The close of the academic year marks the end of my twenty-eight years of service to Congregation Mishkan Tefila. It has been both a fulfilling and challenging tenure. Soon, I will begin the next adventure of my career as Headmaster of the Levey Jewish Day School in Portland, Maine.
For over nearly three decades, I have made hundreds of friends, influenced many families, and served our
Congregation according to the highest ethical standards. Now, is the right time for me to continue to contribute to
Jewish learning in a school, which is the single priority of the lay leaders who sustain it.
I wish to thank all of those who have supported my efforts and provided constructive and respectful advice to
me over the years. I will miss my students, the children of the nursery school, and the children of my now grown
students, who had returned to entrust me with the next generation.
It has been my pleasure to work with dedicated and talented teachers who have remained loyal to our school, in
some cases until retirement. Some of our teachers went on to become significant figures in the spheres of politics,
national security, and higher education.
I have worked with three nursery school directors. Ellen Agulnick, who is also leaving for an enhanced
professional opportunity, quickly became a great friend, mentee and support in the two years that she served at
Mishkan Tefila. It has been an honor to work with the illustrious cantor, scholar and poet, Aryeh Finklestein; the
acclaimed executive director, and consummate professional, Michael Hart, and the learned and compassionate
ritual director and author, Dr. Davin Wolok. These are dear colleagues with national reputations for excellence and
the highest degree of professionalism. It has also been an honor to work with four very different rabbis during my
tenure. I have learned something about the nature of the Conservative Synagogue from each of them.
I have served under ten synagogue presidents and six school committee chairs. Special thanks to Allen Feinstein
and Gary Miller for their support as school committee chairs over the past six years. Over the decades, many
good-hearted and intelligent members have served as PTO presidents and committee members. Their valued
contributions have always been the icing on the cake, which we have provided our religious school students.
I previously acknowledged the illustrious predecessors of the Mishkan Tefila staff.
I ask that you honor their memory, as they were a unique generation.
I am grateful to the students of my various
adult classes, especially to the Monday morning class. I have learned far more from them than they realize.
Exceptional members of the board of directors have always kept an open mind, went the extra inning in the face
of adversity for the sake of the school and my personal efforts on behalf of Mishkan Tefila.
In this context, I
invoke the Scriptural blessing to Abraham, va-avorcha me-varechecha u-m’kalelcha a-or: May you receive your
appropriate reward.
In this manner, I bid farewell to Congregation Mishkan Tefila.
Dr. Stephen R. Simons, Director of Education
educationdirector@mishkantefila.org
|
