Podcasts about lab shul

Lucas Anders interviews Sandi Dubowski (director/producer) about eh documentary SABBATH QUEEN. See it as part of Rainbow Visions Film Festival Sunday May 18th at 3:00pm at the Metro CInema. Filmed over 21 years, SABBATH QUEEN follows Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie's epic journey as the dynastic heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis, including the Chief Rabbis of Israel. Torn between rejecting and embracing his destiny, he becomes a drag-queen rebel, a queer bio-dad, and the founder of Lab/Shul—an everybody-friendly, God-optional, artist-driven, pop-up experimental congregation. SABBATH QUEEN joins Amichai on a lifelong quest to creatively and radically reinvent religion and ritual, challenge patriarchy and supremacy, champion interfaith love, and stand up for peace. This invigorating powerhouse of a film interrogates what Jewish survival means in a difficult, rapidly changing 21st century.https://www.sabbathqueen.com/INSTAGRAM: @sabbathqueendocumentary

Named "one of the most interesting thinkers in the Jewish world" by The Jewish Week and one of America's Top 50 Rabbis by The Forward, Amichai Lau Lavie joins People Jew Wanna Know podcast to share his story. Rabbi Amichai comes from 38 consecutive generations of Rabbis and is known for his progressive, "God-optional" congregation Lab/Shul in NYC and a documentary film about his life - Sabbath Queen. In this conversation, Margarita and Amichai discuss Sabbath Queen, the importance of embracing "the messy middle," and the current political landscape in Israel. Follow Amichai on Instagram @amichailaulavie and check out his film, Sabbath Queen, at www.sabbathqueen.com What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro & Episode Agenda 07:18 Who is the Sabbath Queen? Meeting in the messy middle 13:11 At what point is changing tradition changing Judaism altogether? 16:40 Death of the conservative Jewish movement in NYC 20:03 How do we build bridges with Anti-Zionist Jews? Learnings from Amichai's Lab/Shul congregation 31:15 Amichai's take on Israeli politics today - end the occupation, immediate ceasefire 39:21 "We are dreaming a nightmare, and we have to wake up." 42:30 Is the Moshiach coming? 43:21 What is Amichai optimistic about? 45:04 What would Hadassah say? 46:02 Closing Remarks & Guest Nomination

Amichai Lau-Lavie, co-founder and spiritual leader of Lab/Shul, is a leading voice calling for compassion toward all Palestinians and all Israelis. He joins Dan and Lex for a conversation exploring how the notion of V'ahavta (and you will love) could be channeled more thoroughly in the world -- toward peace and justice for all people. They consider connections between contemporary work for liberation, and the holiday of Passover as well. This conversation is the 9th episode in an ongoing mini-series, exploring American-Jewish discourse about Israel-Palestine.New UnYeshiva mini-courses, beginning just after Passover, are now open for registration! Learn more about Jewish Theology Unbound, Untangling Tselem Elohim, and Moses, Tzipporah and Us (Powerful Interfaith Families, Past and Present) by heading to JudaismUnbound.com/classes.Access full shownotes for this episode via this link. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation -- support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!

When Amichai Lau-Lavie realized he was gay, he knew he had to make a choice: hide his identity to abide by his Orthodox upbringing, or be true to himself. It wasn't an easy call for a man whose ancestors had been rabbis for generations—including his uncle and cousin, who both served as the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. Ultimately, Lau-Lavie decided to split the difference. As an out gay man, he became an Jewish leader, drag performer and rabbi, founding Lab/Shul—a "God-optional" experimental community for Jewish gathering—in New York City. Now, he's also the star of a documentary about his controversial career, Sabbath Queen, which is currently touring the American film festival circuit. If anyone is "not that kind of rabbi," it's Amichai Lau-Lavie—and he joins Ralph Benmergui this week on Not That Kind of Rabbi, a show about spirituality and personal journeys. Credits Host: Ralph Benmergui Producer: Michael Fraiman Music: Yevhen Onoychenko Support The CJN Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to Not That Kind of Rabbi (Not sure how? Click here)

