about

What We Are About

Reform Is a Verb
We’re a Reform congregation of over 300 member families from Winchester, Arlington, Lexington, Stoneham, Medford, Reading, and many other surrounding communities. Living Jewishly is a process, and we welcome you wherever you are on your “Jewish journey.” Our members represent diverse Jewish backgrounds, practices, beliefs, and family structures. We understand that there’s no one way to be Jewish, and so we seek to hear the needs of each individual, learning from the dialogue and building closer connections with each other and with Judaism. As Jacob wrestled with the mysterious angel in the Torah, we wrestle with the ongoing creation of our community and the meaning of Judaism for our times. It’s a sacred struggle that makes Shir Tikvah a stimulating place.

We Are 'Shir Tikvah'
Shir Tikvah is not an entity separate from its members. Each of us has a part in making the community what it is today and what it will become in the future. The spirit of our grassroots beginnings still drives us, and we encourage every member to play a role in helping to keep our activities robust. Our rich mix of programs ranges from spiritual exploration to social action to summer camping. Our well-respected Religious School of over 200 students spans pre-school through confirmation, and Sunday mornings include plenty of opportunities for parents to learn, too. Shir Tikvah isn’t a place to just drop the kids. It’s a place to join in creating a Jewish community of friends from varied backgrounds who explore what Judaism has to say about life. We provide each other with a warm, caring environment for sharing life-cycle celebrations and sorrows.

Community Affiliations
Union for Reform Judaism: http://www.urj.org/
Interfaith Clergy in Winchester and Arlington
Winchester Multicultural Network: http://www.wmcn.org/
Synagogue Council of Massachusetts: http://www.synagoguecouncil.org/
Winchester Rotary (Rabbi): www.winchesterrotary.org/
Greater Boston Interfaith Organization: http://www.gbio.org/

Rabbi Richard 'Rim' Meirowitz

"As rabbi of Temple Shir Tikvah, much of what I do centers on listening: to your concerns, joys, plans, fears. Life is very big and Judaism is one of the ways — and not the only way — in which we make sense of life. The listening that we bring to each other creates our community and enhances our lives. Shema Yisrael: Hear oh Israel. I'd love to hear from you." RabbiRim@shir-tikvah.org

Beth Levin — Cantor and Educator

"Creating connections is the core of my work at Temple Shir Tikvah. When we are present for ourselves and each other, the potential for meaningful encounters abound. I believe in the transformative power of community to better our lives.
As Cantor/Educator, it is a great joy and privilege to be a doorway into the world of Jewish spirituality through song, prayer, study, and conversation. Temple Shir Tikvah is a great blessing in my life." BethLevin@shir-tikvah.org

Linda Singer-Berk — Director of Administration

Previously Linda served as theAssistant Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island in where she managed operations, including budgeting, facility, program, development, and leadership training. Linda’s professional career has been spent in
Jewish organizations, allowing her to fulfill her desire to “strengthen Jewish community.” Linda’s background also includes strategic planning, program evaluation, marketing and outreach, team-building, and creative and intuitive problem-solving. Contact her at office@shir-tikvah.org

Joan Forman — Education Director

"I bring to our Religious School my favorite childhood model for learning: that of Jewish camp. I think of our program as camp with rigorous content. Why? Camp settings offer meaningful experiences through important relationships with peers as well as adult role models. Learning happens in a multi-sensory and active manner. We embrace the whole child and his/her entire family. Most of all, we offer a warm, nurturing environment of important ideas, foundational skills, and ethical behavior. I am deeply fortunate to be part of such a creative and inspiring community." EdDirector@shir-tikvah.org

Jamie Brauner — Coordinator of Informal Education

"My teaching philosophy is to integrate Judaism with the interests of your children. By exploring Israel with a falafel cook-off and a game of gaga, we can create a hands-on real-life experience for your kids to explore. To engage your children, I need to get to know all of you. Please feel free to stop by the office or send me an email to introduce yourself. Thank you for welcoming me into your community." YouthEducator@shir-tikvah.org

Sandy Whittaker — Office Manager

Sandy comes to Temple Shir Tikvah with an extensive background in business management and administrative organization.
She's worked for the Center for Collaborative Education in Boston where she was instrumental in supporting the logistics of school reform work and planning events. She is currently part of the new team of Fenix Center for Innovative Schools, a start-up educational reform organization making a difference through coaching and professional development in the greater Boston area. Contact her at office@shir-tikvah.org.

