Finding a Voice: How Community, Justice, and Song Shaped One Cantor’s Journey
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Long before she ever stepped onto the bimah as a professional, Cantor Laura Stein’s voice was already echoing throughout the spaces that shaped her: her family’s home, her synagogue, her schools, and the streets of Scarsdale itself. Singing came naturally. So did Judaism. What took time was landing securely where she is today, in a place where her musical talent, commitment to Jewish values, and pursuit of justice coalesce to define a career of using her voice for progress.
“I was always a singer,” she recalls—choirs, school plays, and the first 4th-grader to ever be accepted into all-county chorus. At the same time, Judaism was woven into her daily life. Her family nurtured a strong Jewish identity grounded in community, learning, and social justice. Synagogue wasn’t just a place you went on holidays; it was where relationships were formed, values were passed down, and belonging was solidified.
As a child at Westchester Reform Temple (WRT), she slowly became part of its musical life as well. Her passion for singing and her interest in Judaism began to converge, helped along by Cantor Stephen Merkel of blessed memory, who first took her under his wing. As she got older, that mentorship expanded. “It really felt like the ‘it takes a village’ mechanism kicked in,” she says. The clergy there, including Senior Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Cantor/Rabbi Angela Buchdal, and Rabbi Ken Chasen, recognized something in her and encouraged her to explore it.
Her Bat Mitzvah became a turning point. Learning to chant Torah, interpret tradition, and share it with the community was empowering in a way Cantor Stein hadn’t anticipated. “That was when I first understood what it meant to pass down Jewish tradition in a way that actually moves people, and maybe even helps make the world a little better.”
From there, she became deeply embedded in the congregation’s musical culture. She supported Cantor Buchdal on the bimah, subbed for her at teen events, and attended Kutz Camp, a Reform Movement leadership camp, where she learned to songlead. Surrounded by other young people dreaming of Jewish leadership, guitar in hand, she began to see a future where her voice could inspire others through prayer and music.
That sense of encouragement extended well beyond the synagogue walls, though. Growing up in Scarsdale, Laura experienced what she describes as a “360-degree” support system. Her parents moved to town when she was just two weeks old, and she went through the full K–12 Scarsdale school system. While not a small town in the traditional sense, Scarsdale felt intimate, with familiar faces in the village, neighbors and family friends who she spent holidays with, and a community invested in watching young people grow.
“The biggest thing that Scarsdale did for me was give me a home base,” she says. A place where the parmesan bread at Parkway Diner always tasted the same, Halloween window painting reliably arrived each October, and someone was always playing tennis (or paddle tennis) at the Brite Avenue courts down the street from where she grew up. That consistency created a container—a place from which it felt safe to take risks and explore new paths, and a place she could always return to, knowing she’d be welcomed back.
Cantor Stein’s musical and theatrical development was nurtured at every stage. Mentors like Fox Meadow music teacher Connie Rybak Shelengian, the Middle School’s music teacher Lorraine Brooks and Popham’s English teacher Kathleen Connon, and High School Choir Director John Cuk didn’t just instruct, they showed up. One even attended a singing performance while she was in graduate school for cantorial studies. “I think of Scarsdale as a place where I was supported at school, in the village, at synagogue, at home…everywhere. I was valued for my unique path.”
She still remembers a moment from 2004 that captured that spirit perfectly. After returning from Jewish songleading camp, the Scarsdale Inquirer ran a feature about her experience. Soon after, a non-Jewish parent of a younger student she only knew peripherally called her house just to say how impressed she was. “It really felt like people, even from totally different backgrounds, were rooting for me.”
That thread of community has never broken. When Laura would return home on breaks and was invited to sing at her home congregation, people who had known her since childhood would approach her. “I remember when you were ten and sang on the bimah,” they’d say. “We always knew you’d become a cantor! We’re so proud of you.” She pauses when she reflects on that continuity, tearing up. “I can’t tell you what it’s meant to have that thread woven through my entire life. It’s been the biggest blessing on my journey.”