“I am running away to join the circus.” It was 2004, and my synagogue in Atlanta had welcomed Amichai Lau-Lavie as a guest speaker. Amichai had been the founder of Storahtellers, a ritual theater company, which was an innovative approach to presenting Torah in synagogue. He had come to our congregation along with what could only be described as a madcap ensemble of actors, singers and theater professionals – who also knew Torah.  They dramatized the Torah portion. And, much more. The congregation was mesmerized. The next day, we had breakfast. This is what I said to him: “You are the circus, and I am running away to join you.”  Those are the kind of feelings that Amichai Lau Lavie evokes. For decades, he has been one of American Judaism's most creative, most courageous, and most outrageous, spiritual leaders. Listen to the podcast interview with him. This is his resume. Time Out called him “an iconoclastic mystic." NPR called him “a calm voice for peace." According to the New York Times, he is a “rock star.” The Jewish Week called him “one of the most interesting thinkers in the Jewish world.” Rabbi Lau-Lavie is the Co-Founding Spiritual Leader of the Lab/Shul community in NYC, where he has been living since 1998. Just recently, his colleague at Lab/Shul, Shira Kline, received a coveted Covenant Award for her contributions to Jewish education. He was ordained as a Conservative rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 2016 – which is the only thing conservative about him. Being a rabbi is not a career for Amichai; neither is it a calling. It is a genetic predisposition. His cousin is Rabbi David Lau, the current Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Israel. His uncle is Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, the former Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi, and survived the Holocaust as a child. His brother is Rabbi Benny Lau, one of Israel's most prominent Orthodox rabbis. If Amichai did 23 and Me, the results would scream: "rabbi!" Amichai is the 39th generation of rabbis in his family. Except, he is the first one to be openly queer. Did I mention that he used to be a drag queen? His drag persona was Rebbitzen Hadassah Gross, a Holocaust survivor from Hungary, who was the widow of several rabbis. Amichai Lau-Lavie is the subject of a new movie -- Sabbath Queen, directed by Sandi DuBowski, who previously directed "Trembling Before G-d," which was the first film to shine a light on the plight of Orthodox LGBTQ persons. "Sabbath Queen" had been entered in several festivals, but had been cancelled because, well, you know. It is making its premier at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it is the only Israeli-ish film in the festival. Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie has many gifts. Chief among them is his ability to transform our views of Judaism, in which he takes us from the either/or to the both/and. He strives to be radically inclusive, even if it means dipping his toe into waters that some might find heretical. My favorite quote of his: “The Bible is the PDF, and we are working on the google doc.” As in: The biblical text might be a set text (as some might say: set in stone). But, a google doc is the result of many minds, souls, and hands writing and re-writing it -- as a communal effort. We are all working on that doc.  

142. ​​This week I'm happy to have my friend, Naomi Less, musician, ritual leader, song writer and educator back on the podcast to discuss themes of reflection, repentance, community, renewal, and forgiveness – through the lens of the Jewish high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Our conversation, and the themes and ideas we discuss, are applicable to anyone curious about holistic health and wellbeing. Listen in as Naomi shares about her fertility challenges and how she related to her body during the difficult process. Naomi and I also discuss the significance of forgiveness in our own healing journeys. It's an enlightening and deep conversation you'll want to hear.Naomi Less is a Brooklyn-based, internationally celebrated singer/songwriter, ritualist and educator. Naomi serves as Co-Founder, Ritual Leader and Associate Director of Lab/Shul and Core Educator at Songleader Boot Camp. She is an alum of the  Rising Song Institute Fellowship, host of the show "Jewish Women Rock" on Jewish Rock Radio (amplifying the voices of women and non-binary folks) and performance artist and speaker for Uprooted: A Jewish Response to Fertility Challenges, providing healing for people struggling with fertility journeys. Connect with Naomi on Instagram. >>> Want to improve and heal your relationship with food, your body, and yourself? Ready to receive personalized support on your healing journey? I can help you.Set up your FREE consult call with me. Visit, www.thewellnessheadquarters.com or email me directly at info@thewellnessheadquarters.com.