A Brief History of Temple Shir Tikvah

In the beginning there was the Winchester Jewish Community, an informal group of families organized during the 1970s. On December 4, 1984, 33 families voted to become the Jewish Congregation of Winchester and affiliated with the Reform Movement of Judaism. And the congregation called itself "Shir Tikvah," Hebrew for "Song of Hope," and started a religious school. And we saw that it was good.

By 1989 we were large enough to hire our first full-time rabbi. In 1992, Shir Tikvah merged with Temple Judea of Stoneham. We continued to grow with new members coming primarily from Winchester, Lexington, and Arlington. Religious services and other gatherings were held in various locations. In 1997, we hired our current Rabbi, Rim Meirowitz and purchased our home at 34 Vine Street. On October 22, 2000, we consecrated our synagogue, which was very good. We rest on each Shabbat, but the other days are busy with the ongoing creation of the Shir Tikvah community. You can read about what we’re up to on this web site.

Lay Leadership

An involved lay leadership partnered with a strong professional staff is a big part of what makes Shir Tikvah tick. Our Board is a lean working group. Unlike many Temples in which committee chairs serve on the board, we have six vice presidents who serve as board liaisons for our committees. Four times a year, the Board, all the committee chairs, and our professional staff meet in a forum called the Leadership Council. Members are welcome to attend Board and Leadership Council meetings and encouraged to be in touch with lay leaders to learn more about Temple governance and involvement opportunities. To be in touch, see the Shir Tikvah Leadership Directory below.

President —President@shir-tikvah.org

VP/Administration —VPAdmin@shir-tikvah.org
- Information Technology Group — IT@shir-tikvah.org
- Rental/Events Committee — Events@shir-tikvah.org

VP/Education — VPEducation@shir-tikvah.org
- Adult Learning Committee — AdultLearning@shir-tikvah.org
- Library Group — Library@shir-tikvah.org
- School Committee — School@shir-tikvah.org

VP/Facilities — VPFacilities@shir-tikvah.org
- House Committee — House@shir-tikvah.org
- Design Committee — Design@shir-tikvah.org

VP/Finance — VPFinance@shir-tikvah.org
- Chai Fundraising Campaign — Chai@shir-tikvah.org

VP/Jewish Life — VPJewishLife@shir-tikvah.org
- Ritual Committee —Ritual@shir-tikvah.org
- Tikkun Olam (formerly the Social Action Committee) — TikkunOlam@shir-tikvah.org
- Caring Committee — Caring@shir-tikvah.org
- Israel Committee —Israel@shir-tikvah.org
- Social Committee (family holiday parties) — Social@shir-tikvah.org
- Connections (Women’s Group) — Connections@shir-tikvah.org

VP/Leadership & Community — VPLeadership@shir-tikvah.org
- Membership Committee — Membership@shir-tikvah.org
- Newsletter Editors — Newsletter@shir-tikvah.org
- Nominating & Leadership Development —VPleadership@shir-tikvah.org
- Adult Social Group — AdultSocial@shir-tikvah.org
- Webmaster — Webmaster@shir-tikvah.org

Treasurer — Treasurer@shir-tikvah.org

Secretary — Secretary@shir-tikvah.org

Trustees-at-large — Trustees@shir-tikvah.org

Past President — PastPresident@shir-tikvah.org

Our Building

Temple Shir Tikvah purchased the Vine Street property in 1998. The congregation then spent two years designing and renovating the building to create a warm, inviting space that would recreate the feeling of meeting in members’ homes over the years.

The design of the Temple building, with its steeply sloping roof and wood-shingle cladding, was inspired by images of the eighteenth-century wooden synagogues of Eastern Europe. The sanctuary is graced with round-arched windows and classical columns — features of the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, and many other synagogues from centuries gone by. Turn-of-the-20th-century American architecture, as found in the Vine Street neighborhood, also influenced the design of Temple Shir Tikvah.

The plaque designs, frieze designs, and notice case inserts were the work of temple member Maryellen Conway-Shade. The carvings over the bimah were designed by Maryellen and Temple member Bob Solosko. Bob carved the lions, crown, and vines. The designs for the bimah paneling, ark, and matching lecterns were developed by Charles Nazarian.

