PaRDeS
Four entered the Orchard (PaRDeS): Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Akher and Rabbi Aqiva. One peeked and died; one peeked and was smitten; one peeked and cut down the shoots; one ascended safely and descended safely. Read on
PaRDeS is a new project bringing together visual artists, musicians, actors, dancers and writers to explore the themes of paradise in Jewish texts and thought. Brought together by the 2009-2010 LABA fellows program at the 14th Street Y of the Educational Alliance, these artists are studying classical Jewish texts and will respond to this content through creation of new work. This website chronicles this exploration. It will serve as the permanent home of LABAlights, a monthly publication with writings, music, and art tied to the PaRDeS, as well as a communal blog and anonymous Twitter account where we will reflect on themes of paradise, creativity, Jewish text, and mysticism as artists in New York City.
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LABA: The National Laboratory for New Jewish Culture is a year long fellowship program at the 14th Street Y of the Educational Alliance in New York City that seeks to transform the Jewish cultural landscape by placing artists at the center of communal institutions as leaders, innovators, role models, and sources of inspiration.
Our community thanks UJA-Federation New York, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York, and individual donors for their support of the work of LABA. To make a contribution LABA, click here.
