 40 year Temple Sinai members and cannot imagine something of this magnitude taking place in the temple we have shared so many life events with. We are wondering what on earth is going on in our temple? The question I have, is there something wrong with the present Board because I don't think there is something wrong with Michelle. She and her husband and their families have dedicated themselves to the temple I remember. Shame on the board and shame on them if they control Friday's meeting where their congregation is in disagreement of forcing Michelle from her temple position. This is not the temple that started 50 years ago and it may not be the temple that we may support in the future. Temple members are the ones needed for support and should be heard... heard first at the Board meeting Friday.
E
Ellen Seldin
9 years ago
Having been members for 32 years , taught in the religious school for many years and served as Sisterhood president and have had a daughter as Youth Director, I have seen many changes and good people move on and not appreciated. It seems the warmth I recall is evaporating. The entire Schwartz family have been dedicated to our congregation as well as the greater community. Having a caring staff in all these jobs is key and losing so many dedicated hardworking individuals , a reason to take a step back and revisit the Sinai I remember and miss. It's the people that make the synagogue. I am saddened and disappointed by all that has transpired.
D
Debra Lipman
9 years ago
Michelle is a dedicated educator that has put her heart and soul into the education of our children. This is a great loss to our congregation and does not seem to have been handled in a professional manner.
D
David and Joyce Spiegler
9 years ago
As a teacher, tutor, and congregant, I fully support the Board reconsidering their decision. Michelle is the best Ed. Director under whom I've had the honor to teach.
S
Steven Deitch
9 years ago
No! Michelle is absolutely the best. I'm at a loss for words. Please reverse this ludicrous decision.
C
Cynthia Pollet
9 years ago
Featured
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..
A
Andrew G Pollet
9 years ago
Have known Michelle for many yrs.
She taught both of my boys and did so with love and tireless effort. Is this just a budget thing? I can't believe she is being overpaid for what she does!
E
Ed Rosenfeld
9 years ago
The departure of long-term dedicated staff and volunteers is indicative of big problems within the Board and Executive Committee. Hopefully this will get resolved at the annual meeting.
S
Susan and Stan Kerstein
9 years ago
As a 40+ year member of Temple Sinai and a former board member, I am astonished at the exit of so many
of our senior staff. I am also worried that we will lose many of our members who have children in our Religious School, including my own children and grandchildren. Michelle has been a Bnei Mitzvah tutor to 2 members of our family and did an amazing job with both. The comments I get from my older grandchildren about their experiences in Religious School are very positive. No organization can survive if the few at the top dictate to the many that belong. Please reconsider this action.
Susan Kerstein
T
Tim Emery
9 years ago
I have been a member of Temple Sinai for 43 years. I went I grew up in the halls of Temple, I watched my mother Barbara Emery Mendel become the first woman president of Temple Sinai. She put thousands of volunteer hours in to building a great community. If not for her and the other leaders of Temple it would not be where it is today. I have 2 children that attend religious school and if it weren't for Michelle Schwartz they would not be attending. She has allowed us to work around scheduling conflicts and pressures from the outside world. My kids enjoy going to Temple and want to go to other events. I don't understand why you would fire someone who puts their heart and soul into building such a great school. I hope the board of directors open's their eyes and see what is happening here. Change isn't easy but you don't always need to change to grow.
T
Tim Emery
9 years ago
I have been a member of Temple Sinai for 43 years. I went I grew up in the halls of Temple, I watched my mother Barbara Emery Mendel become the first woman president of Temple Sinai. She put thousands of volunteer hours in to building a great community. If not for her and the other leaders of Temple it would not be where it is today. I have 2 children that attend religious school and if it weren't for Michelle Schwartz they would not be attending. She has allowed us to work around scheduling conflicts and pressures from the outside world. My kids enjoy going to Temple and want to go to other events. I don't understand why you would fire someone who puts their heart and soul into building such a great school. I hope the board of directors open's their eyes and see what is happening here. Change isn't easy but you don't always need to change to grow.
Just an FYI. IPetition is not letting me sign this!
K
Karin Fischer
9 years ago
We have known Michelle Schwartz over 20 years. Both of my daughters where tutored for their Bat- Mitzvah's by her. Before that she was their Religious School teacher.
She is hard working, has a positive and loving disposition towards the children, and is a role model for young jewish women. I am unable to attend the board meeting as I will be out of town. However to schedule a meeting on a Friday at 5:00 is not a convenient time for people to attend. There is a serious lack of communication between the boards and the congregants.
R
Reid Goodman
9 years ago
The board should represent the congregation not the executive committeee.
L
Lenny Jonas
9 years ago
It is clear that the current president has created a hostile and intolerable work environment.
A
Allan Markman
9 years ago
Is this Board of Trustees really acting in the best interest of Temple Sinai? Or is it being duped by members of the Executive Committee?
L
Lisa Humphries
9 years ago
My children have spent more than 20 years collectively in the Temple Sinai Religious School. Michelle's engagement, enthusiasm, and passion for Jewish education have inspired them. Our Holocaust education program is age-appropriate and thoughtful. Implementing the Hebrew language curriculum allowed students to learn at different paces. Volunteer programs instilled the value of 'tikkun olam' in students for their lifetimes. Field trips allowed students to learn while connecting with the Denver Jewish community. I'm sure I have only scratched the surface of the Religious School programming for which Michelle is responsible. Removing her is not in the best interest of our school or our congregation, and I urge the Board to reinstate her immediately.