TODAY'S GUEST Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie is an Israeli-born, Jewish educator, writer, and performance artist. He's the creator of Storahtelling, Inc. and the founding spiritual leader of Lab/Shul in NYC, an artist-driven, everybody friendly, God-optional, pop-up experimental community for sacred Jewish gatherings. Amichai is a member of the Global Justice Fellowship of the American Jewish World Service, a founding member of the Jewish Emergent Network, serves on the Leadership Council of the New York Jewish Agenda, the Advisory Council of the International School for Peace - a Refugee Support Project in Greece, a member of the Advisory Council for the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, and is a faculty member of the Reboot Network. Through all his endeavors, he brings a creative, inclusive, and vital energy to Jewish practice and Jewish life.     EPISODE SUMMARY In this conversation we talk about: How the Jewish concept of the set table served both as a happy early memory, and as an organizing principle for his later work. How Covid 19 made rituals and online communities more important than ever. His orthodox roots as the scion of an ancient and respected rabbinical dynasty, and his journey of self discovery through theater, drag, and art. His creation of storytelling, a way to bring to life the ancient ritual of the reading of the Torah, and the Maven Method he developed to spread the practice further. The emergence of Lab/Shul and the community around it. The power of spiritual design and a well-designed practice in transforming our lives and our communities for the better. We also discuss: How is religion used as a tool in the service of humanity? What happens if you bring scripture to the 21st century as a performance? Why is the tribal wisdom of small circles within a bigger circle so important? I've long believed that one of the most promising avenues to apply design skills and creativity to is in designing communities, social rituals, and spiritual practice that suits the modern world. And, as such, there's no one I can think of that exemplifies this better than Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie. I think this conversation, which is full of wisdom and fun, is a great introduction to exactly the type of spiritual design we need to see more of. So let's jump right in with Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie.   TIMESTAMP CHAPTERS [3:52] Life During Covid [10:17] The Wisdom of the Set Table [22:31] The Birth of Storahtelling [29:55] A Paradigm Shift from Patriarchy [38:25] Rebirth of the Translator [54:34] The Design of Lab/Shul [1:00:19] Design Thinking and Virtual Practice [1:11:54] Individualism vs Collectivism [1:19:36] The Significance of the Tree   EPISODE LINKS Amichai's Links

Amichai Lau-Lavie is the co-founder and spiritual leader of Lab/Shul: an "artist-driven, everybody-friendly, god-optional, pop up, experimental community for sacred Jewish gatherings." He joins Dan and Lex for a conversation about B Mitzvah as a rite of passage -- not only for 12/13-year-olds, but for all ages!This episode is the 6th in an ongoing mini-series of Judaism Unbound episodes, honoring Bat Mitzvah's 100th anniversary, and exploring the present and future of B Mitzvah ("B Mitzvah" is a term for Jewish coming-of-age ceremonies, across the gender spectrum). Access full shownotes for this episode via this link.Learn more about Judaism Unbound's UnYeshiva -- a digital center for Jewish learning and unlearing -- by heading to www.judaismunbound.com/unyeshiva. And if you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the life and legacy of rock star Tina Turner.  Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·      Tina Turner, at age 83, died last week. Neil drew on this Guardian article about Turner's genre-crossing body of work and this New Yorker essay, while Natalia referenced this Buzzfeed list that discussed her influence on generations of artists. Neil also recommended the documentary, Tina.     In our regular closing feature, What's Making History: ·      Natalia discussed the experimental Jewish community LAB/SHUL. ·      Neil recommended the Daily podcast episode, “When the Culture Wars Came for NASA.” ·      Niki shared about her most recent column for CNN, “Don't Misread the Failed Effort to Put the Ten Commandments in Every Classroom.”

