Dear Lab/Shul,

With Purim and Passover on our minds (and production spreadsheets), I’m delighted to pause for a moment to share where we are, now five months into our Strategic Planning process. 

The word “Purim” means “lots.” The holiday is centered around an ancient story that celebrates the fate of the Jewish people having been determined by lottery. While I’ve always been a sucker for Quick Pick scratch-offs, I know that there are certain things that one does not leave up to fate. When it comes to the future of Lab/Shul, we are certainly not rolling the dice.

With the help of our strategic partners and guides Sharehold, we set out in November to chart a course for our next 3-5 years, with the discreet goal to deepen communal ties within our community. To this end, I am deeply grateful for the number of community members who have stepped up to lead and participate in the process. We’ve directly engaged 204 community members through one-on-one interviews, a community roundtable, and an online survey, representing the diverse demographics and constituencies of our community. Special thanks to Jen Pehr, Jon Silvan and Rebecca Rindler, our Strategic Planning Co-Chairs, who have been visionary leaders and steadfast supporters of this process every step of the way.

Our research is complete. The data has been analyzed. As we move into the next stage of sharpening our focus on the highest level priorities, I want to share some of the ideas we’re exploring:  

  • A membership model that welcomes all while enabling the organization to financially and spiritually thrive.
  • Access points and pathways for community members to take leadership roles in our programming while creating smaller circles of intimacy and connection.
  • Programming that meets a wider range of needs in our community, including offerings for ritual, education, and social justice.
  • Consistent venue/s that provide a sense of “home” for programming and streamlined production.
  • An expanded digital reach, creating portals for members and access to Lab/Shul’s ritual and educational programming.

What has continued to remain clear is our commitment to our artist driven, everybody-friendly, God-optional mission, here in New York City and reaching the world. So what’s next?

Join me on Thursday, June 6th, for REVEAL, Lab/Shul’s annual gala, where we will unveil our strategic goals for the next five years while honoring three outstanding Lab/Shul community members who sustain our community and have committed to making our vision a reality.

Setting out on a task like this can be daunting. It takes courage and creativity to be open to possibility, and most importantly, to change. 

“Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created,” Mordechai says to Esther in the Purim story, calling on her to have courage while stepping into the unknown. 

I often think about this quote when I think about the choice I made to step into my role as Executive Director of Lab/Shul almost two years ago. This work is a calling with a higher purpose, and this community is a home for so many of us seeking ways to connect and make meaning. Like so many of you I am passionate and determined to ensure a thriving future for Lab/Shul. Thank you for joining me on this journey.

I invite you to share your thoughts, questions and suggestions at any time. And I hope to see you THIS FRIDAY 3/15 at Sabbath Queen in Brooklyn.

With gratitude,

Sarah Sokolic
Executive Director