The Purim story serves as a metaphor for coming out, rising up and living courageously in times of crisis and fear.
The tradition of making noise when Haman’s name is mentioned during the chanting of the Book of Esther is a custom that was developed by our sages over time. The origins of this practice are rooted in the broader Jewish tradition of expressing disdain for Amalek – the ancestor of Haman – and fulfilling the commandment to “blot out the memory of Amalek” (Deuteronomy 25:19).
How do we rise up to “make noise” in this moment against the modern day tyrants that are acute threats to democracy, peace, the climate, and human rights?
Join Lab/Shul for a vibrant array of Purim experiences for all ages, where revelry and radical joy intertwine through SONIC storytelling, interactive art, and immersive ritual celebration.
Click the buttons below or scroll down for all the details on all of our Purim programming.
Now/Next
Dive into the intellectual atmosphere of paradoxes, controversies, and debates at the BESEDA: COJECO Jewish Intellectual Club. With wine and cheese reception. Explore the hidden history and current political purpose of the most misunderstood Jewish holiday with the acclaimed Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie.
Dig into the costume closet for this hamantaschen baking party. Gather for this raucous gathering of costumery, storytelling, and hamantaschen cookie making. FamilyLab's Purim celebration creates lasting memories of a truly inside out, upside down story of integrity, courage, and wild hearted mission to change the world. Stand up and make some noise!
Families in our 2024-2025 "Raising the Bar" cohort join together with Project ORE participants to enjoy a festive meal, share foodie-goodie bags (Mishloach manot) and give/receive necessary items to help folks in need.
How Do We Deal with Our Collective Shadows and Lift Up Our Light? Pull up a chair and Join Rabbi Amichai online to explore the political, historical, spiritual and practical dimensions of Purim - the most misunderstood Jewish holiday - at this critical time. This is an open study session + conversation to make sense of Purim in 2025, activating this holiday of upside-down as a powerful portal for cultivation of courage and compassion, resilience and resistance, humor and joy, with our eye on justice and hope - for all.
Join Lab/Shul and Flaminggg to immerse in a Purim Eve experience, where Sonic revelry and performance art collide to transform sacred Noise into a powerful force for this moment.
News
This Purim’s Purpose? // Expand Empathy + Cultivate Courage
Purim's back! Once again, we flip life upside down to celebrate Jewish resilience and release some steam. And wow—do we need it. But in a time when reality already feels upside down—with continued conflicts, [...]
PURIM 5785: The Art of Sonic Resistance
Where else would you want to be this Purim in a year when our world is turning upside down? Join Lab/Shul & Flaminggg NEXT THURSDAY (3/13) for SONIC - a Purim Eve ritual performance [...]
Lab/Shul Highlights JTA’s Mar 4, 2025 Article by R. Amichai Lau-Lavie & Julie Dorf
Christian conservatives have appropriated Queen Esther as a symbol. Let’s take her back. Written By Amichai Lau-Lavie & Julie Dorf March 4, 2025 Queen Esther is back in the news — and it’s not [...]
🔔PROGRAM ALERT 🔔
Unscrolled: We Begin Again
A Simchat Torah Gathering
Sunday, October 12th, 2025
1:45 – 4:30 pm
Brooklyn*
Join the @labshul and @kane_street communities, all ages, to wrap up the High Holy Days with sacred gathering that weaves Sukkot and Simchat Torah with a circle ritual of healing, hope and peace.
The festive holiday of Simchat Torah is now forever marked with the tragedy of October 7th and the unimaginable death and destruction of these past years. On this day we’ll gather to gain strength from our ancestral wisdom and from each other as we unscroll the Torah to begin our sacred story again, with new intentions, celebrating life, choosing peace for all.
This ancient-renewed ritual will be led by Rabbi @amichailaulavie, @naomiless1, Rabbi Beni Summers and additional guest ritualists and musicians.
Special activities for Children’s Program led by educator @kladysteve.
All ages, all faiths. Open, free and accessible to all.
Registration required.
*Address given upon registration.
📲 Register through the CALENDAR link in our bio or visit: www.labshul.org/event/unscrolled-we-begin-again-a-simchat-torah-gathering2025/
#Labshul #HighHolyDays5786 #ShanaTova #Elul #RoshHashanah #YomKippur #Teshuva #SacredGathering #ArtistDriven #GodOptional #EverybodyFriendly #JewishCommunity #QueerJudaism #SpiritualPractice #RitualAndReflection #ExperimentalJudaism #HighHolyDaysofAwe #5786 #simchattorah #torah #shminiatzeret
Welcome to Week 5 of PREPENT 2025/5786! The month of Elul—and our annual journey of daily digital insights leading into the new Jewish year—continues.
Rabbi David L. Kline, who helped us sound the Shofar this Rosh Hashanah, shares his “Tool of Tikkun”—Training.
🔗SUBSCRIBE LINK IN BIO or VISIT to get daily reflections from the Lab/Shul team, friends, and partners directly to your inbox: prepent.substack.com/about
#Labshul #HighHolyDays5786 #ShanaTova #Elul #RoshHashanah #YomKippur #Teshuva #SacredGathering #ArtistDriven #GodOptional #EverybodyFriendly #JewishCommunity #QueerJudaism #SpiritualPractice #RitualAndReflection #ExperimentalJudaism #HighHolyDaysofAwe #5786
🔔 NEW YOM KIPPUR PROGRAM ALERT 🔔
“Four Questions & Courageous Conversation for this New Jewish Year:
What Does it Feel Like to be Jewish Today?”
