Ready for a revelation? On June 6th, 2019, the eve of the Holiday of Revelation, Lab/Shul returned to City Winery for our annual gala when we honored three extraordinary, beloved and dedicated community leaders whose wisdom and generosity fuel our fire and help forge our future. We also revealed our exciting vision for the future and celebrate our continued success.

Jeffrey Schoenfeld, an esteemed Jewish communal lay leader and advocate for LGBT rights is deeply invested in our vision for a vibrant and inclusive community. Our dear friends Joyce Zinbarg Rosenthal & Steven Rosenthal have championed our commitment to the creation of radical ritual art and lifelong learning for almost two decades, as founding board members. Each of these cherished communal partners model passionate and dedicated leadership that nourish and inspire so many of us to walk the talk of Jewish values, civic responsibility and human hope.

June 6th, 2019
City Winery, 155 Varick Street

Watch the recap and view the online journal:

SUPPORTERS (In Formation)

Peak
Jeff Schoenfeld & Matt Holbein
Linda Johnson, Bruce Ratner, & Family
Joyce Zinbarg Rosenthal & Steven Rosenthal
Audrey Weiner & Jeffery Solomon

Summit
Alisa & Daniel Doctoroff
Marina Pinto Kaufman & Steve Kaufman
Avner Mendelson & Bank Leumi
Nancy Mimoun

Crest
Cheryl Whaley & Eric Aboaf
Aminco Resources, LLC
Richard Ellenson
Debbie & Stuart Himmelfarb
Nina & Robert Kaufelt
Stuart Kurlander
David Moore
Jodi Schwartz & Steven Richman
Ira Riklis
Shonni Silverberg & John Shaprio
Marnie Berk & Jon Silvan

Ridge
Vanessa & Raymond E. Chalmé
Isaac Chera
Lesley Goldwasser & Jonathan Plutzik
Nathan Romano
Rebecca & Peter Shapiro
Dorothy Tananbaum

Slope
Michelle Freedman & Jerry Block
Amy Bressman
Jane Gundell & Grant Duers
Martine Fleishman
Janee Graver
Karen Hershey & Larry Green
John Herrmann
Rebecca Odes & Craig Kanarick
Susan & Steven Lax
Roberta Leiner
Morris Offit
Harry Otterman
Robin Bernstein & John Ruskay
Susan Necheles & Joseph Skoler
David Stoll
James Wolin

Our Honorees

Jeffrey A. Schoenfeld’s life journey has brought him deep fulfillment – spiritually, philanthropically, and professionally. Jeff has been a community member and generous supporter of Lab/Shul for the past 5 years, where he also studies privately with Rabbi Amichai to build a mosaic of understanding around Jewish practice and tradition.

Jeff currently serves as President of UJA-Federation NY, the largest local philanthropy in the world. He first became involved in UJA two decades ago when he signed on as a volunteer leader. He saw the direct impact of philanthropy changing people’s lives, and that led him to deepen his engagement, chairing UJA’s HIV/AIDS Task Force, its Poverty Task Force, and a committee on Israeli Children at Risk. Before becoming President of UJA in 2016, Jeff chaired UJA’s Caring Commission and co-chaired its Annual Campaign.

Professionally, Jeff is a Partner at Brown Brothers Harriman, which he joined in 1984. He has held numerous investment roles over his 35-year career, including head of Fixed Income Management, Chief Investment Officer and head of Asset Allocation. He now leads the firm’s Institutional Investment Management business, overseeing client activities and business development on a global basis.

In all areas of his life, Jeff is passionate about building community and lifting up LGBTQ initiatives. He was the founding Chair of BBH’s Pride Network and has been deeply involved in BBH Cares, the firm’s global volunteerism initiative. Jeff was also a founding member of UJA’s Pride Committee, bringing together community members to provide financial and volunteer support for LGBTQ Jews in need.

A native of San Francisco, Jeff resides in Manhattan with his partner, Matt Holbein, where they are avid supporters of the arts and are loved by their three canines.

Jeff received his BA in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley and his MBA in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Joyce Zinbarg Rosenthal and Steve Rosenthal first met Rabbi Amichai in the late 1990’s at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, where he was serving as a scholar in residence. They took their first class with him at HUC where they learned about the four rabbis who entered the “Pardes”. Joyce and Steve came out of the class with a new friend and teacher. Amichai, needing a place to live, took an apartment in one of Steven’s buildings where he lived for the following twenty years. The decades that followed that initial class have included the sharing of countless Shabbat and holiday celebrations, dozens of study sessions, as well as the birth and naming of three daughters, Rebecca, Talia and Shira, all of whom, now teenagers, call Amichai their Rabbi and Lab/Shul their spiritual home.

When Amichai founded Storahtelling, Joyce literally jumped on board, serving as one of the founding board members of the innovative Jewish ritual theater company. As Amichai grew into his spiritual leadership and Storahtelling transitioned into Lab/Shul, Joyce and Steve followed and supported Amichai at each turn. Having grown up in traditional Jewish homes (and fallen in love while students at the Jewish Theological Seminary), Lab/Shul has become a place where all of their Jewish influences come together in a place of warmth, inspiration and creativity. Lovers of nature, world travel and music, Joyce and Steve relish Lab/Shul’s artist-driven approach and warm, down to earth community, and are committed to ensuring its success.

Professionally, Joyce is a LCSW and works as a therapist for children and adolescents. She holds a graduate degree in Social Work from Columbia University and has post graduate training from both Ackerman Institute for the Family and the William Alanson White Institute. Joyce was a founding member of New Israel Fund’s New Generations and a volunteer at the 14th Street Y where she initiated and organized activities between the seniors and the nursery school children.

Steven is a graduate of New York University, an admitted attorney in New York and California. He manages J.R. Equities, a real estate investment company his father founded after immigrating to New York after the holocaust.

Host Committee

Cheryl Whaley & Eric Aboaf
Rebecca Rindler & Amos Berger
Michelle Freedman* & Jerry Block
Sue Ellen Dodell & Joel Chaiken
Alisa & Daniel Doctoroff
Sarah Connors & Michael Dorf*
Sandi Dubowski
Lora & Richard Ellenson
Douglas Freedman
Lori Roth Gale & Brian Gale
Janee Graver
Karen Hershey & Larry Green
Roxanne & Michael Greenstein
Debbie & Stuart* Himmelfarb
Sam Hipschman
Matt Holbein
Melissa Iachan
Stuart S. Kurlander & David L Martin
Linda Mirels
Rebecca Missel
Franny Silverman Newman* & Mike Newman
Renee Cherow-O’Leary* & John O’Leary
Stefanie & Hue Rhodes
Stine Wellhaven & Nathan Romano
Jennifer Pehr* & Jon Adam Ross
Robin Bernstein & John Ruskay
Rebecca & Peter Shapiro
Wendy Shlensky
Marnie Berk & Jon Silvan*
Sam Sittenfield
Aliza Kline & Rabbi Bradley Solmsen
David Stoll

*Lab/Shul Board

Any questions, please contact our Director of Operations and Community Engagement, Sarah Strnad, by email or (212) 908-2523.