Lauren and Michael Mandelstam moved with their family from KGH to West Hempstead nearly ten years ago. Lauren grew up in Woodmere, New York, where her family was deeply involved in both Beis Tefilah and the Young Israel of Woodmere.

Born and raised in Jamaica Estates, Michael is the oldest of three boys—and the only one who is not currently practicing as a Rabbi. He was extremely involved in the Youth Department of the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates, where he had the distinct honor of running the Teen Minyan for many years alongside then-assistant Rabbi Josh Goller.
Lauren and Michael both attended HAFTR for high school, though they claim to have never spoken a word to each other during those years.

Since moving to West Hempstead, the Mandelstams have opened their home countless times for community events, including shiurim, guest speakers from Israel, Aliyah-focused programs, and an annual kumzitz on Tisha B’Av.  In 2020, the Mandelstams co-founded the Yeshiva Minyan with the goal of creating a welcoming yet serious makom tefillah, that combines uplifting singing during davening with a rotating post‑davening Chaburah led by different members of the shul each week. Michael has served in the gabbai rotation for several years and continues to maintain and expand the shul’s minyanim calendar, adding additional minyanim as the community has grown.

In addition, the Mandelstams have been running a chaburah for the community in their home for the past five years, featuring weekly shiurim for men given by Rabbi Dr. Chesky Gewirtz and monthly shiurim for women led by a variety of guest speakers. The chaburah has also featured prominent rabbanim, members of Knesset, and IDF personnel as guest speakers for the community's benefit.

Lauren has been a practicing Physician Assistant at a private practice in Howard Beach for the past eighteen years, and Michael is a real estate attorney at Morgan Stanley.

 

Together, Lauren and Michael are blessed with four wonderful children—Gabby, Ayla, Eliana, and Alex—who are fortunate to be growing up in the warm and vibrant West Hempstead community.