YOM KIPPUR EVE
Wed Oct 1st
9:15-10:30pm ET
IN PERSON + ONLINE
On Kol Nidrei night, @labshul invites you into a bold and tender exploration of Jewish identity in 2025.
Inspired by the Four Children of the Passover Haggadah—each representing a distinct archetype and response to life, and by the four questions of the Seder—we will gather as a community on this sacred night of atonement on which we don’t eat but do get to ask big questions about liberation and identity:
❓What does it mean to be Jewish today?
❓Where do our loyalties lie?
❓How do we hold both hurt and hope, shame and pride?
Through an INTERACTIVE PANEL with Lab/Shul’s ritual team and special guests, combined with opportunities for personal reflection and shared response, we’ll confront the hardest questions of belonging and belief in this moment, and open our hearts to the responsible possibilities of renewal and repair.
*This program will be held following the Kol Nidrei ritual and is open to all who are joining us on this night, in person or online.
Registration is included with High Holy Days Registration 🔗 link in bio or visit
https://labshul.shulcloud.com/form/high-holy-days-5786.html
#Labshul #HighHolyDays5786 #ShanaTova #Elul #RoshHashanah #YomKippur #Teshuva #SacredGathering #ArtistDriven #GodOptional #EverybodyFriendly #JewishCommunity #QueerJudaism #SpiritualPractice #RitualAndReflection #ExperimentalJudaism #HighHolyDaysofAwe #5786
Welcome to Week 4 of PREPENT 2025/5786! The month of Elul—and our annual journey of daily digital insights leading into the new Jewish year—continues.
@meghan_autumn9 shares their “Tool of Tikkun”—Emerging.
🔗SUBSCRIBE LINK IN BIO or VISIT to get daily reflections from the Lab/Shul team, friends, and partners directly to your inbox: prepent.substack.com/about
#Labshul #HighHolyDays5786 #ShanaTova #Elul #RoshHashanah #YomKippur #Teshuva #SacredGathering #ArtistDriven #GodOptional #EverybodyFriendly #JewishCommunity #QueerJudaism #SpiritualPractice #RitualAndReflection #ExperimentalJudaism #HighHolyDaysofAwe #5786
As we prepare to welcome you to 5786 on Rosh Hashanah next week, we want to make sure you are prepped and ready to Break Fast with us on Yom Kippur. Please visit our High Holy Days of Awe portal to register for our COMMUNITY BREAK FAST.
Register through the High Holy Days LINK in our bio or visit: https://www.labshul.org/event/community-break-fast-elevate-your-spirit-feast-on-joy-2025/
Thursday, October 2nd | Yom Kippur
(Directly following Ne’ila Ritual)
7:30pm EST
In person only
#Labshul #HighHolyDays5786 #ShanaTova #Elul #RoshHashanah #YomKippur #Teshuva #SacredGathering #ArtistDriven #GodOptional #EverybodyFriendly #JewishCommunity #QueerJudaism #SpiritualPractice #RitualAndReflection #ExperimentalJudaism #HighHolyDaysofAwe #5786
Welcome to Week 3 of PREPENT 2025/5786! The month of Elul—and our annual journey of daily digital insights leading into the new Jewish year—continues.
@reclaiming.life.nvc shares her “Tool of Tikkun”—Satyagraha: the Courage to Speak Truth with Love. Swipe to read a portion of her writing.
🔗SUBSCRIBE LINK IN BIO or VISIT to get daily reflections from the Lab/Shul team, friends, and partners directly to your inbox: prepent.substack.com/about
#Labshul #HighHolyDays5786 #ShanaTova #Elul #RoshHashanah #YomKippur #Teshuva #SacredGathering #ArtistDriven #GodOptional #EverybodyFriendly #JewishCommunity #QueerJudaism #SpiritualPractice #RitualAndReflection #ExperimentalJudaism #HighHolyDaysofAwe #5786
A time to dance, a time to Mourn...
In collective mourning, Lab/Shul is here to hold you.
Join us through the CALENDAR link in our bio OR visit: https://www.labshul.org/event/recollect-yizkor-yom-kippur-2025/
🔔PROGRAM ALERT 🔔
Holy Complexity: What Trans Experience Reveals About the Divine
Sunday, Sept 14th 2025
1pm – 5:30pm EST
BROOKLYN
An afternoon of learning, listening, and reflection through the lens of Jewish text and lived experiences of trans people.
What can trans lives teach us about God, Torah, and the sacred journey of becoming?
Join @labshul @pardesinstitute and @cbebk for a free Yom Iyun that brings together some of today’s most compelling Jewish thinkers and educators to explore theological insights grounded in trans experience. This day of learning is not about debate or identity politics—it’s about listening with intention, engaging Torah with open hearts, and recognizing the holiness in every person’s story.
Our own @naomiless1 will be singing material from the Songs of Toratah Album in partnership with @yaelkanarek, founder of @beittoratah.
Together, we’ll explore courage, authenticity, and transformation through text study, hevruta, and personal reflection—guided by the spirit of Brit Lashon Hatov, a covenant for sacred speech and meaningful disagreement.
📲 REGISTER through 🔗 CALENDAR link in bio or visit https://www.labshul.org/event/holy-complexity-what-trans-experience-reveals-about-the-divine/