Yet her path was not without struggle, especially when she entered seminary at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Reform Movement’s graduate program that trains cantors and rabbis. While cantorial school gave her theological grounding and liturgical skills, it fell short of what she hoped clergy training would provide, and its somewhat toxic culture challenged what she’d come to understand about justice during her Jewish childhood. “I wanted to learn how to minister to the whole person, and to do so in an environment that not only gave me skills but also lifted me up as a person, a woman, and most importantly, a Jew.” When that training and growth-oriented support didn’t materialize in her seminary, she sought them elsewhere, enrolling in NYU’s social work program part-time while also completing her cantorial degree.
That decision, she says without hesitation, changed everything. Through a field placement working with Jewish seniors living with hoarding disorder and an internship doing case management for homeless queer youth, she gained clinical skills that transformed her relationship to pastoral care. “My social work degree is the best thing I ever did,” she says. “It’s the reason I can show up as a cantor the way I do today.”
Now pursuing a PhD in Practical Theology at Boston University, with a focus on the psychology of religion, she is doing the integrative work she once longed for as a student. Her research explores clergy formation, justice, trauma, burnout, and flourishing—asking not just what spiritual leaders can do, but who they are becoming. Studying at BU’s School of Theology, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. earned his doctorate in theology as well, has only deepened her commitment to justice-centered work, which she names as her most important commitment.
At the heart of everything Cantor Laura Stein does is integration—between belief and behavior, spirituality and psychology, tradition and lived experience. “Flourishing isn’t about erasing differences,” she says. “It’s about stitching together wholeness.” That philosophy shapes her work with individuals navigating trauma, identity, and religious struggle, as well as with wedding couples and families looking to bring Jewish joy and meaning to their life transitions. It also informs how she understands mindfulness and what it really means to “live Jewishly”—as attunement to values in the present moment that help people connect to others and community.|
Today, as a cantor, social worker, and psychologist of religion in training, her voice still rises in song on the bimah, during lifecycle moments, and in chaplaincy settings. But it also speaks in classrooms, therapy sessions, and in research and advocacy settings. She’s proud of how this journey has led her to where she is, and feels ready to start sharing what she’s learned with the community that formed her into the professional and person she is today.
Looking back, it’s clear that none of it happened in isolation. Family, temple, school, teachers, neighbors, and extended communal networks all played a role, and were patient as she explored her different passions before finding a path that would combine them. “I am so grateful,” she says, “to have been championed by so many people who saw potential in me and wanted me to thrive.”
And in many ways, they still do…cheering her on, just as they always have. But now, she feels, it’s time for her to rise to the occasion of this next chapter.
“I’ve been in school, deepening these various passions and in this pursuit of integrating them for so long, but it’s finally coming together. It’s time to start giving back and to hopefully be someone who inspires another little girl in Scarsdale to follow her dreams. I remain very connected here! My parents still live in the house where I grew up and WRT, where I now work part-time to support congregants along their journeys, is still my spiritual home. What a privilege to still feel held by the community that shaped you. Not everyone has that. I feel so lucky.”
SMS and SHS PTA Support the Proposed 2026-27 School Budget
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(Here is a statement from the SMS PTA President Gina Chon, delivered to the school board on Monday March 23, 2026.)
Good evening. My name is Gina Chon, and I am speaking this evening in my capacity as President of the Scarsdale Middle School PTA on behalf of the Executive Committee.
The SMS PTA Executive Committee would like to thank the District Administration and the Board of Education for the opportunity to comment on the proposed 2026-2027 budget, and for scheduling forums that allow for community input. After careful review, we are supportive of the proposed budget and appreciate the thoughtful consideration given to balancing districtwide priorities.
We understand that there is not sufficient room in this year's budget to support the hiring of an additional Special Education FTE, and while we are disappointed that this position cannot be accommodated this year, we hope it will be seriously considered in the near future. We believe the co-teaching model across all four core subjects in sixth grade is a valuable support for students, and we hope the district will be able to sustain and expand this level of support as students move into seventh and eighth grade.