119. ​​During this week of the Jewish holiday, Passover, I'm delighted to introduce you to Naomi Less, a musician, ritual leader, song writer and educator. Tune in as we explore how the themes of Passover relate to wellness and healing. You'll hear Naomi share her experiences with rosacea (an inflammatory skin condition), perimenopause, and hormone fluctuations. She explains the food choices and dietary changes she made and how they have impacted her life and health. Naomi also gifts us with singing a song of healing. You'll leave this episode feeling love and connection.Naomi Less is a Brooklyn-based, internationally celebrated singer/songwriter, ritualist and educator. Naomi serves as Co-Founder, Ritual Leader and Associate Director of Lab/Shul and Core Educator at Songleader Boot Camp. She is an alum of the  Rising Song Institute Fellowship, host of the show "Jewish Women Rock" on Jewish Rock Radio (amplifying the voices of women and non-binary folks) and performance artist and speaker for Uprooted: A Jewish Response to Fertility Challenges, providing healing for people struggling with fertility journeys.Connect with Naomi on Instagram.>>> Ready to receive support and guidance on your healing journey? Great, let's talk. Set up your FREE exploratory wellness coaching call with me.Visit, www.thewellnessheadquarters.com or email me directly at info@thewellnessheadquarters.com...Find me on Instagram ~ https://www.instagram.com/the.wellnesshq

Quote: “The question that you just have to ask yourself is not…do I need or do I want rituals at my workplace? It's, do I want good effective rituals that work for me and my vision?” Ezra Bookman Exactly what is a ritual, and how do they affect our lives? Some of the most recognizable rituals are marriages, funerals, graduations, coronations and presidential inaugurations, oaths of allegiance, dedication ceremonies, etc. On this episode of Authentic Living with Roxanne, we welcome ritual expert Ezra Bookman to share the benefits of rituals in the workplace and how they can help to improve morale & create a more connected community.  This was such a great interview packed with so much inspirational information that we decided to turn it into a 2-part series. Here's the link to Part 1: https://roxannederhodge.com/rituals-with-ezra-bookman/ Ezra is a nationally recognized experience designer, artist, and facilitator exploring the transformational power of ritual. He is the creator of Ritualist, a creative studio helping leaders cultivate more conscious companies and connected communities; the youngest member on the Board of Directors of The Secret City, an Obie Award-winning arts organization; and the former Artistic Director for Lab/Shul, an experimental, artist-driven, God-optional Jewish community in NYC. Authentic Touch Points: Why leaders need to consider rituals. 2:00 The power of tiny rituals. 6:30 The difference a minute or two can make. 11:00 Intention, attention, and gratitude. 14:00 Advice for new leaders. 16:00 Designing rituals. 20:00 Turning adversity into something beautiful. 25:00 Growth = the need for rituals. 30:00 Ezra has collaborated with organizations like The Joy List, Reimagine Festival, The NYC Mayor's Office, Ephemeral Tattoos, Rally, House of Yes, Reboot, and New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, and has co-produced events featuring visionary thought-leaders and artists alike. His large-scale participatory performance art rituals were presented at Hammerstein Ballroom, Grand Prospect Hall, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, and the New York Academy of Medicine.  As I offer executive coaching, I encourage leaders to reach out for guidance about presenting their authentic selves to develop an improved workplace for everyone with less conflict. I welcome you to book a complimentary discovery call: https://roxannederhodge.com/chat/ and take our online quiz to rate your authenticity as a leader: https://roxannederhodge.com/quiz Stay Authentic, Roxanne Links: Ezra's websites: Ezra Bookman: https://www.ezrabookman.com Ritualist Life: https://www.ritualist.life Ezra's email: ezra@ritualist.life Ezra's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezra-bookman/ Roxanne's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannederhodge/ Roxanne's email: roxanne@roxannederhodge.com

