Have you ever seen a beautiful blossom?
It feels like just yesterday NYC was in its full spring bloom. In Brooklyn, where I live, it felt like out of nowhere, a spontaneous blossom snowfall covered my neighborhood! But the truth is, these blossoms did not just appear out of nowhere. The conditions had to be just right, the elements nurturing these bulbs and trees over time, in order to make my neighborhood burst into a floral festival.
On June 12, at the Lab/Shul@10 Gala, as part of our Milestone Minyan, we will be recognizing three of our very own blossoms! Three people who have contributed so much to our community, who are truly blooming in their power, their influence, and their sacred work at Lab/Shul and beyond.
We often celebrate our students coming of age. But what about celebrating the B mitzvah trainer coming of age as an educator? Aaron Friedman, one of our beloved Raising the Bar Trainers consistently challenges himself to grow as an educator and our families reap the benefits of his deep Jewish pedagogic content knowledge and, of course, humor!
Behind every successful Lab/Shul children’s or family program, you can find the special fingerprints of Shawn Shafner. From the beginning of Lab/Shul, Shawn brought his creativity and passions in theater, environmental education, music and embodied work to our families – co-creating so many of the programs, traditions and methodologies we still use today. We have seen him bloom and are so grateful to him.
A more recent addition to our Lab/Shul ritual family is Marques Hollie. From the moment he arrived, he shared his spirit (along with his powerful baritone voice), with us – we have been blessed to witness his own Jewish journey of blossoming into a ritual leader and now rabbinical student.
How magnificent to celebrate their blossoming!
If these individuals have contributed a sense of meaning-making, spiritual awakening, connections and community in your lives – maybe at high holidays, family programs, B mitzvah celebrations, a ritual moment – would you please join me in toasting their impact by sending a blessing and contribution in their name? Learn more here.
We can’t wait to celebrate in person with more than 225 of you at our SOLD OUT gala on June 12, and we look forward to the next 10 years of everybody-friendly community deliciousness!
Happy summer, everyone!
Love,
Naomi Less
Co Founder, Ritual Leader and Associate Director
