HONORING RABBI JAMES AND JULIE MIREL
Rabbi James Mirel was born and raised in Lynbrook , NY , with music as an integral part of his childhood . He began studying the string bass , playing in the school orchestra and in an array of jazz and rock bands . He headed west to attend Reed College in Portland , Oregon , graduating in 1969 with a double major in philosophy and religion . While in Portland , James played in the Bass Section of the Portland Youth Symphony . As college graduation neared , James applied to the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion ( HUC-JIR ). He pursued his rabbinic studies first in Los Angeles , achieving his Bachelor of Hebrew Letters in 1971 ; then in Cincinnati , receiving S ’ micha in 1974 .
Julia Mirel , nee Schlanger , was born and raised in the Chicago area . From day one , music was Julie ’ s path . Even in grade school , Julie sang in the outfield ( her childhood goal was to play baseball in the summers and sing in the winters ). Julie , a mezzo soprano studied at Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio , then at Chicago Musical College . In 1970 , at the college , Julie was alto soloist on a Voice of America radio broadcast , celebrating Beethoven ’ s Bicentennial Birthday . She performed throughout Chicago . Julie moved to Cincinnati in 1971 to attend University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music . She performed for two summers in the Cincinnati Opera with headliners such as Beverly Sills , Martina Arroyo , Norman Treigle and Kathleen Battle .
In February 1972 , Jim and Julie met at a party and from that moment on , they have been a team for 50 years . Jim didn ’ t realize she played and was a diehard baseball fan and Julie didn ’ t realize he played the bass . Their dates often incorporated a game of catch . Jim , a lifelong Giants fan added the Mariners as a favorite team . Julie was a Cubs fan and switched her allegiance to the American League to the Mariners . Jim diligently tracks MLB statistics .
They joined forces in Richmond , Indiana , where Jim was the student rabbi and Julie served as cantorial soloist . This was her first exposure to Jewish liturgical music . Jim received his rabbinic ordination and concurrently earned a Master of Education from the University of Cincinnati . The couple married on June 10 , 1973 , and next year headed west to Seattle .
They arrived on the shores of Lake Washington , a crystalline Sunday , June 9 , 1974 , the eve of their first wedding anniversary . It was one of those brilliantly bright early summer days which made them feel lucky to be inhaling the clean , clear air in the beautiful Pacific Northwest , and simply to be alive . It was a delighted return to the Pacific Northwest for Jim , and the first glimpse of the mountains and blue water for Julie . “ You mean , we get to LIVE HERE ?” was Julie ’ s incredulous exclamation . They could not have imagined that nearly 48 years later , they would remain .
As a newly ordained rabbi , with a freshly minted MA in Education , Jim accepted the positions of Assistant Rabbi and Director of Education and Youth Services at Temple De Hirsch Sinai . Julie planned to continue her studies in voice and audition for work at Seattle Opera . Life with Jim ’ s new role , hit the deck at full speed with organizational