Honorees

Janee Graver is a serial entrepreneur and activist who has spent her life involved in Progressive Judaism. At Lab/Shul, Janee has worked on many projects including developing Lab/Shul’s first membership program, “SeasonPass”; helping to organize the Kaddish Club; sharing interpretive ASL at the High Holy Days; leading a cohort of Lab/Shul activists to Greece to support the International School of Peace; chairing the Refugee Task Force; organizing and volunteering at the Riverside Language Program; and serving as Program Manager (and Zoom tech guru!) for the inaugural two cohorts of GENerate, Lab/Shul’s journey group for older adults. 

Named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Inc. Magazine, Janee successfully started two technology companies, (one which went public), an educational foundation, and an organic tea company, and she has authored a bestselling technology book. Janee has earned Master’s Degrees in Instructional Technology and Information Science. Her third chapter professional life is focused on management consulting for emerging companies and coaching others in their encore chapter. 

Janee has served as a board member for three synagogues in New York and New Jersey, and as the top executive at the start up of Romemu where she oversaw its rapid growth. She taught culture and ethics in Hebrew School for over two decades, co-teaching with first North American female rabbi Sally Priesand. Janee served multiple terms on the board of ALEPH Alliance for Jewish Renewal, and she has been active with the World and European Unions for Progressive Judaism. When not working or volunteering, you can find Janee rowing a shell, paddling a kayak, or throwing a pot! Janee is the proud mother of two amazing adult sons.

Ora and Chuck have been generous donors and have contributed their time to hosting Board meetings, learning salons, and widening Lab/Shul’s donor base and circle of friends. Ora joined the Board of Storahtelling (now Lab/Shul) in 2006. She served as Chair of the Board from 2008-2012. Ora and Chuck were members of the inaugural cohort of GENerate, and were instrumental in creating intimate community and deepening relationships amongst the participants. Over the years, Ora has generously offered her skills as a certified yoga instructor to the Lab/Shul community at Lab/Shul retreats and most recently on more than 100 of our virtual daily SoulSpas during COVID-19.

Ora owns “Wagging Tail Yoga”, a studio in Bethel, NY (Catskills) where she teaches regularly and leads yoga and wellness retreats several times a year. She also teaches privately in NYC and has taught for many years at the Ramaz and Heschel High Schools in New York City. Ora is featured in the new book, MY YOGA, MY CITY as one of a number of yoga teachers in New York city who embody the diversity and inclusiveness that the yoga practice cultivates. Ora majored in Art History in the CUNY BA program. She worked for many years in several New York City art galleries and represented renowned photographers and their portfolios. Ora also served on the Board of the American Jewish Committee’s Women’s Campaign for 15 years.

Chuck is a seasoned and strategic Leadership Executive with 30+ years of broad corporate experience in various industries, including biotech, finance, real estate, apparel, and food and beverage, among others. He is also an investor in new technologies both in the US and Israel as well as in real estate. He serves on the Board and is Chair of the Audit Committee of Grow NYC, a non-profit that delivers major environmental initiatives, including recycling, education, school and communal gardens, and Greenmarket operations for 50+ locations. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of AlmaLinks, a global, collaborative community that connects seasoned executives with exceptional business leaders in Israel and Jewish communities around the world. Chuck graduated from Yeshiva College and Columbia Law School with a Juris Doctorate.

Ora and Chuck are proud parents of Hana and Devin, Abe and Emma, and even prouder grandparents to Lev (8) and Zeke (6).

Host Committee

Cheryl Whaley and Eric Aboaf, Michelle Freedman and Jerry Block, Todd and Jacquie Brecher, Elissa Spungen Bildner, Pamela and Jon Carter, Karen Chervin, Jackie Cohen, Sarah Connors and Michael Dorf, Dina Friedman, Karen Geer, Karen Hershey and Larry Green, Debbie and Stuart Himmelfarb, Marina and Steven Kaufman, Craig Kanarick, Alyssa Katz, Joyce and Steve Rosenthal, Wendy Shlensky, Marnie Berk and Jon Silvan, Ronnie Weiner, Hope Winter