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 [...]
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/
September is in full swing…
In 5786, we rise again, guided by our people’s age-old resilience, ready to restart the annual journey of reflection and return to our best selves, to show up and to repair. Much more than a familiar quote or cliche – Tikkun or Tikkun Olam does not just mean that it’s on us to fix the world – it’s a more complex and nuanced concept that has evolved along with us over millennia, challenging us to course correct with courage and compassion, towards the transformations that will nurture trust and hope, bring peace and justice – for generations.
🔗Register through CALENDAR link in bio🔗
www.labshul.org/calendar
Immerse in meaningful, musical and meditative celebrations that fuse our oldest liturgies with contemporary art, engaging learning programs, and communal conversations.
Monday, September 22, 2025
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Lab/Shul welcomes people of all races, religions, beliefs, gender expressions, sexual orientations, countries of origin, ages, abilities, families, and flavors with open hearts.
#LabShul #av #Elul #PrePent #TishaBAv #TuBAv #HighHolyDays #JewishTime #Ritual #SpiritualPractice #ArtistDriven #QueerJudaism #EverybodyFriendly #GodOptional #GriefAndLove #JewishCommunity #NYCJudaism #september #Labshul #HighHolyDays5786 #ShanaTova #Elul #RoshHashanah #YomKippur #Teshuva #SacredGathering #ArtistDriven #HighHolyDaysofAwe #5786
Welcome to Week 2 of PREPENT 2025/5786! The month of Elul—and our annual journey of daily digital insights leading into the new Jewish year—continues.
@revdrdrock shares his “Tool of Tikkun”—Release to Flow. How can we create space for the pain that binds us in order to release it?
🔗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
🔔 Program Alert: Sit + Sorry -- A Jewish & Zen Buddhist Night of Forgiveness 🔔
Thurs, Sept 11 | 7:30pm ET
NYC + Online
🔗 RSVP via CALENDAR link in bio or visit: www.labshul.org/event/sit-sorry-a-jewish-zen-buddhist-night-of-forgiveness-2025
On the anniversary of 9/11, we dedicate this gathering in memory of all lives lost to religious fanaticism. Inspired by the traditional forgiveness ritual of Selichot, join Lab/Shul’s ritual team and the @newyorkzencenter for an intimate sacred evening of:
✨ Reflection + Meditation
✨ Shared Traditions
✨ Live Music
✨ Spiritual Preparation for the New Year
As we journey together, our sits will include "Me within my small self", "Me with the Whole self" and "Me within the Canopy of Reality".
All are welcome. 🌿
#Labshul #HighHolyDays5786 #ShanaTova #Elul #RoshHashanah #YomKippur #Teshuva #SacredGathering #ArtistDriven #GodOptional #EverybodyFriendly #JewishCommunity #QueerJudaism #SpiritualPractice #RitualAndReflection #ExperimentalJudaism #HighHolyDaysofAwe #5786
Welcome to Day 1 of PREPENT 2025/5786! Today officially marks the New Moon of Elul and the beginning of our annual journey of daily digital insights leading into the new Jewish year.
@amichailaulavie shares his “Tool of Tikkun”—The Art of Mirroring—along with a reflection on how we can incorporate the mirror into our daily practices of renewal and repair.
🔗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
Have you registered for High Holy Days yet? EARLY BIRD PRICING ends tomorrow — Aug 15!
Did you know? Partners get 40% all season long with various benefits throughout the year for our signature programs. SHARE THIS POST with friends and fam that you want to spent the High Holy Days with… See you soon ✨
TIKKUN / תיקון
Return to Repair.
Immerse in meaningful, musical and meditative celebrations that fuse our oldest liturgies with contemporary art, engaging learning programs, and communal conversations.
Monday, September 22, 2025
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Thursday, October 2, 2025
🔗 Link in Bio for Tix & Partnerhood
www.labshul.org/high-holy-days-5786/
www.labshul.org/partnerhood/
#Labshul #HighHolyDays5786 #ShanaTova #Elul #RoshHashanah #YomKippur #Teshuva #SacredGathering #ArtistDriven #GodOptional #EverybodyFriendly #JewishCommunity #QueerJudaism #SpiritualPractice #RitualAndReflection #ExperimentalJudaism #HighHolyDaysofAwe #5786
