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FAQ2019-07-30T07:01:36-04:00

If you don’t see the A for your Q here, please email us or give our office a call. We’re always here to talk. (Except on Shabbat, of course. And Sunday. Shuls need to rest too, you know?)

So is this a synagogue or what?2019-07-30T07:06:33-04:00

We’re a lab, remixing Judaism for the 21st century and our evolving diverse community. Like a synagogue and a shul, we’re a vibrant space to nurture your personal growth, support your communal and spiritual needs, and explore the ways Jewish tradition can help make life meaningful today – for everyone.

What does “shul” mean?2019-07-30T07:09:06-04:00

Shul is a Yiddish word that means “learning place.” (And by the way, synagogue was taken from a Greek word that means “gathering place.”) These terms and others, used by Jewish communities for hundreds of years, are ready for reimagined use and activation in the 21st century. Sometimes we adapt language to meet our new modern needs, and sometimes we adapt the vision.

Where are you located?2019-07-30T07:12:10-04:00

At this stage in our growth, Lab/Shul is pop-up by design. Manhattan and Brooklyn, from Harlem to Crown Heights and everywhere in between. Many of our gatherings have consistent homes all year long with community partners, while others pop up more randomly. Your best bet to find us? Check our calendar.

When do you do Shabbat?2021-11-08T20:54:53-05:00

We offer a number of Shabbat gatherings, from big, bold, musical Sabbath Queens, to quiet, more intimate Zen Shabbat worship with the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. You can always check out the calendar  and subscribe to the our mailers for the latest.

 

 

Wow. How can I help? Maybe meet some new people if I’m new?2019-07-30T07:16:42-04:00

Yes please, and thank you for helping co-create the community we all want to be part of. Here’s what to do:

  1. Check out our volunteer page
  2. Email Sarah Strnad, Director of Operations and Community Engagement 
  3. Or tell us how you’d like to help by answering a few short questions.
Wait…God-Optional??2019-07-30T12:37:34-04:00

The notion of Divine Presence is a personal and unique experience for each individual,  as well as a significant historical feature of Judaism. In our ongoing search for authentic, common, spiritual ground, we replace the reliance on the English term “God” with a multiplicity of metaphors and prisms that embrace a more modern, gender-neutral, and abstract relationship to what is ultimately beyond language. We invite you in on your own terms, in your own way, to co-create this experience with us.

But do you use Hebrew? Will I recognize any of the prayers?2019-07-30T12:40:34-04:00

Yup! Like our ancestors before us, we use a mix of Hebrew and the vernacular (these days, English). While we write our own unique, poetic, God-optional English translations, we leave the original Hebrew sources mostly untouched with a few significant changes: we replace the gendered and autocratic word “Melech” (“King”) with the more nuanced and non-gendered word “Ruach,” roughly translated as “Spirit” or “Breath.” We also replace the declaration that Jews are chosen from all other people with the idea that we are all chosen for our unique voices in the world.

 

But I don’t read Hebrew, and honestly I’m not really sure if I believe in “prayer” anyway.2019-07-30T12:40:44-04:00

We prefer to think of prayer as a space for conversation with what matters most in our lives. Our arts-infused, musical, meditative, poetic approach invites everyone to find their own authentic path in to being part of communal ritual – and to simply being present. We always provide translation and transliteration, and use projector screens instead of prayer books to make it easy to follow along. Hebrew knowledge helps but is not necessary. All you need is love.

What does “everybody-friendly” mean?2019-07-30T12:41:24-04:00

Lab/Shul accepts, respects, and invites the full spectrum of human existence without exception or judgement. Providing access is Lab/Shul’s primary driving force, placing the wide range of spiritual, educational and communal needs of all human beings at the heart center of our work.

Do you actually mean everybody?2019-09-17T22:34:57-04:00

Yep. Jewish/Jew(ish)/not-at-all Jewish, interfaith, multifaith, not-really-into-faith, POC, LGBTQI+, old, young, from here, from there–welcome home.

I’ve got 3 kids. They’re 4, 9, and 11. Can I bring them?2019-07-30T12:41:57-04:00

Please! At many Shabbat and holiday gatherings we’ve got Lab/Jr. programs  with highly skilled, trained and enthusiastic, experiential artist educators. And for your 11-year-old, definitely check out our signature B Mitzvah program, Raising the Bar

Wait, pop-up? Like a store?2019-07-30T12:42:15-04:00

More like an art gallery. We create a home for soulful, spiritual, God-optional artistry wherever we go, transforming spaces of all types into temporary temples – from community centers to nightclubs to our own living rooms.

What does “experimental” mean?2019-07-30T12:42:36-04:00

As a laboratory for new approaches to spiritual, cultural and societal shift, Lab/Shul embraces risk and explores the uncharted. Sometimes messy and often provocative, we value optimism over fear, surprise over familiarity, mistakes over security and freedom over boundaries. We reflect deeply and pivot quickly, embracing the concept that there is always more than one way.

How does membership work at Lab/Shul?2019-07-30T13:32:39-04:00

At Lab/Shul, membership is about more than financial and time contributions—it’s about becoming real Partners. That’s why we call our membership model ‘Partnerhood.’ We want you to feel like you’re taking part in shaping Lab/Shul, playing on our team, and, maybe, be in it for the long-haul. With this in mind, you’ll be asked to sign a Partner/Pact—a symbol of our mutual Partnerhood

And as for the mechanics of Partnerhood that’s simple. You give a time and financial contribution as you are able, and you get a whole lot more benefits in return. 

Do I have to become a Partner to come to Lab/Shul?2019-07-16T19:14:38-04:00

Nope! Providing access is Lab/Shul’s primary driving force, placing the wide range of spiritual, educational and communal needs of everybody at the center of our work. Whether you’re a Partner, in the neighborhood, or simply curious about what we do, please drop in.

What do I get for joining?2020-07-14T22:04:26-04:00

Free entry to all Shabbat rituals, discounts on educational classes, a vote in community matters, and more. Beyond that, a sense of belonging, a place to root and grow—in short, a community.

I don’t have a lot of disposable income. Can I still become a Partner?2019-07-30T13:33:27-04:00

You bet. You’ll notice that each of our Partnerhood options has a suggested financial contribution. The term “suggested” is intentionally used to indicate that you can join as a Partner with a financial contribution that is meaningful to you. For example, if you choose the Solo option, you will still have the opportunity to adjust the financial contribution field during check out, for example from $125/month to $100/month. Alternatively, you could select our Co-op option which requires no financial contribution, rather we ask that you fulfill 12 Shul/Shifts-volunteering units. Discover volunteering opportunities.

“Lab/Shul is the only place where I feel I’m being challenged at the core about myself and Judaism.”
– Rabbi Neal Kaunfer / Harlem

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