APRIL 21 • 2022 | 13

FACING PAGE: A rendering of the new outdoor space. TOP: Stained glass 
at Temple Shir Shalom. ABOVE AND RIGHT: A rendering of the new pre-
school. ABOVE RIGHT: Children at Shir Shalom’s preschool.

Together,” the eagerly awaited initiative is 
so far about halfway funded, with fund-
ing coming from congregant 
donations. It is designed to 
bring Shir Shalom’s preschool 
on site, as well as to add 
educational, sanctuary and 
outdoor spaces for the con-
gregation. 
“We’ve dreamed of this for 
a while,” says Rabbi Michael 
Moskowitz, who joined Shir Shalom as 
its current building was being construct-

ed. Shir Shalom broke ground in August 
1994, and the building--- opened in late 
August 1995. 
“In August 1995, the vision was that 
there’d be a phase two one day, that we 
could complete the Torah,” Moskowitz 
recalls. “It’s an honor to be a part of this 
kind of project, to see the excitement it 
brings to the community, and for us to 
fulfill our vision and our mission.”
The pandemic led Shir Shalom to 
rethink how its space could be used, 
Moskowitz says, and challenged Shir 

Shalom’s leadership to think about how 
to stay connected, build relationships and 
be even more inclusive. Rabbi Daniel A. 
Schwartz and Cantor Penny Steyer round 
out the Shir Shalom clergy.
During the pandemic, Shir Shalom sent 
out High Holiday packages and Chanukah 
packages to community members, ran reli-
gious school outside, hosted a cooperative 
preschool in the social hall, and even held 
Havdalah in the snow, offering hot bever-
ages around portable fire pits. 

continued on page 14

Rabbi 
Michael 
Moskowitz

