Havurah is thrilled to honor Susan Lazareck this year with the Song of Miriam award! Susan and her husband Jack have been a part of the Havurah community for 30 years, and Susan has worn many, many hats during this time.

When her daughters Allison and Anna were younger, Susan helped write the curriculum for our kindergarten through 8^th grade parent co-op Shabbat School and Middle School. She was a member of the Havurah High School committee and worked with Emily Simon to help our teens create and deliver a drash at several different services. Susan has served on our Steering Committee and is on our History Committee. She led Family Services for seven years. She remembers fondly one occasion where the Havurah building was locked and the group of families proceeded to hold their service across the street under a carport in the rain!

Since retiring from over 30 years of teaching, including 18 as the best third grade teacher at Catlin Gabel, Susan has taken on one of our biggest volunteer jobs during the last three years as the Logistics Coordinator for our High Holiday Services at the Tiffany Center. She is currently helping Havurah’s recent efforts for refugees – she coordinated the gathering of furniture and household items for a newly arrived refugee family. Susan was part of our Adult B’nai Mitzvah class this past December, and every Wednesday morning she helps out in our office with a group of volunteers. 

In her neighborhood, Susan is known for her caring ways and wicked pickles made from Jack's garden. She takes her commitment to Havurah and to others in the community seriously – so many of us have been happy recipients of her efforts!

-Debbi Nadell

The above photo of Susan becoming a Bat Mitzvah with her Adult B'nai Mitzvah colleagues in December 2015 was taken by Donna Kleinman.