Michael E. Gross grew up in Rochester NY, a town with an active Jewish community dating back to the middle 1880’s.  His family was active in a mainstream Conservative shul, a model for Michael’s lifelong engagement with the Jewish community. Michael became a Bar Mitzvah, participated in USY, and attended Camp Ramah for 4 years.  In addition to the synagogue community, Michael was blessed to be part of a large extended family in Rochester, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

 

Although he missed attending Woodstock, Michael was a stagehand for rock concerts at Syracuse University while getting his BA in political science.  He was a member and officer of Hillel, as well as a daily diner in Hillel’s kosher kitchen.  After college, Michael got his law degree at Georgetown Law School in Washington DC, and has lived and practiced law in Maryland ever since.

 

Michael has many connections to the Jewish community in the Washington area.  He was an early member of Fabrangen, one of the country’s first havurot.  He met his wonderful wife, Karen, at a JCC event.  They moved to Silver Spring, had 2 wonderful children, and joined Shaare Tefila, where their children received their Jewish education and had their B’nai Mitzvah.  They joined Shaare Tefila because of the warmth of the congregation and its religious practices, which mirrored his shul in Rochester.  Michael found that the support and generosity of the  clergy and members created an embracing community for him and his family, a feeling that has lasted over 30 years.  He  is committed to being active in the shul and Men’s Club activities realizing that the more you give to a community, the more you receive.