Michelle practically raised me at Temple Sinai. She organized the girls group Rosh Hodesh which I was a part of for many years and she provided me with a safe space always during my middle school and high school years. After Bryan left temple, Michelle was my only reason to keep coming back. As I am a college student now my involvement with the temple has dwindled, but you can bet I will be at the board meeting to show my support. I returned home for the summer just this past weekend and received the news of Michelle's 'termination' from my mother. I was livid to say the least. The temple's future is at stake if Michelle is not a part of it.
So sad to see the temple take on a corporation mentality rather than an organization to serve it congregants
Bring her back.
I support this action.
We are 40 year Temple Sinai members and cannot imagine something of this magnitude taking place in the temple we have shared so many life events with. We are wondering what on earth is going on in our temple? The question I have, is there something wrong with the present Board because I don't think there is something wrong with Michelle. She and her husband and their families have dedicated themselves to the temple I remember. Shame on the board and shame on them if they control Friday's meeting where their congregation is in disagreement of forcing Michelle from her temple position. This is not the temple that started 50 years ago and it may not be the temple that we may support in the future. Temple members are the ones needed for support and should be heard... heard first at the Board meeting Friday.
Having been members for 32 years , taught in the religious school for many years and served as Sisterhood president and have had a daughter as Youth Director, I have seen many changes and good people move on and not appreciated. It seems the warmth I recall is evaporating. The entire Schwartz family have been dedicated to our congregation as well as the greater community. Having a caring staff in all these jobs is key and losing so many dedicated hardworking individuals , a reason to take a step back and revisit the Sinai I remember and miss. It's the people that make the synagogue. I am saddened and disappointed by all that has transpired.
Michelle is a dedicated educator that has put her heart and soul into the education of our children. This is a great loss to our congregation and does not seem to have been handled in a professional manner.
As a teacher, tutor, and congregant, I fully support the Board reconsidering their decision. Michelle is the best Ed. Director under whom I've had the honor to teach.
No! Michelle is absolutely the best. I'm at a loss for words. Please reverse this ludicrous decision.
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..
Have known Michelle for many yrs. She taught both of my boys and did so with love and tireless effort. Is this just a budget thing? I can't believe she is being overpaid for what she does!
The departure of long-term dedicated staff and volunteers is indicative of big problems within the Board and Executive Committee. Hopefully this will get resolved at the annual meeting.
As a 40+ year member of Temple Sinai and a former board member, I am astonished at the exit of so many of our senior staff. I am also worried that we will lose many of our members who have children in our Religious School, including my own children and grandchildren. Michelle has been a Bnei Mitzvah tutor to 2 members of our family and did an amazing job with both. The comments I get from my older grandchildren about their experiences in Religious School are very positive. No organization can survive if the few at the top dictate to the many that belong. Please reconsider this action. Susan Kerstein
I have been a member of Temple Sinai for 43 years. I went I grew up in the halls of Temple, I watched my mother Barbara Emery Mendel become the first woman president of Temple Sinai. She put thousands of volunteer hours in to building a great community. If not for her and the other leaders of Temple it would not be where it is today. I have 2 children that attend religious school and if it weren't for Michelle Schwartz they would not be attending. She has allowed us to work around scheduling conflicts and pressures from the outside world. My kids enjoy going to Temple and want to go to other events. I don't understand why you would fire someone who puts their heart and soul into building such a great school. I hope the board of directors open's their eyes and see what is happening here. Change isn't easy but you don't always need to change to grow.
I have been a member of Temple Sinai for 43 years. I went I grew up in the halls of Temple, I watched my mother Barbara Emery Mendel become the first woman president of Temple Sinai. She put thousands of volunteer hours in to building a great community. If not for her and the other leaders of Temple it would not be where it is today. I have 2 children that attend religious school and if it weren't for Michelle Schwartz they would not be attending. She has allowed us to work around scheduling conflicts and pressures from the outside world. My kids enjoy going to Temple and want to go to other events. I don't understand why you would fire someone who puts their heart and soul into building such a great school. I hope the board of directors open's their eyes and see what is happening here. Change isn't easy but you don't always need to change to grow. Just an FYI. IPetition is not letting me sign this!
We have known Michelle Schwartz over 20 years. Both of my daughters where tutored for their Bat- Mitzvah's by her. Before that she was their Religious School teacher. She is hard working, has a positive and loving disposition towards the children, and is a role model for young jewish women. I am unable to attend the board meeting as I will be out of town. However to schedule a meeting on a Friday at 5:00 is not a convenient time for people to attend. There is a serious lack of communication between the boards and the congregants.
The board should represent the congregation not the executive committeee.
It is clear that the current president has created a hostile and intolerable work environment.
Is this Board of Trustees really acting in the best interest of Temple Sinai? Or is it being duped by members of the Executive Committee?
My children have spent more than 20 years collectively in the Temple Sinai Religious School. Michelle's engagement, enthusiasm, and passion for Jewish education have inspired them. Our Holocaust education program is age-appropriate and thoughtful. Implementing the Hebrew language curriculum allowed students to learn at different paces. Volunteer programs instilled the value of 'tikkun olam' in students for their lifetimes. Field trips allowed students to learn while connecting with the Denver Jewish community. I'm sure I have only scratched the surface of the Religious School programming for which Michelle is responsible. Removing her is not in the best interest of our school or our congregation, and I urge the Board to reinstate her immediately.