Quote: “Changes happen to us; transitions are the conscious, psychological decisions that we make to come to terms with change. Rituals are ways in which we can embody transitions and bring them out into shared experiences.” Ezra Bookman Exactly what is a ritual, and how do they affect our lives? Some of the most recognizable rituals are marriages, funerals, graduations, coronations and presidential inaugurations, oaths of allegiance, dedication ceremonies, etc. On this episode of Authentic Living with Roxanne, we welcome ritual expert Ezra Bookman to share the benefits of rituals in the workplace and how they can help to improve morale & create a more connected community.   This was such a great interview packed with so much interesting information about workplace conflict that we decided to turn it into a 2-part series. Be sure to tune in again next week for part II. Ezra is a nationally recognized experience designer, artist, and facilitator exploring the transformational power of ritual. He is the creator of Ritualist, a creative studio helping leaders cultivate more conscious companies and connected communities; the youngest member on the Board of Directors of The Secret City, an Obie Award-winning arts organization; and the former Artistic Director for Lab/Shul, an experimental, artist-driven, God-optional Jewish community in NYC. Authentic Touch Points: Ezra's path to rituals. 2:00 What is a ritual? 5:30 The intersection of arts & rituals. 9:00 Why we need rituals. 14:00 Negative vs positive rituals. 18:00 Why companies seek out rituals. 22:00 The benefits of rituals in the workplace. 28:00 Ezra has collaborated with organizations like The Joy List, Reimagine Festival, The NYC Mayor's Office, Ephemeral Tattoos, Rally, House of Yes, Reboot, and New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, and has co-produced events featuring visionary thought-leaders and artists alike. His large-scale participatory performance art rituals were presented at Hammerstein Ballroom, Grand Prospect Hall, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, and the New York Academy of Medicine.  As I offer executive coaching, I encourage leaders to reach out for guidance about presenting their authentic selves to develop an improved workplace for everyone with less conflict. I welcome you to book a complimentary discovery call: https://roxannederhodge.com/chat/ and/or take our online quiz to rate your authenticity as a leader: https://roxannederhodge.com/quiz Stay Authentic, Roxanne Links: Ezra's websites: Ezra Bookman: https://www.ezrabookman.com Ritualist Life: https://www.ritualist.life Ezra's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezra-bookman/ Roxanne's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannederhodge/ Roxanne's email: roxanne@roxannederhodge.com

Join Joyce & Ezra Bookman, ritual designer, artist, and facilitator, for a casual conversation you can walk to. What exactly is a ritual, and how do rituals begin? You'll learn answers to these questions, as well as the three main reasons to practice rituals, the biggest misconceptions, and how you can switch things up around the table this holiday season.About EzraEzra Bookman is a nationally recognized ritual designer, artist, and facilitator exploring the transformational power of ritual. He is the founder of Ritualist, a creative studio helping leaders cultivate more conscious companies and connected communities; the youngest member on the Board of Directors of The Secret City, an Obie Award-winning arts organization; and the former Artistic Director for Lab/Shul, an experimental, artist-driven, God-optional Jewish community in NYC. Connect with EzraWebsite: https://www.ritualist.life/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ritualistconsulting/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritual_ist/Twitter: https://twitter.com/EzraBookman

How are you today? Crappy, but can I tell you that? We face this quandary in every role we play - as guest, as customer, in our professional lives, and in our home ecosystems. Building upon The Work Life episode Authenticity is a Double-Edged Sword, Context guest Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie of Lab/Shul and Hypertext guest conductor John Axelrod help host Leon Wiener Dow explore how to be authentic to ourselves – and to the roles we play. Click here for Leon and Joel's extended study session. Click here to view the source sheet for this episode. Click here to visit the episode page on our website.Click here to learn more about the work of Kolot alumna Esther Sivan.