Although not every priority could be accommodated in this year's budget, we remain appreciative of the district's commitment to the health, safety, and educational experience of our students. The SMS PTA Executive Committee supports the proposed 2026-2027 budget, and we thank the district for its openness to parent feedback and meaningful community engagement throughout this process.
(Here is a statement from the SHS PTA, delivered by Erika Rublin)
Statement for Budget Study Forum
March 23, 2026
My name is Erika Rublin and I am speaking on behalf of the High School PTA Executive Committee and Budget Study Chair. We thank Dr. Patrick, Mr. Lennon, others in the Administration, and the Board of Education for your hard work thus far on the Proposed Budget for the 2026-2027 school year.
We would like to begin by expressing our support for the proposed budget. We understand the BOE’s decision to prioritize budgeting to the tax cap, taking into account the capital spending requested for the upcoming bond and the Village pool project. Thus, we believe that the possible within this constraint.
While we support the proposed budget, we are disappointed that the current budget proposal does not include the previously recommended Math FTE position for the High School. You have heard from both parents and students, including the student board members, who have expressed how the large math and physics class sizes have negatively impacted the classroom experience and the ability of students to meet with teachers. The suggested alternative of eliminating sections of math electives impacts the programs of study available to our students, and we are concerned that it will not completely eliminate the class size problem.
It is clear that we are now at an inflection point where budgeting to the tax cap necessitates cuts to our current programming and hamstrings the District’s ability to deliver on Scarsdale’s core values of class size, appropriate level of instruction and a robust program of study. Since families move here for the schools, we believe that the community will ultimately support a budget that includes sufficient resources to preserve these values and to continue to offer a “best in class” education to our students. We recognize that this year is not the year, but we hope the BOE will prioritize the student experience and Scarsdale’s high standards in future budget decisions.
While this budget falls short of incorporating a highly valued addition to staffing, it reflects a thoughtful and deliberate effort by the administration to maximize existing resources within the current constraints. Not adopting this budget risks triggering significant reductions that would jeopardize the quality of our student’s educational experience. We encourage the community to vote yes for the budget on May 19.
Thank you again for your hard work.
Scarsdale High School PTA Executive Committee and Budget Study Chair
Erika Rublin, SHS PTA President
Megan Simon, President ElectKelli Halyard, Corresponding Secretary
Jenny Simon Tabak, VP of Directory/Membership
Melissa Brown Eisenberg, Recording Secretary
Tina Lin, VP of Programming
Radhika Dewan, Treasurer
Diksha Mudbhary, Budget Study Chair
Scarsdale Foundation Offers Scholarship Aid
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Students who graduated from Scarsdale High School or lived in Scarsdale during their high school years and who have completed their first, second, or third years of college are invited to apply to the Scarsdale Foundation for tuition assistance. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the Foundation awarded need-based grants totaling $229,000 to 48 students attending private and state-supported colleges and universities.
Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year should be submitted online from the Scarsdale Foundation’s website: https://www.scarsdalefoundation.org/ (click on the College Scholarships link). Completed applications must be submitted by May 27, 2026. Questions should be directed to Scholarship Committee Chairs Seema Jaggi or Isabel Finegol at: scarsdalefoundationscholarship@gmail.com.
The Foundation welcomes contributions from the community to augment the funds available for distribution each year. Contributions may be donated to a specially earmarked Scholarship Fund of the Scarsdale Foundation, enabling the Foundation to carry on the tradition of helping students
in need to pursue a college education. Donations may be made online by visiting the Foundation’s website or mailed to the Scarsdale Foundation at P.O. Box 542, Scarsdale, NY 10583.
The Foundation also hosts the Scarsdale Bowl Dinner where Scarsdale individuals are recognized for their volunteer service to the community. The Scarsdale Bowl will be presented to the 2026 recipients, Terri Simon and the Scarsdale Historical Society on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at the Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club..
For more information regarding the work of the Scarsdale Foundation, please visit its website: www.scarsdalefoundation.org.
