Elijah Snyder January 14 10 AM
Elijah David Snyder is in 7th grade at Kinneret Day School. Elijah was born and raised in Washington Heights and loves exploring the neighborhood, especially the local bodegas. Elijah has recently taken up fencing, and is looking forward to entering competitions in the not too distant future. He is also an avid reader of all genres, and has recently been reading about World War II. Elijah has been attending Hebrew Tabernacle since he was an infant and has been enrolled at the Hebrew School since Kindergarten. Shelly and the teachers have sparked a love and curiosity for the Jewish religion and traditions that we are very grateful for! We are also thankful to Rabbi Paula and her daughter Eve for getting Elijah ready to become a Bar Mitzvah. Elijah is a loving older brother to Jordan. His parents and brother are so proud of our funny, kind, curious, and generous young man!
Jamie Authers November 12
Jamie Paul Silver Authers is in 8th grade at Columbia Secondary School, where he loves learning history. He is a sponge, a mad reader, a comedian and a lover of life. He has a keen sense of justice and stopped eating meat at age 7. If there’s anything Jamie likes more than good vegetarian food, it’s rhapsodizing about good vegetarian food.
Jamie was born in Washington Heights, a pet baby brother to Andie and Josie, and he strives to outdo his sisters on all fronts. He first came to Hebrew Tabernacle when he was three weeks old. From 1 to 5, Jamie lived in London and spoke in cockney, spending lots of time with grandparents and aunts and uncles and with fabulous au pairs from Mexico, Columbia and Spain. He was so mad about having to move away from London that he vowed to root against all New York sports teams. He now uses the term “we” to talk about the Red Sox.
Jamie soon came to love The Heights, starting with kindergarten at PS 187. He still plays in the schoolyard, where he’s known as BagelGuy, with friends who have also adopted nicknames of their favorite breads. If there’s anything that Jamie loves more than playing baseball with the loaves, it’s running in Ft Tryon Park. Or swimming at Lake Welch. Or perhaps playing rugby at school. Or maybe ultimate frisbee at Camp Galil. Or watching any sport with his Dad, spewing his best Manhattan-ese.
Lucas Nickelsburg September 10 at 10 AM
Lucas is beginning 8th grade at Hunter College High School. He is a big brother to Dylan, and we will soon be enlisting him in the care of Wes – a puggle rescue joining our family in August. Lucas joined Hebrew Tabernacle as a sixth grader, remotely during the pandemic. We are all so grateful to everybody at Hebrew Tabernacle for helping us get Lucas to the bima for his bar mitzvah, especially Susan Gellert, Sheldon Koy, Rabbi Paula and her daughter Eve. There’s never a dull moment with Lucas. Lucas genuinely loves everything the city has to offer, and loves to plan walks to new neighborhoods with his dad. Although he’s probably happiest outdoors hiking, whether that’s the trails of Inwood Hill Park or the national parks when we’re lucky enough to visit with friends and family. On any given day, you can probably find Lucas with his nose in a book or deep into a movie on the weekends. He plays piano beautifully, and seems particularly drawn to classical and jazz. Lately, Lucas has been teaching himself guitar as well. Lucas is also a skilled baker! If your timing is right, you might find yourself on the receiving end of brownies, cookies or cinnamon buns. We’re so proud to be Lucas’ parents, and excited to celebrate this special occasion in September!
Josie Levin June 18th at 10 AM
Hello! My name is Josie. I use they/them pronouns. I love to create art with all sorts of mediums. I am a
seventh grader at The Center School. I am the editor-in-chief of my school paper. I like playing video
games, singing, and gardening. I want to be a forest ranger when I grow up.
For the last five years I have gone to Crane Lake Camp. It is a Jewish sports camp. I learned a lot
about Jewish values and stories. My favorite activity is going to the lake. I love to swim and go tubing
whenever I am there. This year I will be going to a new camp that has a farm. It’s called Eden Village
and I am looking forward to it.
For my B’nei Mitzvah project I have been tutoring fifth graders with IEPs. I work with them four times a
week. I play the shofar with the Shofarellas. The Shofarellas are the shofar choir at Hebrew Tabernacle.
I have been going to Hebrew school for eight whole years now! I am super excited to become a B’nei
Mitzvah!
Charlie Hawn Saturday, June 11th at 10 AM
Charlie is finishing the 7th grade at Bank Street School for Children. He is big brother to Addy, and younger brother to Caillin, and tender to Quincy the cat. Charlie is named after Charleses on both sides of his family: Charlie Sussman, his maternal grandfather’s grandfather, and Charles Denver Hawn, his paternal grandfather’s father. Charlie’s Hebrew name is Itzhak, which means “one who laughs.”
As a little boy Charlie attended Tot Shabbat, and he has been a part of the Hebrew School at HT since kitah bet. Charlie loves math, and in addition to participating in a weekly after school math class, he can be found researching infinity and number theory. He is an avid Dungeons and Dragons player, he is a member of the school running club, plays piano, and is ready to join any rally or social action event in support of climate justice, women’s reproductive health, or supporting immigrants/refugees.
It is fitting that Charlie’s parshat is from the book of Numbers, because numbers have been a point of fascination for him since he was a very small child. His favorite numbers are 8 and 11 (ask him why!).
Thanks to Charlie, our family has become involved with Hebrew Tabernacle in ways we could never have imagined, and we are grateful for him leading the way!
