meetings morning and noon , committee meetings every evening and weekly Shabbat Services . With Jim working at the Temple , Julie was juggling duties as Rebbetzin , trying to learn music and to become a decent cook . Her work in the Opera was still eight years in the future .
Jim dove into involvement with the Greater Seattle Community . He was interested in an array of issues , projects , and organizations , including Presidency of Washington State Jewish Historical Society . The Temple ’ s Rabbi Emeritus , Raphael Levine , of blessed memory , immediately became Jim ’ s mentor . It was Rabbi Levine ’ s wish that Jim be his successor in multifaith work , even bequeathing his personal library to him . Rabbi Levine and his wife , Reeva , showered the young couple with the love of treasured Grandparents until their passing .
In the winter of 1976 , the Mirels were blessed by the birth of their daughter , Chava Rachel . Chava spent her formative years moving from lap to lap , in the arms of members of the Jewish Community . It is a miracle of satisfaction to her proud parents that she now serves as a full-time staff member at the very institution around which her life began !
In early childhood , Chava began singing for Seattle Women ’ s ’ organizations . Nightly , Julie performed the role of Hodel in the long-running production of Fiddler on the Roof , at the Cirque Theater . The great character actor , Kurt Kasznar , starred as Tevye . The show ran for 320 performances , where more than 100,000 had watched the longest running local production in Seattle history .
With Jim at the Temple , Julie in musical theater and Chava sang and learned to read Hebrew , yet someone was missing . In June of 1979 , nearly five years after arriving in Seattle , the Mirel Family welcomed Shoshana Ruth to the household , completing the family .
In 1980 , Jim joined the board of AJC , as its youngest member . Over the past 42 years , both Jim and Julie have participated in and led multiple trips , services , programs and projects with the organization , most of which included the involvement of notable local and national leaders . One of the most meaningful , includes a 1989 interfaith trip to Israel amidst the Intifada . The Mirels led over 20 Interfaith Passover Seders as well as Seders , in cooperation with Chabad for the state ’ s Jewish prisoners .
In 1985 , Rabbi Mirel was appointed as Senior Rabbi of Temple B ’ nai Torah , leading the congregation until his “ retirement ” in 2014 . His rabbinic work continued with the Wood River Jewish Community in Sun Valley , and now proudly serves Bet Chaverim Congregation of South King County . In 1993 , Julie became Cantorial Soloist at Temple Beth El in Tacoma , working with the late Rabbi Richard Rosenthal , and then Rabbi Mark Glickman , until 2002 .
Over his decades as a congregational Rabbi , Jim has delivered thousands of sermons and contributed articles on a myriad of topics to local newspapers . In 1998 , he published a book , “ Stepping Stones To Jewish Spiritual Living ”. He played with The Mazeltones and Shalom Ensemble . Julie sang with the Arizona Opera , Sacramento Opera and Seattle Opera , Anchorage Opera , musical theaters , film scores , radio and TV commercials , Seattle Symphony , as well as with other Symphony orchestras .
Jim and Julie have been a team since day one . Jim became a member of the University District Kiwanis Club , he volunteered Julie as an adjudicator for their Pitzer / Weeks Vocal Scholarship competition , which she has been doing now for 40 years . Jim co-chaired the Seattle Citizen ’ s Commission on Central America , appointed by Seattle ’ s then Mayor Charles Royer . He was President of the Mercer Island Clergy Association and worked with the Church Council of Greater Seattle . In 2005 , Julie co-chaired the Tent City 4 Task