CONTACTS: Seema Jaggi and Isabel Uchitelle-Finegold:
scarsdalefoundationscholarship@gmail.com
Candidate for Village Trustee Ron Schulhof Looks Forward to Making Tangible Improvements to Scarsdale
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How long have you lived in Scarsdale? Tell us about your career in public service and your volunteer positions and what do you most value about the community?
I’ve lived in Scarsdale for about 12 years with my wife Rachel and our two sons. Since moving here I’ve volunteered in a variety of ways throughout the community. Most recently I served six years on the Scarsdale Board of Education, including two years as President and Vice President.
Many people may also be familiar with the sustainability initiatives I’ve been involved in – launching the food scrap recycling program, transitioning our streetlights to LEDs, expanding recycling operations at the recycling center, moving to weekly recycling pickup, among other projects. I have also served in several roles in local village and school organizations including the PTA, various school committees, the Scarsdale Forum, the Citizens’ Nominating Committee, and coaching youth sports. A great aspect about local volunteering is that you can really get things done while making tangible improvements to our community!
It’s been terrific not only to serve in these capacities, but also to meet incredible volunteers throughout the community. Working with so many great people has really made me appreciate what a special place Scarsdale is and the amazing work that happens here because of community volunteers and our professional staff.
You served six years on the School Board, two as President and Vice President: What did you learn from the experience? What was most memorable and what are you proud of?
During my six years on the Board of Education there were certainly a lot of memorable events. What I am most proud of is the many tangible improvements we made in partnership with the administration and community for the benefit of our students. We added new class offerings based on student feedback, such as Financial Literacy at SHS. We made improvements to our buildings and fields with the renovation of the High School Auditorium and enhancements to the Varsity Softball Field in partnership with the Village. We implemented safety and security upgrades throughout all of our buildings. These are just a few examples that highlight our focus on continually finding opportunities to improve our district on behalf of our current and future students. As a Board we also hired a new superintendent and several new administrators who are dedicated to delivering a great experience for our students throughout their K-12 education.
My tenure also taught me a great deal about governing effectively on an elected local governing body. One of the most important lessons was about communication. We all know consistency matters, but what I came to truly appreciate was the need to meet constituents where they are – using multiple channels, repeating key messages, and recognizing that most residents are busy with work, kids, and life, and simply can’t track every development the way a Board member or administrator does. What feels like over-communication from inside the Board often barely registers to someone outside it. We worked hard to improve our outreach, and I’ll carry that commitment to proactive, accessible communication directly into my role as a Village Trustee.
Why do you want to join the Scarsdale Village Board at this time?
This is a really exciting time to join the Village Board with so many exciting and impactful projects currently before the Board and on the horizon, including major projects like the pool, Freightway, and field improvements. As well as the ongoing responsibility to deliver high-quality day-to-day services that make Scarsdale such a great place to live. Equally important is finding a way to do all of this within a fiscally responsible framework that balances investment with taxes.
These are exactly the kinds of issues I’ve worked on as a volunteer with so many great people – residents, fellow board members, and professional staff. I look forward to continuing to have an opportunity to be part of delivering tangible improvements and projects to our community.
What skills and experience will you bring to enhance the Board?
I hope my track record of volunteering over the past 12 years show how I would approach the role of a Village Trustee and the qualities I would bring. Professionally, my background in finance and corporate strategy have given me deep experience with budgets, long-term planning, complex data and systems, and communicating clearly to different audiences. My experience on the School Board – while it focused on school matters – has a lot of overlap with the type of projects and work that the Village Board takes on.
I have enjoyed collaborating and building relationships with many people in Village Government. Over the years I’ve had the chance to work closely with Village Manager Alex Marshall, many of the department heads, and of course the Mayor and current Board members.
I am transparent. I believe elected officials owe the community clarity about how and why decisions are made. One of the areas I focused on when I joined the Board of Education was improving Board communication and encouraging more public input. I always strive to be open in my decision making and thought process.
I am always willing to roll up my sleeves and learn about new topics and do the work.
The Board has approved a major project to replace and enhance the Scarsdale Pool complex. Please share your thoughts on this. At the same time, the School District is close to proposing a $101 mm bond. What are your views on the proposal, the timing and how it will impact Scarsdale taxpayers?
