GALA HONOREES

As young parents and founding members of Tribeca Hebrew in the early 2000s, Marnie Berk and Jon Silvan first encountered the brilliance of Amichai’s teaching and the transformative impact of Storahtelling’s artistry. What began as a search for meaningful Jewish education for their children quickly evolved into a deeper spiritual journey. At a Yom Kippur break-fast, Marnie turned to Amichai and said, “This should be a shul—and you should be the rabbi. If you build it, I’ll be there”, and he did and she has kept her promise ever since.

Marnie is a lifelong advocate for equity and justice, currently serving as Director of Pro Bono Programs at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI), where she oversees partnerships that expand access to legal services for underserved New Yorkers. Her professional journey has included leadership in law, education, and nonprofit advocacy, with deep dedication to causes such as domestic violence prevention and rule of law. At Lab/Shul, she has been a community builder, a champion of values-driven programming, and a trusted advisor to leadership.

Jon is Founding Partner and CEO of Global Strategy Group, an award winning public affairs and research firm devoted to electing our country’s most important progressive leaders and advocacy organizations. He joined the Lab/Shul Board of Directors in 2017, served as Vice Chair, and led as Board Chair from 2021-2025. His tenure has been marked by vision and impact: guiding the development of Lab/Shul’s 2019 Strategic Plan, spearheading a governance overhaul, and shepherding the organization through critical phases of expansion and resilience. His strategic acumen, passion for Jewish life, and steady leadership have helped shape Lab/Shul’s evolving future. Jon’s proudest Lab/Shul experience was his joint BMitzvah with his son, Ben in 2019 – the first of its kind at Lab/Shul.

Marnie and Jon are proud parents of Simone, Arielle and Ben Silvan and look forward to celebrating many more celebrations together with the Lab/Shul community.

Nearly 20 years ago, in a small room at Tribeca Grill, Larry and Karen witnessed for the first time the magic of Storahtelling during a Simchat Torah celebration. They were instantly hooked on the music, artistry and Amichai’s creative and modern approach to Judaism. Since that time, they have been a part of the ever-evolving Lab/Shul community downtown, uptown, out of town, and on screen. Their son, Jake, participated in the Raising the Bar program, Karen has been an active volunteer on a range of fundraising projects, and Larry served on the Board for 5+ years and was part of GENerate’s third cohort.

Larry has consulted to, and managed for-profit and not-for-profit organizations interested in domestic and international growth. His work has touched three sectors of the economy – media, entertainment and higher education. In addition to his on-going pro bono work with Lab/Shul, he volunteers with ISEP in Washington, D.C., Verto Education in Berkeley, Adams Point in Columbia County and The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington.

For the past 25 years, Karen has been an event consultant, producing opening nights, galas, and special events for an array of non-profit arts and culture organizations and social service groups including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, 92NY, Green-Wood Cemetery, Kaufman Music Center, Theatre for a New Audience, Tribeca Film Festival and Writers Guild Initiative.

Karen, Larry and Jake split their time between NYC and the Berkshires, along with their recalcitrant but loveable rescue dog, Otis.

GRAVER LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS

Aiki (Karen) Kelley is a Chicago-born poet and visual artist who has been dedicated to her craft since 1962. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College with a concentration in painting, Aiki also studied Folklore and Mythology under Joseph Campbell, spending a year dissecting, interpreting, and translating texts. This experience came full circle when Aiki joined the GENerate cohort at Lab/Shul and began her work in Storahtelling. She has lived in Rome, Paris, and Kingston, Jamaica, and was married for over 55 years to the late writer William Melvin Kelley. Aiki has two daughters: Jesi Kelley, a photographer and graphic designer, and Cira Kelley, an educator and educational theorist. Aiki joined Lab/Shul at the suggestion of her daughter Jesi and is now part of the 2024- 25 GENerate cohort. She finds the experience, especially the Storahtelling process, deeply moving and thought-provoking. Aiki has exhibited widely in NYC, both solo and alongside Jesi, and has two unpublished poetry manuscripts: one of art and poetry, In The Cut, and a poetic narrative about her marriage, Too Stubborn to Leave, Too Lazy to Quit: A Ballad.

Jesi Kelley is a second-generation artist who grew up in Paris, Kingston, and Harlem. After spending two decades in the corporate world, including roles in radio and TV advertising sales and IT support, Jesi returned to her artistic roots following the tragedy of 9/11. Since then, she has worked as an independent graphic designer and photographer. Her work focuses on joy and nature, alongside documenting events in New York City. It was through this work that she was introduced to Lab/Shul during the pandemic, as she began documenting Lab/Shul’s rituals. Following the passing of her father, writer William Melvin Kelley, in 2017, Jesi became the steward of his extensive archive, which includes photography, manuscripts, journals, and family history. She is currently producing an audio drama series based on his book Dancers On The Shore, set to debut in June 2025. In 2021, Jesi became part of Lab/Shul’s inaugural Pass/Age cohort, where she and others spent a year in study and conversation, culminating in the creation of a Storahtelling ritual. Jesi is a member of Lab/Shul’s Racial Equity & Action Delegation (READ), a member of the Board nomination Task Force, and volunteers regularly at Lab/Shul rituals and programs. Jesi is also completing her memoir, Riding Time, which explores her family’s deportation from Kingston, Jamaica, in 1977, set against the backdrop of her ever-evolving life.