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 Our son Ari has been a big part of our synagogue community from Day One,” says Laura Robin about three-year-old Ariel Benjamin. And, she adds, he’s already become the unofficial “ambassador” for Aleph Springs.
Aleph Springs is a new “intentional Jewish-inspired” neighborhood of eight single-family homes and a complex of six condominium units “wrapped around” the synagogue, Havurah Shir Hadash. Laura and her husband Scott Bandoroff are part of the development group. Like the other investors, they are also members of the Havurah, where Ari has always maintained a high—and happy—profile. He attends the pre-school and he’s always on hand for services and special events.
Ari serves too as a living symbol of Aleph Springs’ intention to provide a multi-generational experience for Aleph Springs residents.
For Laura and Scott, Ari’s “Day One” began in June, 2006 when they adopted him at 10 months old from an orphanage in Kazakhstan. They returned home from the grueling trip on a Friday afternoon, just in time to attend a “home shabbat” gathering at a member’s house.
“Someone saw us through the window,” says Laura, “and everyone poured out of the house. All of a sudden, after growing up in an orphanage, Ari had a built-in community of bubbes, zaydes, uncles, aunts and cousins.”
In the months to follow, Ari quickly found his place in Rabbi David Zaslow’s arms while he led prayers in the Havurah sanctuary.
In much the same way Laura expects that Ari will be an equally sweet presence for Aleph Springs’ residents
“I have no doubt that Ari, as well as the other Havurah children will be an important part of their lives.”
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