Both projects reflect a challenge every community faces: how do we continue to deliver exceptional services and infrastructure – and invest in our future – while doing it in a fiscally responsible manner. Many of our buildings and facilities are 50 – 100 years old and either need updating because they are at the end of their useful life or do not meet the needs of life today. I appreciate both the Village and School taking on these tough decisions, listening to the community, and bringing proposals forward to enhance what our community has to offer. The reality is that a lot of this work is expensive; It also adds a lot of value for us as residents!
In the spring of 2025, the Village proposed the purchase of new police equipment including cameras, LPR’s and drones to improve surveillance and tracking. What are your views on the need for the equipment and the reaction from residents?
It’s important to find the right balance between keeping everyone in our community safe while respecting privacy rights. As with so many decisions at the local level, we need to listen to both our professional staff – in this case our police department - and our residents to find a path forward that gives our police department the tools they need while considering residents views.
The Mayor recently announced that the Village will move forward with exploration of the development of the Freightway site. Please share your thoughts on this.
I am very excited to work on a Freightway development. There is an amazing opportunity to enhance our downtown area while adding new revenue to our tax base (and avoiding the continued costs to maintain an aging parking garage). Many communities throughout Westchester have successfully developed similar transit-oriented buildings in their downtown area and I believe we can do the same in Scarsdale.
What challenges do you anticipate the Village might encounter during your term?
The perennial challenge for local governments is finding the balance between providing a level of service expected by our residents with the tax burden it places on each household. As I look back over the past several years, I think the Village Board has done a fantastic job keeping a very high level of service while also expanding new services and improvements throughout our Village. Weekly recycling, field improvements, new playgrounds and new tennis courts are just some of the examples of great enhancements that have been made over the past few years. I look forward to continuing this work while doing so in a fiscally responsible manner.
What do you hope to accomplish as a Village Trustee?
I look forward to continuing to make tangible improvements to our community. In the near-term that includes the pool project, Freightway development, field improvements, sustainability initiatives, and many other important topics that are before the Board. As well as continuing to find places to add services that our residents want.
Anything else you wish to add?
Please mark your calendars to vote on March 18th. I think it is more important than ever for people to be active participants in democracy at every level of government. It only takes a few minutes to stop at Scarsdale Library and vote. Polls are open 6am – 9pm at the Scarsdale Library (54 Olmsted Road).
Candidate for Village Trustee Scott Silberfein Has a Passion for the Job
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Former Scarsdale School Board member and longtime Scarsdale resident Scott Silberfein is on the ballot for Scarsdale Village Trustee. Find out about his experience and why he would like to serve below:
Tell us about your professional and volunteer experience to date.
My wife Joey and I have lived in Scarsdale since 2006 and are the proud parents of three daughters who graduated from Scarsdale High School.
I am an attorney and have 25+ years of substantial experience advocating for clients in a variety of high-stakes, complex litigation matters and class actions in the state and federal courts as well as before arbitration panels and mediators.
My commercial litigation experience spans many industries including consumer products, jewelry, real estate, and equipment lease financing and includes actions involving claims for fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and partnership actions, employment issues (including but not limited to business torts, unfair competition, trade secret, and non-competition/solicitation covenants), bankruptcy and reorganization issues, alleged violations of RICO and federal and state consumer protection laws. I also have extensive experience representing companies in responding to and defending against investigations and lawsuits by Attorneys General. My class action experience includes litigations in state and federal courts and proceedings before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation involving unfair competition, breach of warranty, product-related issues, data breach and privacy, and consumer protection statutes of nearly all fifty states.
After college and prior to attending law school, I worked in Washington, D.C in the legislative offices of Congressman Gary Ackerman and in the telecommunications industry.
