Temple Micah is on the Move
by Elaine Lee
Temple Micah Membership
& Communications Director
Temple Micah – the sole Reform Jewish synagogue in Park Hill – is on the verge of moving from its current corner in the neighborhood to a nearby larger prominence. The temple will move from Park Hill Congregational Church at 2600 Leyden Street to Park Hill United Methodist Church, 5209 Montview Boulevard.
“We’ve got a permit, we’ve got a contractor, and now we can move forward,” said Chuck Kessler, a Temple Micah board member and Park Hill resident. Rooms being remodeled for Temple Micah offices are predicted to be ready for occupancy in December. Shabbat services and other activities are anticipated to make the leap too before 2014.
Already in transition, the temple has held major events at PHUMC, including a get-together for Micah members and prospective ones, High Holy Days services and the 6th Top Latke Taste-off & Hanukkah Party. A ceremony officially heralding the startup of Temple Micah’s residence with PHUMC will be co-led there by its senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. Eric Smith, and Rabbi Adam Morris, on Sunday morning, January 19. All are welcome!
The physical leap also constitutes a leap of faith, as the temple enters into a newly evolving alliance at its new address, which entails leasing space from the Methodists. The church on Montview Boulevard between Forest and Glencoe sits just a few blocks from where the temple has leased from and collaborated with the Congregationalists of PHCC for 35-plus years.
Micah members plan to gather at 10 a.m. Sunday, January 5, with PHCC counterparts, led by Pastor David Bahr and Rabbi Morris, for a service acknowledging their congregations’ valued relationship. Both the temple and PHCC hope to preserve it to the extent feasible. For example, Temple Micah and PHCC plan to continue their connection by still co-hosting “Mitzvah Day” community volunteer efforts each fall and Holocaust remembrances each spring. However, the service also marks the bittersweet parting and formal end to that notably cooperative era together.
Looking ahead to the relocation, Rabbi Morris says, “Planning and plans are coming together and we are almost ready to go forward with work on our new offices; interior and exterior signage; creating and installing elements that will allow us to feel at home when we use the large sanctuary and our new Mikdash/sanctuary.”
The temple will have regular use of the Babbs Chapel as its designated sanctuary, which is being adapted and refurbished at PHUMC especially for this purpose. Sharon Thorson, chairperson of the chapel remodel, has teamed with Rabbi Morris, Temple Micah President Michael Clapman, Vice-President Brian Silverman and others on the Space Committee to coordinate the move.
For updates on Temple Micah’s moving progress, visit micahmove.blogspot.com. Find out more about Temple Micah at micahdenver.org or call 303-388-4239 x1. As more than 200 Micah households prepare for the move-over, the community is invited to support their ongoing efforts, like the prophet Micah and namesake, to “Do Justly. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly.”