TODAY'S GUEST Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie is an Israeli-born, Jewish educator, writer, and performance artist. He's the creator of Storahtelling, Inc. and the founding spiritual leader of Lab/Shul in NYC, an artist-driven, everybody friendly, God-optional, pop-up experimental community for sacred Jewish gatherings. Amichai is a member of the Global Justice Fellowship of the American Jewish World Service, a founding member of the Jewish Emergent Network, serves on the Leadership Council of the New York Jewish Agenda, the Advisory Council of the International School for Peace - a Refugee Support Project in Greece, a member of the Advisory Council for the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, and is a faculty member of the Reboot Network. Through all his endeavors, he brings a creative, inclusive, and vital energy to Jewish practice and Jewish life.     EPISODE SUMMARY In this conversation we talk about: How the Jewish concept of the set table served both as a happy early memory, and as an organizing principle for his later work. How Covid 19 made rituals and online communities more important than ever. His orthodox roots as the scion of an ancient and respected rabbinical dynasty, and his journey of self discovery through theater, drag, and art. His creation of storytelling, a way to bring to life the ancient ritual of the reading of the Torah, and the Maven Method he developed to spread the practice further. The emergence of Lab/Shul and the community around it. The power of spiritual design and a well-designed practice in transforming our lives and our communities for the better. We also discuss: How is religion used as a tool in the service of humanity? What happens if you bring scripture to the 21st century as a performance? Why is the tribal wisdom of small circles within a bigger circle so important? I've long believed that one of the most promising avenues to apply design skills and creativity to is in designing communities, social rituals, and spiritual practice that suits the modern world. And, as such, there's no one I can think of that exemplifies this better than Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie. I think this conversation, which is full of wisdom and fun, is a great introduction to exactly the type of spiritual design we need to see more of. So let's jump right in with Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie.   TIMESTAMP CHAPTERS [3:52] Life During Covid [10:17] The Wisdom of the Set Table [22:31] The Birth of Storahtelling [29:55] A Paradigm Shift from Patriarchy [38:25] Rebirth of the Translator [54:34] The Design of Lab/Shul [1:00:19] Design Thinking and Virtual Practice [1:11:54] Individualism vs Collectivism [1:19:36] The Significance of the Tree   EPISODE LINKS Amichai's Links

This week, we're offering a special bonus episode to celebrate having finished the second book of the Hebrew Bible: Exodus. Tune into this slightly longer episode for an even deeper dive into the Torah as Rabbi Deena answers listener questions. You'll hear voices from the community and nuanced reflection from R'Deena. What could be better?Plus, this is a perfect episode to get you into the Passover spirit! Whether you plan to join us for Revelation in the Wilderness, or seders hosted by our Jewish Emergent Network sister congregations (IKAR, Sixth&I, Romemu, Lab/Shul, The Kitchen, The Kavanah Cooperative), this episode will give you plenty to think about! Check out upcoming Shabbat services and programs here.  Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook. And be sure to like and subscribe to our podcast for updates on new episodes!Want more torah? Check out Shabbat Replay on Contact Chai with Rabbi Lizzi.Produced by Mishkan Chicago.  Music composed, produced, and recorded by Kalman Strauss.

Rabbi Amichai Lau Lavie, Founding Spiritual Leader of Lab/Shul in NYC, joins Fannie and Raviv to discuss whether cancel culture appears in the bible, what it means to “mask up” in a non-Covid sense, and our role in reimagining and applying Torah Study as modern-day free-thinking members of society.

Meet Beryl, Luis, and Sian-- 3 Jews who converted to Judaism. In this episode, they share stories of how they found home in Jewish spaces and how their multiple identities intersect as Jews in New York City. This episode is produced in partnership with B’nai Jeshurun and Lab/Shul in NYC

Naomi Less is an internationally renowned singer, composer, musician, educator and a Founding Ritual Leader of the Lab/Shul community. Aside from touring and leading worship for her Lab/Shul community, Naomi has a national presence as a powerful feminist in the Jewish music world - she hosts her show “Jewish Women Rock show” on Jewish Rock Radio and co-created and co-stars in “TRYmester”, a touring musical performance piece about fertility journeys. She serves as Vice President for Uprooted: A Jewish Response to Fertility Journeys. She is beloved by communities where she’s served as an artist-in-residence both for her performance and her creative spiritual leadership and facilitation. If you want to hear Naomi’s original music, check her out on spotify, on LabShul.org or anywhere you hear or watch music. Jill Wolfe and her husband struggled with unexplained infertility for 4.5 years before having their first child, Eliana, via a gestational surrogate. There were many years of sadness, failed IVFs, and finally elation with the joy of finally becoming a parent. A couple years later their daughter Mia was born via their same surrogate. Jill lives in Minneapolis with her husband, two angels and dog Jojo. Jill has a Master’s in Education and was a bilingual Spanish teacher before having children. Since having children, she has been working in medical sales and is currently working in Biotechnology at Shire specializing in rare disease. Listen to Jill and Naomi as they discuss with Ellen and Jenn: • Naomi and her 7-year fertility journey. • Jill and her journey to, and through, surrogacy. • The rocky road of clomid, multiple failed transfers, and learning of other options. • The joys of learning her surrogate was pregnant and the birth of her daughter. • A second journey. • Naomi discovering the reason for her infertility. • The surprising responses she received for sharing her infertility journey. • Creating vows to get through her infertility journey. • Coming to the realization she needed an egg donor. • Coming up with the funds for the egg donation. • The formation of UpRooted! Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903. Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ Learn more about UpRooted: https://weareuprooted.org/

