PaRDeS
ABOUT LABAlights
Lately there has been a lot of focus on how Jews are holding onto their identity -- outside of the religion. This "cool Jew" movement, with its ironic t-shirts, clever publications and Jewish-themed dance parties, has done a lot to make being Jewish feel hip and relevant. But it has its limits.
This project hopes to go against that current, and take a look at some of the substance inside of Judaism in an equally contemporary context. Through the course of the year we are going to use our experiences as artists and culture makers as we embark on a communal exegesis of the Talmudic tale of the PaRDeS, along with other ancient and contemporary readings from the Torah and elsewhere.
We hope that this website will be an intriguing and accessible portal into these texts, and give the reader some entry into our process as the LABA fellows chip away at the writings' age-old wisdom and modern relevance.
Here you can find original essays, commentary, art, and music, all linked to ideas about paradise. We will also be maintaining a blog and an anonymous Twitter account where we will reflect on these themes.
Elissa Strauss
Editor
This project hopes to go against that current, and take a look at some of the substance inside of Judaism in an equally contemporary context. Through the course of the year we are going to use our experiences as artists and culture makers as we embark on a communal exegesis of the Talmudic tale of the PaRDeS, along with other ancient and contemporary readings from the Torah and elsewhere.
We hope that this website will be an intriguing and accessible portal into these texts, and give the reader some entry into our process as the LABA fellows chip away at the writings' age-old wisdom and modern relevance.
Here you can find original essays, commentary, art, and music, all linked to ideas about paradise. We will also be maintaining a blog and an anonymous Twitter account where we will reflect on these themes.
Elissa Strauss
Editor
LABA - 14th STREET Y
LABA 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. Artists and culture makers of the lab serve as exemplars of grappling honestly and creatively with tradition and identity – strong voices that challenge conventional assumptions and advance new paradigms for Jewish life and contemporary culture, offering invaluable sources of artistic impact at the heart of Jewish infrastructure.
The name LABA defines this model as a dynamic, innovative, and experimental cultural LABoratory: The Hebrew meaning of the program name “LABA” is "lava,” reflecting the aspiration of the program to become a unique catalyst moving from the center outwards in a rippling affect, transforming lives of artists and communities on a local and national scale, and creating a new cultural typography.
The 14th Street Y, a Jewish Community Center in the East Village, is a vital neighborhood resource that welcomes people of all backgrounds. We provide a variety of programs with a distinctive downtown point of view, emphasizing excellence, innovation, creativity, and a questioning spirit. We are inspired by Tikkun Olam, or repair of the world, in all that we do: a value that represents and renews the vitality of our Jewish heritage and its place in our diverse and vibrant community. The 14th Street Y is part of a network of 80 programs at 32 sites provided by The Educational Alliance for all residents of Downtown Manhattan.
The name LABA defines this model as a dynamic, innovative, and experimental cultural LABoratory: The Hebrew meaning of the program name “LABA” is "lava,” reflecting the aspiration of the program to become a unique catalyst moving from the center outwards in a rippling affect, transforming lives of artists and communities on a local and national scale, and creating a new cultural typography.
The 14th Street Y, a Jewish Community Center in the East Village, is a vital neighborhood resource that welcomes people of all backgrounds. We provide a variety of programs with a distinctive downtown point of view, emphasizing excellence, innovation, creativity, and a questioning spirit. We are inspired by Tikkun Olam, or repair of the world, in all that we do: a value that represents and renews the vitality of our Jewish heritage and its place in our diverse and vibrant community. The 14th Street Y is part of a network of 80 programs at 32 sites provided by The Educational Alliance for all residents of Downtown Manhattan.
Contact
For more information about LABA, please contact LABA Manager Becky Skoff: Becky_Skoff@14streety.org
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.
