New Member Profile: Lauren and Louis Puchtel

BASICS: What are your names and any nicknames?

My name is Lauren Puchtel and my husband is Louis Puchtel. We have two children and live in Eden Prairie.

YOU: Tell us about you and your family.

I am a born and raised California girl, and my husband grew up in Hopkins, Minnesota. We met in California and decided we wanted to move back to Minnesota to raise our family. We’ve been here a little over six years, and we love our life in Minnesota.

BELONG: What does belonging to a synagogue mean to you?

Belonging is really a feeling for me. It’s feeling comfortable in who you are. A feeling of being connected when in a group of people. That’s community! It’s about being seen even with your differences and celebrated as a whole. I want my children and my family to feel that sense of belonging at every opportunity. I also want to share that feeling and foster it for others.

HERE: Why did you choose Bet Shalom?

I want go back and highlight the FEELING we had that led to joining Bet Shalom. The minute we walked through the doors and we experienced our first family Shabbat I knew that this would be our synagogue. I felt all of the emotions – joy, gratitude, inspiration, belonging, excitement! Our children were loud, having fun, dancing and singing in the pews with Cantor Havilio. We saw not one eye glaring at us to sit, refrain and be quiet, but just acknowledgment and joy in us being there as a part of the congregation. That’s how we knew we wanted to join. It felt like family and it felt like home. Without judgment, but with only love and acceptance.