LIFE + DEATH + LABAlive

Our readers already know that LABA is the premier incubator for Jewish art and culture. Each year our fellows create new works inspired by Jewish texts. This year it’s LIFE + DEATH. LABAlive is an evening of art and performance from LABA fellows. On Saturday, February 2nd at 7:30pm, LABAlive returns to the Theater at the

DRUNKISH: A Night of Discourse, Study, and Song

LABA Alum Amy Handelsman reports on November 17th’s DRUNKISH event. Here’s what the invite said: We want to offer you a threesome to make sense of life in the age of outrage: fine wine, sage advice from Judaism’s ancient masters, and insights and reflections from current LABA Fellows. Join us for a family-style Havdalah with

8 Things That Most American Jews Can Agree On

These are fractious times for Americans, and the tensions are perhaps even more pronounced among American Jews. As Hanukkah approaches, we’d like to remind our fellow Jewish-Americans that, red or blue, we still have important things in common. Hanukkah candles are a scandal. When it comes to Hanukkah candles, there are only two choices: either

Deep Love, Pain, and Heartbreak

“My plays…come from a deep love and pain and heartbreak.” —Zohar Tirosh-Polk In an exclusive interview, playwright Zohar Tirosh-Polk discusses LABA and her play Theo’s Dream, a wild exploration of the life of Theodor Herzl, founder of Zionism. Come see a  reading of Theo’s Dream by Zohar Tirosh-Polk at the 14 St Y Theater on Friday,

A Hummus Hangout

Reflecting on a hummus workshop as a metaphor of life: LABA alum Amy Handelsman shares her experiences of the day. One of my strongest childhood memories is the day we made peanut butter in Miss Greenfield’s second-grade class. It was with great anticipation that we began on a crisp autumnal day—a whole Friday morning devoted to

Welcome 2018-2019 LABA Fellows!

  Ronit Muszkatblit, Artistic Director LABA, on this year’s LABA fellows. Welcome to a new year of LABA. A new year of ancient questions. A new year of investigating the two given things we all have in common: Life and Death. From the moment we come into being until the moment we are no more,

Meeting Point on Top of the Hill

Yael Sloma, artist and LABA fellow, travelled through illegal Israeli outposts in the Palestinian Territories. Here are a few of her impressions. PLEASE DO CLICK ON THE IMAGES! The morning after the 2016 presidential elections reminded me of the morning after the Yitzhak Rabin assassination: it felt as if even the trees and stones and cars

The Wound Itself Bestows The Blessing

LABAlive is a unique celebration of art, theater, and Jewish texts. This Thursday, May 31st, at 7.30pm, playwright Amy Handelsman will be showing an excerpt from her work-in-progress, LOVE BY TKO: Life Lessons in the Ring (theatrical excerpts from my memoir). (Click here for tickets!) Below, Amy describes her thoughts on boxing and Judaism. Common

“The machine is a god for making universes”

This coming Thursday, May 31st, LABAlive II will present an evening of subversive art and teachings based on this year’s theme, WAR & PEACE. The evening will feature LABA teacher Liel Leibovitz and works-in-progress by LABA Fellows Tal Gur, Amy Handelsman, and Jacob Siegel. Author Siegel serves up an excerpt from the novel-in-progress he’ll present at the event. from The Cracked Screen

LABAlive IS BACK!

On Thursday, May 31st, LABALive Two will present an evening of subversive art and teachings on this year’s theme, WAR & PEACE. The evening will feature LABA teacher Liel Leibovitz and works-in-progress by LABA Fellows Tal Gur, Jacob Siegel and Amy Handelsman. For those looking for a taste right now, here is 2016-2017 LABA alumna Laura Beatrix