Lauren Roth, MSW, LSW is a psychotherapist in private practice in Lakewood, New Jersey, and she lectures extensively across the United States on numerous topics, including: marriage, parenting, healthful eating, and a variety of inspirational and Torah topics. She is also an aerobics, yoga, pilates, ballet, and gymnastics instructor.
Mrs. Roth holds a BA in Molecular Biology from Princeton University, and a Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University. She was the recipient of the Mark Forman Memorial Award for excellence in academics and in clinical work upon her graduation from Rutgers’ School of Social Work. Mrs. Roth has researched molecular biology at Princeton University and at Yale University, and wrote the science segment scripts for Good Morning America as an AAAS Fellow. Mrs. Roth is an alumnus of the Edgar M. Bronfman Youth Fellowships, and was awarded a Kerem Scholarship for Bronfman Alumni, which she used to run a series of Jewish education seminars. Recently, Mrs. Roth was awarded another Bronfman Alumni Projects Grant, which she used to run the Roth Jewish University Student Learning Seminars.
Present Occupations:
· Private practice psychotherapist associated with Rabbi Shimon Russel, MSW, LCSW, BD
· Public Speaker and Educator
· Parenting Workshop Author & Facilitator
· Healthful Eating Seminar Author, Chef, and Presenter
· Support Group Facilitator
· Gymnastics/Pilates/Yoga/Ballet/Aerobics Instructor
· Appointed by Lakewood Township to serve on the Let’s Talk Municipal Committee
Video Produced:
Cooking Healthfully with Lauren Roth: Fun in the Kitchen! For Chai Lifeline. Skaist Productions, 2002.
Articles/Poetry Published:
The “Forever” Smile, Impressions, Volume 1, Issue 8, The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation.
Midwives, Connections, Issue 4, Winter, 2005.
Success!, Connections, Issue 5, Spring, 2005.
The Days of Darkness and Fog, Connections, Issue 6, Summer, 2005.
Momentous, Connections, Issue 7, Fall, 2005.
Beneath the Surface, Connections, Issue 8, Winter, 2006.
An Experience of Ultimate Bondage, Connections, Issue 9, Spring, 2006.
A Load to Carry, Connections, Issue 10, Summer, 2006.
Ongoing Projects:
Author and Facilitator, The Successful Parenting Project. (2001-present). Series of six lectures/discussion groups/support groups for parents who wish to strengthen their parenting skills and enhance their relationships with their children.
Author, Chef, and Presenter, Healthful Eating for Healthy Living Seminar. (2001-present). Educational seminar addressing healthful cooking and healthful eating.
Facilitator, Support Group for Mothers of Highly Allergic Children, Lakewood, NJ. A project of Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim of Lakewood. (2004-present). Monthly support group.
Instructor, Gymnastics, Aerobics, Pilates, Ballet, and Yoga, Lakewood, NJ. Weekly exercise/dance class for children ages 3-14 (2004-present).
Appointed by the Lakewood Township to serve on the Let’s Talk Municipal Committee.
Representatives from the various factions of Lakewood (including Hispanics, African Americans, Orthodox Jews, Seniors, and middle-class Whites) gather to discuss and to resolve conflicts between their communities.
Invited Lectureships:
· Guest Speaker, Shalom Torah Academy, Manalapan, NJ, 12/24/06, “Eating Disorders: How to Stay Emotionally and Physically Healthy.”
· Guest Speaker, Center for Jewish Life and Learning, Yardley, PA, 11/18/06, “Healthful Eating for Healthy Living.”
· Course Instructor, Jackson Community School, Jackson, NJ, 9/19/06, “Understanding the Orthodox Yeshiva Community in Lakewood: What Is It All About?”
· Guest Speaker, Camp Sternberg, 7/7-7/8/06. “Self Esteem,” “Finding Shalom,” and “Molecular Biology and Me.”
· Speaker, Moreshet Aviva, Lakewood, NJ, 6/8/06, “Creating a Better World,” and 7/6/06, “Increasing Shalom in Your Life.”
· Guest Speaker, Shalom Torah Academy, Twin Rivers, NJ, 6/14/06, “Self Esteem for YOU!”
· Speaker, Bikur Cholim of Lakewood Annual Volunteers’ Tea, Lakewood, NJ, 5/24/06, “Attaining True Simchas Hachaim: The Desperately Searching for Lettuce Speech.”
· Guest Speaker, Ilan High School Chesed Program Initiative, Deal, NJ, 3/30/06, “Sunshine in a Dark Life.”
· Guest Speaker, INSPIRE Learning Program, Lakewood, NJ, 1/25/06, “Illuminated: The Inner Workings of the Yetzer Hora.”
· Guest Speaker, Ilan High School, Deal, NJ, 12/26/05, “Self-Esteem.”
