“Ya’amod! Ya’amod! Ya’amod! RAV Amichai Lau-Lavie!” After decades of Storah services, reclaiming, reinventing, and subverting forgotten traditions for hundreds of Jewish communities around the world, last Saturday Amichai was called up to the Torah for the very first time with his new title – “Rabbi.” An old traditional call, one he has heard over and over again his whole life, suddenly new. A simple moment, brief and fleeting, powerful and transformative. 

Over 200 Lab/Shulers packed the New York Society for Ethical Culture for our final Shabbat AM of the season, albeit full of firsts. We were led for the first time by our “new” Rabbi, inaugurated our brand “new” supersized patchwork prayer shawl, celebrated B-Mitzvah teens and newlyweds Elana Bildner and Ben Israelow, and saw an all star team of veteran Mavens come together for easily one of the most compelling Storah performances in history.

BIG thanks to our mavens Naomi Less, Shira Kline, David LoewyDeanna NeilFranny SilvermanNaamah Imir, and Sarah Sokolic, special guest ritual leader Netanel Goldberg, guest ritual musicians Hadar NoibergGlenn GrossmanMichael Gold, and Isaac Everett, and everyone else who helped co-create Lab/Shul history.

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