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Celebrations are wonderful things, and even more special when they are richly deserved.

Lauren Mahady has been with the Temple Sinai Preschool as a music teacher since it first opened 35 years ago. She has used her considerable gifts generously and with patience, inspiring our youngest learners to find their way into music and to sing the timeless songs of our people. I, like so many parents, relished the days when my children would sit at Lauren’s feet and we have several pictures of their smiling faces with Lauren, sitting on a chair in front of them, guitar across her lap, making the holidays relevant to these young people.

All of us who have had children go through and graduate from the Temple Sinai Preschool will surely recall Lauren’s leadership as our kids performed songs using multicolored bells. While wonderful to hear and see, that recital paled in comparison to the look on the kids' faces when Lauren made her way onto the bima. She endeared herself to them, and in so doing endeared herself to us all.

Whether it was through the preschool or as tutor (Lauren has been an incredible tutor to so many of our B’nei Mitzvah students through the years!), as a friendly face (with an eager smile) at services or whenever the Happy Go Latkes chavurah would gather, no doubt a good many of us have wonderful memories of time spent with Lauren Mahady.

This Friday night we honor her during our service with a blessing upon her retirement from the TSPS. With the incredible musical stylings of Shira Kline punctuating what is sure to be a musical and fun Shabbat, we will gather to celebrate the indelible impact that Lauren Mahady has had on the life of this congregation.

Indeed – celebrations are wonderful things.

Wishing you a Shabbat filled with Shalom,

Brad