· Guest Speaker, Torah Academy of Monmouth County, Parents’ Day, Deal, NJ, 12/20/05, “Maximizing Your Child’s Potential.”
· Guest Speaker, Manchester Hadassah Chapter, Manchester, NJ, 11/21/05, “Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden: What Really Happened, and What Does It Mean for Us?”
· Keynote Speaker, B’nos Yaakov of Lakewood, Mothers’ Melave Malka, Lakewood, NJ, 11/19/05, “The Live Long, Stay Healthy Diet: And How to Get Your Husbands and Children to Follow It, Too!”
· Speaker/Facilitator, School for Children with Hidden Intelligence (SCHI), Lakewood, NJ, 5/05-6/05, The Successful Parenting Workshop
· Speaker, Yidei Chesed Camp Mommy for mothers of special needs children, Long Branch, NJ, 5/16/05, “Special Souls, Special Needs.”
· Speaker, Torah Academy Girls’ High School of Philadelphia, Annual Shabbaton, Woodbourne, NY, 5/15/05, “Molecular Biology and Me,” and “Self-Esteem.”
· Speaker, Darchei Noam Training Program, Lakewood, NJ, 4/20/05, “Teaching Feminists About the Role of Women in Orthodox Judaism.”
· Speaker/Facilitator, Shalom Torah Academy of Twin Rivers, Twin Rivers, NJ, 1/05-5/05, The Successful Parenting Workshop.
· Speaker, Bais Kaila High School Annual Melava Malka, Lakewood, NJ, 1/8/05, “Giving our Children a Better World.”
· Guest Speaker, Tashbar of Lakewood Mothers’ Melave Malka, Lakewood, NJ 1/18/05, “Parenting at Our Peak Potential.”
· Guest Speaker, Aim Habonim Annual Volunteers’ Tea, Lakewood, NJ, 12/26/04, “The Unbelievable Benefits of Chesed.”
· Guest Speaker, Beth Solomon Kollel and Ben Salem Community Kollel, Philadelphia, PA, 12/22/04, “Teaching Feminists About the Role of Women in Orthodox Judaism.”
· Speaker/Facilitator, Lakewood Courtyard Assisted LivingResidence, Lakewood, NJ, 12/21/04, “Finding Joy in Your Life,” 3/17/05, “Stress Management.”
· Guest Speaker, Shalom Torah Academy of Twin Rivers Annual Chanukah Party, Twin Rivers, NJ, 12/14/04, “(Almost) Stressless Parenting.”
· Guest Speaker, Bruria High School Annual Lakewood Shabbaton, Lakewood, NJ, 12/3/04, “The Dangers of Conformity vs. The Thrill of the Maverick Chesed-Machine.”
· Guest Lecturer, Rutgers University School of Social Work, Direct Practice I Course, New Brunswick, NJ, 11/10/04, “The Successful Parenting Project: Its Implementation in the Force Field Analysis Framework.”
· Guest Lecturer, Maimonides Scholars Program at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 11/2/04, 11/9/04, 2/8/05, 2/15/05, 11/29/0, 4/4/06 “The Role of Women in Torah Judaism.”
· Panelist, Maalot Seminary, New York, Shabbaton, Lakewood, NJ, 11/5/04, “Wife, Mother, Jewess, Woman—How Can We Handle it All?”
· Guest Speaker, Manchester Hadassah Chapter, Manchester, NJ, 9/20/04, “Women in Judaism—Second Class Citizens, or Saviors?”
· Speaker, Staff Orientation In-Service, SCHI (School for Children With Hidden Intelligence), Lakewood, NJ, 8/30/04, “Taking Care of the Caretaker.”
· Speaker, Staff Orientation In-Service, Shalom Torah Academy of Twin Rivers, Twin Rivers, NJ, 9/1/04, “Strategies for Making Great Students and Great Classrooms.”
· Speaker, Beth Medrash Gevoha, Yarchei Kallah for Women, Lakewood, NJ, 8/17/04, “Stress Management.”
· Guest Lecturer, Young Israel of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 8/14/04, “Accessing the Divine Within.”
· Speaker/Facilitator, Sisters’ Melava Malka, One Day At a Time, Lakewood, NJ, 2/28/04, “My Lessons from My Sister, Your Lessons from Your Sibs.”
· Guest Speaker, One Day At a Time Annual Melava Malka, Lakewood, NJ, 1/24/04, “Lessons from My Sister.” Support group for parents of special needs children.
· Guest Lecturer, Congregation Bnai Torah Agudas Yisroel of Passaic Park, Passaic, NJ, 1/13/04, “Accessing the Divine Within.”
· Keynote Speaker, Women’s Learning Symposium, Cincinnati Community Kollel, Cincinnati, OH, 11/23/03, “Towards a Meaningful Life: Accessing the Divine Within,” “Our Role as Women, Self-Esteem, and Finding Joy in Our Lives,” and “Relating to Your Adolescent.”