Amichai Lau-Lavie, the founding spiritual leader of Lab/Shul and creator of Storahtelling, joins Dan and Lex to consider what spiritual tools, learned during this COVID-19 pandemic, we can preserve for “the after.”If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!To access shownotes for this episode, click here.

In this episode, we hear from 2 NYC-based Rabbis-- Roly Matalon of B'nai Jeshurun and Amichai Lau-Lavie of Lab/Shul-- along with 2 interfaith couples-- Danielle and Aamir, and Lisa and John-- about the joys, challenges, complexities, and gifts religiously diverse families bring.

On January 5, 2020, Jews and allies from around the NYC area and beyond, gathered to march in response to a significant uptick in antisemitic attacks. Along the way, I became a bit of a field reporter and spoke with a number of folks, asking them to share about why they were present and how their own politics intersect with their Judaism. This episode is produced in partnership with B'nai Jeshurun and Lab/Shul

In this episode, meet Cecily-- a member of BJ who became Jewish shortly before her wedding many years ago-- and Jenny and Lucy-- a mother and daughter who are members of Lab/Shul and part of a multiheritage family. In this episode, we delve into some big questions about secular vs. religious traditions, how to navigate Hanukkah in a society where Christmas is everywhere, and whether or not getting a Christmas tree is indeed a bad idea for Jews.

In this episode, our first in partnership with B'nai Jeshurun, meet Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie of Lab/Shul and Rabbi Shuli Passow of B'nai Jeshurun: two clergy who have experiences of seeking, offering, and enhancing welcome in diverse Jewish spaces. Rabbi Amichai and Rabbi Shuli share their stories of navigating our shifting Jewish world and reconciling their needs and desires with a number of communities. Recorded just before this year's High Holy Days, this episode is full of reflection and intention-setting for the next decade of American Jewish life.

It's a new season at "Jew Too," with opportunity for new collaboration! Curious about the partnership between Lab/Shul and B'nai Jeshurun? In this mini episode, Rabbi Emily Cohen of "Jew Too" and Lab/Shul, and Rabbi Felicia Sol of B'nai Jeshurun, set the tone for the episodes to come by delving into the risks and rewards of this season's holy, challenging conversations

Once upon a time a king fell seriously ill, and nobody could figure out how to cure his ailment. Finally, a healer suggested a remedy: if the king could wear the shirt of a person who was absolutely happy, he would be healed. So, a team set out to find a person who was absolutely happy. Did they succeed? Shira Kline, performance and ritual artist and director of worship at Lab/Shul retells the story.

Forms of religious devotion are shifting — and there’s a new world of creativity toward crafting spiritual life while exploring the depths of tradition. Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie is a fun and forceful embodiment of this evolution. Born into an eminent and ancient rabbinical lineage, as a young adult he moved away from religion towards storytelling, theater, and drag. Today he leads a pop-up synagogue in New York City that takes as its tagline “everybody-friendly, artist-driven, God-optional.” It’s not merely about spiritual community but about recovering the sacred and reinventing the very meaning of “we.” Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie is a rabbi and founding spiritual leader of Lab/Shul in New York City. He’s also the founding director of Storahtelling. This interview originally aired in July 2017. Find the transcript and more at onbeing.org.

Forms of religious devotion are shifting — and there’s a new world of creativity toward crafting spiritual life while exploring the depths of tradition. Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie is a fun and forceful embodiment of this evolution. Born into an eminent and ancient rabbinical lineage, as a young adult he moved away from religion towards storytelling, theater, and drag. Today he leads a pop-up synagogue in New York City that takes as its tagline “everybody-friendly, artist-driven, God-optional.” It’s not merely about spiritual community but about recovering the sacred and reinventing the very meaning of “we.” Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie is a rabbi and founding spiritual leader of Lab/Shul in New York City. He’s also the founding director of Storahtelling. This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode "Amichai Lau-Lavie — First Aid for Spiritual Seekers." Find more at onbeing.org.

