“Waterbury is now on the Mir’s map” proclaimed Shimmy Handelsman to the astonishingly large crowd gathered at his home for a most enjoyable and warm evening with the participation of Harav Meir Tzvi Shpitzer. Everyone with even the slightest connection to the Mir felt that he just had to be there. Clearly impressed by the camaraderie and friendly schmoozing, Rav Shpitzer urged the attendees to maintain their cherished connection with the Mir and keep it vibrant.

While Waterbury has indeed joined LA, Chicago, Baltimore, and Toronto as a community with an active Young Alumni, it is unique in that its entire kehilla is young and they have begun from scratch. In twenty years from now, we’ll be looking at pictures of young faces at this inaugural event and say ‘This is when it all began. Here’s this year’s Mir Dinner honoree, standing next to him is last year’s chairman’”, remarked one member of the local Young Alumni Leadership Committee, whose devoted efforts truly made this historic gathering the success it turned out to be.