I am also a longtime community volunteer. I served on the Scarsdale Board of Education from 2014-2020 including 1.5 years as President. I am currently serving as a Board member of the Scarsdale Schools Education Foundation, the Scarsdale Youth Soccer Club, and Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity's Supreme Council and am a member of Scarsdale’s Judicial Qualifications Advisory Committee. Among other roles, I am a former member of the Scarsdale Bowl Committee and Scarsdale’s Board of Ethics, and a former Board member of Westchester Reform Temple, the Greenacres Neighborhood Association, and the Crohn’s Colitis Foundation of America-Westchester/Fairfield Chapter. I also proudly coached my daughters’ recreational soccer, basketball, and softball teams.
Why are you stepping up now to serve as a Scarsdale Village Trustee?
I have a passion for the job and a love for our Village.
What skills do you bring to the Board?
I am a problem solver, relationship builder, have a deep desire to learn about all sides of an issue, and possess the ability to quickly understand and synthesize complex issues along with financial and legal documents. Additionally, I am an active listener, with an open mind to all points of view and constituencies and know how to serve all of the residents of the Village without agenda or pre-conceived point of view.
What were some of the most valuable lessons you learned as a volunteer?
To assume best intentions from all colleagues, employees, and stakeholders and that it is incredibly important—essential—to serve with credibility and integrity.
What were some of your most rewarding volunteer experiences?
In addition to contributing to very productive boards, my most rewarding volunteer experiences have been the ones where after a lot of hard work, partnership, and creative problem solving, we have been able to deliver wonderful results for stakeholders. In Scarsdale, primarily in capital work, these experiences would include the installation of the permanent lights at Butler Field at Scarsdale High School, the renovations to Greenacres Elementary School, and the Learning Commons, Design Lab, and new fitness center at the High School. But, in reality, my most rewarding volunteer experiences in Scarsdale and beyond always come back to the incredibly smart, hard-working, engaging, and impressive people I have had an opportunity to meet, work with, and learn from.
How do you think that service on the Village Board will be similar or different from your experience on the School Board?
I am used to working as a member of a board of seven dedicated resident volunteers and expect the same on the Village Board. As a member of the School Board, I was incredibly lucky to work with a dedicated group of administrators, teachers, and staff dedicated to their craft. I expect to experience the same as a member of the Village Board. I am sure there will be differences, such as budgeting and bond work which don’t require a community vote, but I expect—maybe naively—the service to be similar and feel familiar.
The Village is now embarking on an initiative to build Scarsdale’s first indoor/outdoor pool complex. Share your thoughts on this ambitious project.
My family was a long-time user and supporter of the Scarsdale Pool. I believe we should provide such an important part of the Village for the current residents and for future residents. To do that, significant investment is necessary and I generally support the current project. I trust and respect our professionals, consultants, and the current Village Board in reaching the conclusion. One item I need to learn more about is the expected operating costs and the self-sufficiency of the complex.
At the same time, the school board has proposed a $101.7 million bond for expansion and infrastructure improvements to the facilities. What are your views on the overall expansion of taxpayer debt?
Managing our ever-Increasing taxpayer debt and maintaining our high bond ratings is of paramount importance. There are limits to the amount of debt we can ask the community to support, but we also need to meet the needs and desires of our constituents in delivering a world class public education, providing the required level of services, and fixing and maintaining our aging infrastructure. If the taxing authorities take the time to thoroughly study the issues and alternatives, encourage and listen to community input, and make prudent decisions, I believe our community will support (as they usually do) the budgetary plans.
Last spring the Village Board proposed the purchase of police technology that facilitated increased surveillance through the use of cameras, license plate readers and drones. Tell us what you think.
Transparency and communication are always key. I also want to provide our Police Department with all of the tools they need and want. While we always need to be concerned with privacy including the data collected about our residents and who has the data, we live in a world in which data about our lives are always being captured—EZPass, ATM, mobile phones, traffic cameras, waze, google, and the list goes on. So, in the end, I think we already share so much data, that we need to acknowledge that while being aware of to whom we voluntarily share any data and to whom they share the same data.
What do you hope to accomplish as a Village Trustee?
I love our Village. It’s been here for 325 years and will be here for a long time after me. As Trustee, I hope to be a valuable and contributing steward of our Village’s vast resources, infrastructure, and charm while maintaining the Village as a desired place to live.