Once upon a time a king fell seriously ill, and nobody could figure out how to cure his ailment. Finally, a healer suggested a remedy: if the king could wear the shirt of a person who was absolutely happy, he would be healed. So, a team set out to find a person who was absolutely happy. Did they succeed? Shira Kline, performance and ritual artist and director of worship at Lab/Shul retells the story.

Is there something peculiar to Judaism that makes us think about death differently? With no proscription for a definitive heaven or afterlife, how does that affect how we live our lives and think about death? Are Jewish rituals an effective way of dealing with grief? Are there better ways to think and talk about death with friends and family? In our final episode from season 2 we address these questions with British comedian David Baddiel (who you might remember from this season’s atheism episode), Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie from NYC’s Lab/Shul, founder of Death Over Dinner and DoD Jewish Edition Michael Hebb and Dan Crane’s 97-year-old nana.

Can Jews be atheists and still be Jews? Hosts Dan Crane and Jessica Chaffin host the second episode on this question, featuring a conversation with Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie of New York City’s Lab/Shul.

If you love listening to Unorthodox, please make a donation before our fundraising drive ends next week! This week: Everything you ever wanted to know about Jewish weddings. Author Anita Diamant tells us about The Jewish Wedding Now, her newly updated guide to planning a meaningful Jewish celebration. Roberta Grossman, director of the documentary Hava Nagila (The Movie) explains how the catchy Hebrew folk song became a staple at Jewish weddings. Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie of New York’s Lab/Shul explains his recent decision to leave the rabbinic arm of the Conservative movement over its prohibition on performing interfaith weddings. Bat Sheva Marcus, clinical director of Maze Women’s Health and co-host of the Joy of Text podcast, tells us about the importance of communication for maintaining a healthy sex life, as newlyweds and beyond. And finally, Bridesmaid for Hire Jen Glantz explains why she decided to turn a much-maligned obligation into a profession. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes photos, and more! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com—we may read your note on air. Follow us on Twitter: @tabletmag, @markopp1, @liel, and @stuffism. This episode is brought to you by Harry’s. Get a free trial shave set, valued at $13, when you sign up at harrys.com/unorthodox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amichai Lau-Lavie, the founding spiritual leader of Lab/Shul, made national headlines by authoring Joy: A Proposal, which outlines his choice to begin performing interfaith marriages. Hear directly from Lau-Lavie as he engages in a conversation with co-hosts Dan and Lex about marriage and the rapidly shifting landscape of American-Jewish life. Joy: A Proposal can be accessed by clicking here. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here. To access shownotes for this episode, click here!

“Humor is always about ‘as if.’ And it just relaxes everybody. We’re going to laugh.” Transparent creator Jill Soloway describes Amichai Lau-Lavie as “a God-optional, patriarchy-toppling, Jewish modern mind.” He uses humor to connect — to himself and others, his family, his sexual identity, and his spiritual life. The rabbi says the Jewish people have endured because of their ability to laugh at themselves and, in this way, laugh at the world.

In this episode, we sit down with Ezra Bookman, the Program Associate at Lab/Shul, an experimental, artist-driven, god-optional Jewish community in New York. Ezra has a background in theater, having been a writer, director, and performance artist. Ezra discusses the role of the spiritual community in modern life, the challenges of building such a community, and the methods and process by which he works. Note: this episode was recorded with one microphone, creating a distinctive conversational style in which Ezra and Daniel speak back-and-forth without interruption. Music by Matt Kissel and Lindsay Acker. Album art by Matt Kissel.

What role do art and artists play in contemporary Judaism? Amichai Lau-Lavie, founder, Executive Director, and Spiritual Director of Lab/Shul, joins Dan and Lex to kick off a unit of episodes exploring that question in detail. He speaks about his own experiences leading an artist-driven community, and he takes on a variety of related questions on issues ranging from technology, to pluralism, to literature, and more. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here. To access full shownotes for this episode, click here!