In their five years since joining the Young Israel of New Rochelle, Lauren and Andrew have had an outstanding impact on our community.  The Bochners have been extremely involved in multiple aspects of the shul and have been eager to volunteer from the moment they moved in.  The shul is a central component of the Bochners’ personal, spiritual and communal lives.
 
Andrew, a Brooklyn Law School graduate, grew up in Monsey and attended Ashar, Frisch and Yeshiva University, where he developed a deep connection with and understanding of the importance of Jewish communal service.   Lauren grew up in Cedarhurst and attended HALB, SKA and Stern College.   Both Lauren and Andrew come from large, thriving Jewish communities with multiple shul options, so being part of a vibrant shul was always special and important to them.
 
Upon moving to New Rochelle in 2017, Lauren and Andrew instantly took on active leadership roles.  Andrew joined the shul’s chazzan rotation, even serving as a chazzan on Rosh Hashanah, and became an active participant in Tomchei Shabbos. In his spare time off from running a successful intellectual property and litigation firm or arguing cases overseas,  Andrew can be found volunteering for Sinai Schools or demonstrating how to cook matza pizza on Zoom.
 
Lauren joined the Hospitality Committee also upon her arrival, eagerly welcoming new members or locating hosts for Shabbat guests.  She is now co-chair of the committee, which is no easy task given the huge influx of new YINR families.  She has created new initiatives within the committee to welcome members during the past two challenging years, such as providing a meal the day a family moves in, creating a “Facebook” to introduce new members to the community and organizing a Zoom pizza night for new members.  Lauren also runs the annual Challah Bake and uses her graphic design skills to create beautiful flyers for Women’s League shiurim and other events. She has volunteered for the Mikvah Dinner and the Mikvah Bake Sale and is an active shul Board member.  There is almost no Women’s League or shul event that Lauren has not volunteered for. She is often one of the first to offer to cook a meal for a new mother, bake for a shalom zachar, invite a new family to a Shabbat meal or house Shabbat guests. 
 
Lauren and Andrew are known for their open home filled with Shabbat guests, delicious meals and lively discussion. Their warmth and positive energy are felt by everyone at YINR, evident by the friendships they have forged throughout the years. You can often find them out socializing with friends or volunteering for their children’s schools.  Lauren and Andrew are the proud parents of Naftali, Hannah, Dovi, Coby and Benny.  In making the shul a priority in their lives, Lauren and Andrew have created an opportunity for their children to learn the importance of chesed, tefilla, Torah and community service.
 
Lori and Shai Barnea