Jill and Mike Bell have been members of Midbar Kodesh Temple since 2010

Jill and Mike Bell have been members of Midbar Kodesh Temple since 2010 while their daughter Charley, now 15, was enrolled in preschool at the Early Childhood Center. Mike came to Las Vegas from Houston in 1995 and Jill arrived in 1998 from Campbell, California. They met while Jill was in Las Vegas on vacation. After a long distance romance Jill moved to Las Vegas and they were married.

Mike grew up in Phoenix, AZ and attended college on an athletic scholarship at Florida State University. He threw shot put, which he continues to do to this day in Masters Meets. Mike competed in the Maccabiah Games for the US. He’s worked in real estate his entire professional career, working for new home builders, condo developers and, more recently for himself in general real estate. He specializes in the new homes industry and high rise sales.

Jill attended the University of Oregon and has been in the HR field for 22 years. She is a Human Resources Director in the banking industry. Before turning to banking Jill worked in the gaming industry. Though she does not officially sit on any MKT committees Jill has helped in various HR related decisions and supports the administration staff as needed. She has participated and has been supportive in many ECC, Religious School and USY programs with her time and talent.

Charley was enrolled in the Early Childhood Center's 18 month program and was in attendance through Kindergarten. She attended Religious School and became a Bat Mitzvah in 2018. She continues to attend MKT USY events and joins in Maya’an discussions in Rabbi Tecktiel's high school classes. Charley, a Freshman at Bishop Gorman HS, is also throwing shot put. Unfortunately, her season was cut short by COVID-19, but she now participates in a Track Club.

Jill said that her family loves MKT! She shared that "most know, but some may not, that I am not Jewish. Mike is Jewish and Charley converted, but I actually am not and of the 3, I am probably the most involved at the temple. We laugh about it, but really to have a Conservative synagogue be so welcoming to me has always made me feel so great." Jill said that they are very thankful for the relationships that they have formed at Midbar. "Mike was lucky enough to participate as a rider in the Israel Ramah Bike Trip a couple of years ago with Rabbi Tecktiel and other members. That was a life changing event for him. He would never have done that without our relationship with MKT," Jill said.

Jill, Mike and Charley look forward to continuing their relationship with the congregation at Midbar Kodesh Temple. Jill said that "we feel such safety in knowing the support and love that exists for us at MKT. Charley has life long friends that she’s known since infancy; she is so comfortable within the walls of MKT and the values and faith that have been instilled in her by her teachers, rabbi, friends and other congregants. They have helped to shape her and ground her in her faith in a way that Mike and I alone would not have been able to do." We all look forward to being together soon.