· Guest Speaker, Philadelphia Community Kollel Women’s Tea, Bala Cynwyd, PA, 10/1/03, “In the Garden of the King; Connecting to Gd.”
· Lecturer, Bikur Cholim of Lakewood Annual Nutrition Seminar, Lakewood, NJ, 7/21/03, “How to Eat Healthfully, and How to Get Your Husband and Kids to Do It, Too!”
· Lecturer, The Jewish Women’s Symposium, Bensalem, PA, 6/8/03, “Healthful Eating for Healthy Living.”
· Guest Lecturer, Torah Academy of Philadelphia High School for Girls Shabbaton, Woodbourne, NY, 5/16/03, “Self-Esteem: How to Get It!,” and “The Role of Women in Torah Judaism: Second-Class Citizens?”
· Guest Lecturer, Project Gesher, Deal, NJ, 5/17/03, “!!!Stress Management!!!”
· Lecturer, Shalom Family Shabbaton, Congregation Toras Emes and Shalom Torah Academy, East Windsor, NJ, 3/29/03, “Marriage: Communication and Intimacy,” for women, and “Self-Esteem, Modesty, and Negia: Respect Yourself!” for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls.
· Guest Lecturer, The Bucks County Center for Jewish Life and Learning, Women’s Division, Yardley, PA, 3/4/03, “Our Efforts vs. G-d’s Hand.”
· Guest Lecturer, Bnos Yaakov School, Grades 1-8, Lakewood, NJ, 1/18/03, “Eating Healthfully is Great for You, and You Can Do It!”
· Lecturer, Minyan Shelanu First Annual Shabbaton, Somerset, NJ, 1/29/03, “Marriage: Communication and Intimacy,” “Being the Best Parent You Can Be.”
· Lecturer, Women’s Institute of Torah, Annual Women’s Learning Day, Baltimore, MD, 12/25/02, “Activating Bitachon, Layer by Layer.”
· Guest Lecturer, N’shei Agudas Yisroel Women’s Tea, Philadelphia, PA, 12/22/02, “Aishes Chayil: Instructions for Our Souls.”
· Lecturer, Monmouth Torah Links, Monmouth, NJ, 11/20/02, “When Children Tease Your Child: What Can You Do?”
· Lecturer, Project Gesher, Conference for the Jewish Woman, Teen Track, East Windsor, NJ, 11/17/02, “Self-Esteem: How to Get It!”
· Guest Lecturer, Congregation Bnai Torah Agudas Yisroel of Passaic Park, Passaic, NJ, 10/20/02, “Fate? Destiny? Do Our Choices Make a Difference?”
· Lecturer, Bais Medrash Gevoha Yarchei Kallah, Lakewood, NJ, 8/14/02, “Healthful Eating for Healthy Living.”
· Guest Lecturer, Mother-Daughter Learn-In, Bruria High School, Elizabeth, NJ, 5/10/02, “Bitachon vs. Hishtadlus.”
· Lecturer, The Katz JCC Cultural and Judaic Department, Cherry Hill, NJ, 3/2002, “The Marriage Workshop.”
· Lecturer, L’Ayla Seminar for Women, Baltimore, MD, 2/2/02-2/5/02.
· Scholar in Residence, Bensalem Community Outreach Center and Kollel, Bensalem, PA, 1/17/02-1/19/02, and 1/10/03-1/11/03.
· Guest Lecturer, Bruria High School, Elizabeth, NJ, 2001-2002, “The Complexity of Our World on the Molecular Level,” “Evolution versus Genesis?” “Share the Good,” and many other lectures.
· Guest Lecturer, Shalom Torah Academy, East Windsor, NJ, 2/23/2002, “Think It’s No Big Deal to Breathe? Think Again!”
· Lecturer, Edgar M. Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel Alumni Learning Day, New York, NY, 12/4/01, “A Light Unto The Nations: Jews’ Relationship with the Gentile World, From the Traditional Sources.”
· Panelist, Edgar M. Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel Alumni Learning Day, New York, NY, 12/4/01, “The Torah View on Intermarriage.”
· Panelist, B’nai Brith Youth Organization, Dallas, TX, 11/24/01, “What Does Orthodox Judaism Say About….”
Lecture Series/Long-Term Teaching:
Delivered lecture series, “Topics in Torah,” for women. Lakewood, NJ. (2001- 2003). Weekly advanced-level parsha class.
Founder and facilitator, Support Group for “Minyan Shelanu Wives.”
Lakewood, NJ. (2004-2005). Bi-weekly support group for women who are more
Centrist Orthodox than Yeshivish and live in Lakewood.
Delivered interactive lecture series, “Advanced, Skill-Based Explorations of the Parsha,” for Princeton University students. Weekly class, Princeton University, Center for Jewish Life, 2001-2002 academic year.