On the entry level of the building, the curtains are made from fabric designs of Josef Frank, a leading early twentieth-century Viennese Jewish architect. Lamps in the rabbi’s study are reproductions of pottery made by the Saturday Evening Girls, Jewish and Italian girls who lived in Boston’s North End during the early twentieth-century.

For Prospective Members

We’re delighted that you’re interested in exploring Temple Shir Tikvah, a Reform congregation serving members from Winchester, Arlington, Lexington, and surrounding towns.

Temple membership is a relationship between the individual member or family and the congregation. Like any good relationship, it requires a good match between the parties. With this in mind, we invite you to 'date' us. The only requirement is that you be sincerely interested in exploring what Judaism and involvement in a Jewish community can mean in your life. If that describes you, then take your time to learn as much as you can about our community.

Come to events that interest you. Talk with our members and professional staff. Experience Shir Tikvah, which means 'Song of Hope,' at our Friday night services. We take great joy in communal song and an egalitarian approach to ritual that is welcoming to people with a wide range of Jewish knowledge, including non-Jewish family members. In our commitment to diversity, we seek to provide an open Jewish home for gay and lesbian members. And when dues are an issue, we work with our members according to their ability to support our financial needs.

In time you’ll know whether you can see yourself getting involved in the type of give-and-take relationship with Shir Tikvah that makes membership a meaningful experience. This web site is a good way to start getting acquainted, but don’t be a stranger. Talk with us in person. You can always call the Temple Office at (781) 729-1263. Or, if you prefer, you can reach any one of us by email. We hope to hear from you.

Support Temple Shir Tikvah

Shir Tikvah’s vitality comes from the ruach, spirit, of its membership and from financial stability. For the latter, we count on generous contributions from those who want to support the type of community we are building. You can make a donation to the Temple using this convenient donation form.

Gifts Policy
A 'directed gift' is one that involves either money that carries restrictions imposed by the donor or tangible goods or services of any kind. Temple Shir Tikvah works with donors so that directed gifts are both appropriate for the Temple and consistent with the donor's intentions. If you would like to make a gift, please contact the Temple Administrator.

Wish List
Please contact the Temple to find out what items or services are of special interest to current needs or projects.

Directions to Temple Shir Tikvah

From Rte. 128:
Take Route 128 (I-95) to exit 33A, Rte. 3 South (Cambridge St., Winchester). Follow Rte. 3 South through Woburn four corners (McDonald’s, 99 Restaurant), past Whole Foods (on left), past Mahoney’s Garden Center (on right). At second light after Mahoney’s, take a left onto Church St. Follow directions “From Church Street.”

From Arlington:
Turn onto Mystic St. from Mass. Ave. in Arlington Center. Continue onto Rte. 3 North (Cambridge St.). Turn right at light onto Church St., Winchester. Follow directions “From Church Street.”

From Lexington:
Take Mass. Ave. east from Lexington Center. Turn left onto Maple St. (Rte. 2A) heading East. Bear right at Winchester Drive. Continue on Johnson Rd. Continue on Wildwood St. Turn right at Cambridge St. (Rte. 3 South). Turn left onto Church St. Follow directions “From Church Street.”

From Medford Square:
Head west on High St. (Rte. 60). At the traffic circle, take the second exit onto Winthrop St. (Rte. 38). Continue on Main St. At the traffic circle, take the second exit onto Main St., following Rte. 38. At the traffic circle, take the fourth exit onto Church St. Bear right at Vine St. Follow the street up the hill (it curves to the right). The Temple will be the third building on your left.

From Church Street:
Follow Church St. until you see Winchester Common on your right and a big white church on your left. Immediately after the church take a left onto Vine St. Follow the street up the hill (it curves to the right). The Temple will be the third building on your left.

Directions to Vinson-Owen School from Temple Shir Tikvah:
(75 Johnson Road, Winchester)
Start out going southeast on Vine St. toward Park St. Turn right onto Church St. Turn right onto Cambridge St. (Rte. 3 North). Turn left onto Wildwood St. Wildwood St. becomes Johnson Rd. Turn right at Vinson-Owen School.