This Shabbat, we bring you an exciting announcement accompanied by a Kavanah from a special guest columnist!
We are thrilled to announce that Lauren Blasband-Roth will be joining Stephen Wise Temple and Schools as our new Cantor (Chazzan) later this summer!
Lauren was selected through a months-long, nationwide search led by Cantor Emma Lutz and Committee Chair and Past President Janine Kolodny, with the support of a dedicated congregational search committee. From the moment we met her, we knew she would bring passion, warmth, and extraordinary talent to our Wise community.
Lauren is no stranger to Wise. During her studies, she served here as both cantorial and education intern, enriching our High Holy Days and Shabbat services with her beautiful voice and engaging our students with her joyful teaching and song-leading in our schools and camps. We feel incredibly blessed to welcome her back—not as a visitor, but now as a beloved member of our clergy team.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Lauren’s love for Judaism and music began at an early age. She attended Jewish day school, honed her vocal skills at a performing arts high school in Manhattan, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Rutgers University. Her passion for Jewish education and sacred music led her to Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), where she earned dual master’s degrees in Jewish Education and Sacred Music.
This May, Lauren will be ordained as a cantor at HUC-JIR in New York City, and we are honored that her first role as clergy will be with us at Wise.
Lauren and her husband, soon-to-be Rabbi Aaron Blasband-Roth, have also made Los Angeles their new home! Aaron has accepted a position at a Los Angeles Jewish institution, and we are delighted to welcome both of them into our Wise family.
Not only is Lauren a gifted singer and educator, but she is also a compassionate pastor and deeply committed Zionist. She brings depth, warmth, and unwavering dedication to serving the Jewish people, and we know she will enrich our congregation in profound and lasting ways.
A heartfelt thank you to our cantorial search committee, whose dedication and thoughtful leadership helped bring Lauren to our Wise family: Pamela Balton, Victor Svilik, Rabin Pournazarian, Lori Rubin, Dina Levy, Emily Leon, Janine Kolodny (Chair), and Jeremy Rosen (President).
Lauren Blasband-Roth officially steps into her new role on July 1; we cannot wait to welcome her this summer and experience the extraordinary gifts she will bring to our community.
With joy and blessing,
Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback
Cantor Emma Lutz
Dear Wise Family,
From the very first moment I stepped onto the Wise bimah, I felt something special—something bigger than myself. It was warmth, it was love, it was belonging. It was home.
I am so grateful for the memories I have already made here. I will never forget the powerful Ne’ilah service of 2022—voices rising as one, arms wrapped around each other, a community bound together in song and spirit. I treasured every summer Shabbat spent outside, where music and prayer drifted into the evening air as the sky melted into shades of gold and pink. This past summer, I danced and sang with the camp kids, swept up in their ruach and joy. I found inspiration in my middle school Torah study students, whose curiosity and creativity made each lesson come alive. And, I laughed alongside families as we pickled cucumbers in honor of Tu BiShvat, a small but joyful reminder of the sweetness of learning together.
Wise is more than just a synagogue. It is a community, a family, a home. I feel so blessed to be stepping into this role, and I cannot wait for the music, prayer, learning, and moments of connection we will create together. And just as I cherish the memories I’ve already made here, I know the most meaningful ones are still ahead.
I look forward to seeing you all very soon!
B’ahava,
Lauren Blasband-Roth