Leslie Feldman
Beth David Reform Congregation in Gladwyne marked a major milestone this spring as it celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Cantor Lauren Goodlev with a weekend of music, worship and communitywide festivities.
The Spring 2026 Fundraiser Weekend honored Goodlev’s decade of service while bringing together congregants of all ages, clergy from across the region and acclaimed guest musician Elana Arian for a series of events highlighting the vibrancy of contemporary Jewish life.
“This milestone is really about celebrating 10 years of partnership together, and 10 is an important number in Judaism,” said Goodlev. “It’s the number for a minyan, which is what makes a community. Some of the most meaningful moments in Jewish life only happen when we show up for one another. And showing up for one another is something that Beth David really knows how to do.”
Goodlev, who lives in Lower Merion, was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music, where she was recognized as both a Wexner Graduate Fellow and a Tisch-Star Fellow. She is an active leader in the broader Jewish community, serving on the board of directors of the American Conference of Cantors and contributes to the Religious Action Center’s Commission on Social Action as a representative of the ACC. She remains closely connected to Camp Harlam, where she serves on faculty and where her own love of Jewish community first took root.
The weekend began Friday evening with a Shabbat experience that welcomed families, featuring a catered dinner, family-friendly services with the synagogue’s Mazeltones and choir, and a community oneg. Programming continued Saturday morning with a musical Torah study, followed by the weekend’s centerpiece Saturday evening: a Havdalah gathering, concert and fundraiser dinner.
The concert featured Elana Arian, a nationally recognized composer and performer whose work has helped shape modern Jewish music. Arian, who has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall and the White House, was joined by guest cantors from across the region.
For Eric Klinger-Wilensky, co-chair of the anniversary event, the weekend was both a celebration and a reflection on a decision made a decade ago.
“We hired Cantor Goodlev straight from her ordination in 2016, and this year marks her 10th anniversary at Beth David,” he said. “Taking a chance on someone at the very start of their career always comes with a bit more risk. But it is a risk that we are so glad and blessed to have made.”
Over the past 10 years, Goodlev has become a central figure in congregational life, officiating lifecycle events, teaching students of all ages and helping guide the synagogue’s musical and spiritual direction.
“At Beth David, in addition to her role on the bimah, Cantor Goodlev has assisted a generation of students leading to their b’nai mitzvahs and has provided learning opportunities to students of all ages,” Klinger-Wilensky added. “She is a perfect fit for the unique culture of Jewish joy and education, and tikkun olam, that is Beth David.”
Reflecting on her time at the congregation, Goodlev emphasized the relationships built along the way.
“I’ve been here long enough to be part of multiple lifecycle events for many families — b’nai mitzvah of siblings, weddings and then baby namings for couples and yes, funerals as well,” she said. “All parts of the lifecycle, some more joyous than others, but all a true privilege, as people have graciously let me into their lives at these pivotal moments.”
She also highlighted the spirit of the community itself as what makes Beth David special.
“It’s really the people who make this an extraordinary community, from our dedicated staff to our hardworking lay leaders,” she said. “Beth David helps people live out their Jewish values in meaningful ways … I’m constantly moved by how congregants lead and connect because they feel a real sense of belonging here.”
As the synagogue looks ahead, the anniversary weekend also serves as a launching point for future initiatives, including expanded programming, community spaces and a new preschool. For now, however, the focus remains on celebration of music, memory and a decade of shared experience.
“We are celebrating not just a cantor,” Klinger-Wilensky said, “but a leader who has shaped our community in lasting and meaningful ways.”
Leslie Feldman is a freelance writer.