By Eric Nusbaum, Assistant Editor, JTNews
Already it has been a long ride for Rabbi James Mirel. But the theme of the gala being thrown in his honor by Temple B’nai Torah indicates that Rabbi Mirel, his congregation, and the community at large can always work to make things better. This year, Mirel is celebrating 25 years at Temple B’nai Torah and 36 in the rabbinate.
“I wanted to do something beyond B’nai Torah,” Mirel told JTNews, “more like a career thing. Thirty-six years and in Seattle the whole time — it’s more of a community celebration.”
More than 420 people will be on hand to celebrate, including Mirel’s mentor, Rabbi William Cutter from Los Angeles, who officiated at the wedding of Mirel and his wife Julie, a singer. Cutter will deliver a speech at the gala and also lead a kabbalat Shabbat service at Temple B’nai Torah.
“He’s taught me a lot about how to be a rabbi and how to be a mensch,” Mirel said. “Since he’s still around, I thought, he’s the guy to come up here and do some teaching.”
Mirel himself has done plenty of teaching in his 36 years in the Seattle area. And, like Rabbi Cutter, he has performed his fair share of lifecycles — including the baby naming 30-plus years ago of his assistant rabbi at Temple B’nai Torah, Yohanna Kinberg. Kinberg said she’s learned a lot from Mirel, who went to rabbinical school with her father.
“He’s very cool, calm, and collected,” Kinberg told JTNews. “And that’s something that I’ve really learned from him. How to listen and observe before you speak — how to be a calm presence in the community, to really know that part of your role as rabbi is to give people a sense of calm, stability, and warmth in a somewhat chaotic world.”
Calm does not mean quiet, however. Mirel hopes that his passions for the community and for the rabbinate have not wavered.
“I feel just as young as the day I started, I don’t feel a day older,” Mirel said. “I hope I have the same enthusiasm and maybe a little more wisdom — but that’s a debatable thing, maybe somebody else can weigh in on that.”
Steve Katz, a co-president of Temple B’nai Torah, said Mirel’s enthusiasm has been a key to his longevity. Katz noted that it seems like Mirel has presided over every kind of lifecycle event for many of the congregation’s families — including his own — and that the rabbi always makes himself available.
“He’s the supreme pastoral rabbi — he’s there for any person at any time, whether they are members or not,” said Katz. “He has really shown such concern for our family, both in times of need and in times of joy.”
Mirel has augmented his rabbinical career as well, as a musician. He co-founded one of Seattle’s first klezmer groups, the Mazel Tones and currently performs with the Shalom Ensemble as he continues to relish his role in the ongoing klezmer revival.
“Whether it’s to counsel them spiritually, to appear as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, or to lead music groups, Rabbi Mirel is always there to take care of the residents of Kline Galland,” said Jeff Cohen, CEO of the Kline Galland Jewish nursing facility.
Inside and outside the Jewish community, Mirel says he has sought to be involved in local, national, and international causes. He was among the first of the Seattle area’s Reform rabbis to perform a same-sex wedding, and has taken part in various social movements, helping provide sanctuary for refugees from Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Cambodia, as well as Jews from the Soviet Union.
“I’m not saying I was on the cutting edge,” said Mirel of his social justice work, “But that’s a big part of who I am, and a big part of what Temple B’nai Torah is.”
Richard Fruchter, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, recalled Mirel’s progressive nature and his willingness to take on leadership roles beyond Temple B’nai Torah
“Rabbi Mirel has always been very supportive of the Federation and the community,” Fruchter said. “He’s a generous contributor, he’s served on the campaign cabinet in the past, he’s headed our rabbinic campaign. He’s always available to make a call to, let’s say, a legislator to remind them how important a particular bill or a service is to our community — both to our Jewish and regular community.”
Father Michael Ryan, the pastor at St. James Cathedral in Seattle, has known Mirel since the 1980s. He praised Mirel as a friend, a religious leader, and as a partner.
“I quickly came to know him as a bright light in the interfaith community here,” said Ryan. “Jim has always been part of the dialogue, giving a warm and human and approachable face to the Jewish faith in our community.”
Mirel himself is just appreciative that he’s had a chance.
“I’m grateful to God that I’m still around,” he said. “And I’m grateful to the congregation for keeping me around.”