Board Member Profile: Lauren Witebsky — Bet Shalom Congregation

With Eric Bressler

Thank you for serving on Bet Shalom’s Board of Trustees, Lauren! Let's help the congregation get to know you better with this interview. Please tell us about your family, your history in Minnesota, and when you joined Bet Shalom.

My husband Scott and I are both from Minnesota (Hopkins and Armstrong alums). We lived in New York City for nearly a decade and moved back here in 2015. We enrolled our son, Bodhi (born 2019), in Bet Shalom Yeladim for preschool as Scott's parents Judy and Steve are members of the synagogue, and we liked the idea of introducing Bodhi to Judaism in this way. We had such a good experience with that and the Bet Shalom community, which felt like our only community during COVID, that we joined the synagogue. We had our daughter in 2019 and both kids now attend HaMakom at Bet Shalom.

And your professional life?

I am a nurse practitioner trained in acute care. I worked for 7 years in the ICU before transitioning to the outpatient setting and my current position in Palliative Care at Minnesota Oncology. I provide support and symptom management for patients undergoing cancer treatment and feel incredibly fulfilled by my work.

Tell us about your previous involvement at Bet Shalom.

Scott and I both participated in the Leadership Development Cohort at Bet Shalom a few years ago. After that training, I volunteered to head Ruth's Group, which is the group for patient's who have chosen to become Jewish later in life. I was nominated to the Board in 2025 and have been serving since June of that year. I also participated in the Judaism 101 course for my conversion to Judaism which I completed in February of 2023.

And now you’re on the Bet Shalom Board of Trustees. What has your experience been like?

I really enjoy being on the board because of the other lovely people who serve and because I like to understand what's going on at the synagogue behind the scenes. It's so much more than just a place to go for services! It's truly a place to form community and spend time with people who share your values.

What do you do in your spare time?

What spare time? Just kidding. Even though my kids and work keep me incredibly busy, I try to make time for running as well as reading. (Did I mention I participate in the Bet Shalom Book Club as well?) Last year I also learned to read Hebrew with the help of Cantor Havilio in Judaism 101.

Favorite Jewish Holiday and foods?

My favorite Jewish Holiday is Hanukkah because I love watching how much joy it brings to my kids. I also love the idea of a persistent light shining through darkness as I think it's a good metaphor for how our faith and hope can light the way in this sometimes dark world.

Final thoughts?

I am grateful to have found a community for my family and me at Bet Shalom. It became a soft place to land during a trying time in my life, and I enjoy giving my time to a place that shares my values and nurtures my soul.