Delivered interactive lecture series, “Advanced, Skill-Based Explorations of the Parsha,” for Rutgers University students. Weekly class, Rutgers University, Hillel House, 2001-2002 academic year.
Director and teacher, Educational Seminars for Thinking College Students. Awarded an Alumni Projects grant from the Edgar M. Bronfman Youth Fellowship Program for Torah educational seminars for Princeton University and Rutgers University Jewish students, 2001-2002 academic year, 2002-2003 academic year.
Torah Institute (“Moodus”). Moodus, CT. (2001, 2002). Teacher for the women’s session. The Torah Institute introduces non-observant men and women to the world of Torah Judaism through intensive, 12-day Torah-study seminars.
Co-facilitator, Parenting Workshop. Cleveland Heights, OH. (2000). Bi-monthly lectures/discussion groups aimed at helping mothers strengthen their parenting skills and enhance their relationships with their children.
Delivered lecture series, “Topics in Torah,” for women. Cleveland Heights, OH. (1998-2001). Weekly advanced-level parsha class.
Delivered lecture series, “Topics in Torah,” for women. University Heights, OH. (1999-2001). Weekly advanced-level parsha class.
Delivered lecture series, “Principles of Torah,” for women. University Heights, OH. (1998-2000). Weekly intermediate-level parsha class, using primary sources and covering basic tenets of Judaism.
Delivered lecture series, “Judaism 101,” for Aish Hatorah. Cleveland, OH. (1999). Series of six lectures intended to introduce non-observant women to the exciting world of Torah scholarship.
Delivered lecture series, “The Torah and Our Lives,” for the Beachwood Kollel. University Heights, OH. (1999-2000). Bi-monthly continuing Jewish education class for women interested in maintaining their advanced Torah learning skills.
Delivered lecture series, “Parsha Insights,” for the Torah Metzion Kollel, University Heights, OH. (1999-2000). Monthly advanced-level parsha class for women.
Mosdos Bais Yaakov of Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, OH. (1999-2000). Taught 11th and 12th grade girls “Family Living; Torah and Psychology.”
Secular Work Experience:
ABC Television’s "Good Morning America," Science Department, American Association for the Advancement of Science Mass Media Fellow, New York, NY. (Summer,1992) Generated science segment topics, interviewed scientific experts, wrote science segment pre‑scripts, arranged locations and assigned interviewees (scientific experts) for camera crews to shoot for science segments, researched and answered scientific questions posed by viewers. Responsible for handling multiple tasks concomitantly.
Ocean Mental Health Services, Bayville, NJ. (2002-2003). MSW Intern. Individual and couples psychotherapist, with a caseload of 25 clients. Treated clients with many disorders, including addiction, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. Facilitated a psychosocial educational parenting support group for mandated and non-mandated clients.
Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Ocean County, Lakewood, NJ. (2003-2004). MSW Intern. Individual and couples psychotherapist. Treated a wide range of clients, from the elderly to schoolchildren. Facilitated a bereavement group for elderly clients, and acted as community liaison for the Federation and Jewish Family Services.
Connecticut Department of Children and Youth Services (DCYS) Court Monitoring Panel, New Haven, CT. (1993). Monitored DCYS to ensure the implementation of improvements mandated by a court order.
Jewish Family Service, New Haven, CT. (1992, 1993). Public Relations
Coordinator and Campaigns Coordinator. Authored and disseminated all public
relations materials, ran fundraising campaigns, was liaison to board members
regarding internal JFS issues.
Yale University School of Medicine, laboratory of the Chairman of Hematology
Department, Dr. Edward Benz. (Summer, 1991). Researched the molecular causes of thalassemia, using the newest molecular biology laboratory techniques.
Memphis State University, Department of Biology, laboratory of Dr. Harry
Feinstone, M.D., PhD. (1987‑1988). Research assistant. Analyzed pharmacological aspects of gastrointestinal virology.
Southeast Mental Health Center, Community Support Center Division,
Memphis, TN. (1987‑1988). Developed curriculum for and taught a group of
mentally retarded adults, on a volunteer basis.
Honors and Awards:
American Association for the Advancement of Science Mass Media Fellow (grant to intern at ABC Television’s “Good Morning America.”)
Grant Recipient: “The Jewish Continuity Program,” from the Edgar M. Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel Alumni Projects Fund
Grant Recipient: “The Thinking Jewish University Students’ Educational Program,” from the Edgar M. Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel Alumni Projects Fund
The Mark Forman Memorial Award for excellence in academics, clinical work, and promoting positive relationships among fellow MSW students, from Rutgers University School of Social Work
Kerem Fellow of the Edgar M. Bronfman Youth Fellowship
Ahavas Yisroel Award for Jewish Outreach, Bensalem Community Outreach Center
Edgar M. Bronfman Youth Fellow