It’s our first in person live episode! Join us at Temple Isaiah in Lexington MA as Eliana interviews Cantor Lisa Doob and Rabbi Daryl Crystal. We explore their respective spiritual journeys, what prayer means to them now, and their unique roles; Cantor Doob has been at Temple Isaiah many years, while Rabbi Crystal has served 17 congregations in 19 years as an interim Rabbi.

When we lead t’fillah, who do we become?

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This week, Eliana, Ellen, and Josh explore the last of the petitionary prayers of the Amidah and the transitional section, “r’tzei.” Topics include our favorite sounds,  g?d (not) as vending machine, sacrifice and service, and the present (and presence) of present tense. Plus we share some favorite melodies!

What does it mean to hear our prayers?

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We’re so honored this week to be joined by educator extraordinaire Evelyn Goldfinger! Evelyn is a spiritual leader, performer, storyteller, and author, most recently of “Words from my Heart,” a hands-on prayer book for kids. In addition to sharing insights into her incredible new book, Ms. Eve also delivers her t’fillah journey in four acts, explores how prayer and theater are connected, and sings a sweet prayer song for healing in Hebrew, English, and Spanish. She also spontaneously prays for the internet to come back in the most beautiful way!

How might you share the words from your heart?

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Our Deep Dive: Shema series has begun and it’s not too late to join. Learn more and register here.

Learn more about Eliana’s two new albums and help make them happen here! 

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Our Amidah journey continues! This week Ellen, Eliana, and Josh explore and wrestle with blessings on rebuilding Jerusalem and salvation through messiah. There is so much variation amongst prayer books on these two! Topics covered include infrastructure bills, snowy white donkeys, Karens, horns, and classic Jewish jokes.

How can we help a better world blossom into being?

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Our Deep Dive: Shema series starts at the end of January! Learn more and register here.

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We are thrilled to bring you this interview with renowned liturgist Rabbi Reuven Kimelman. Rabbi Kimelman is an expert in the themes, structure, and poetics of the Jewish prayerbook, and shares enough wisdom to blow Eliana’s mind multiple times. Topics include t’fillah as an aural experience, the multi-mystical levels of Lecha Dodi, the power and point of the mourner’s kaddish, and so much more.

Announcing the Deep Dive: Shema! Join us for six gatherings over three weeks diving into the three units of this central piece of liturgy with our heads and our hearts. Taught by Rabbi Reuven Kimelman and Light Lab founder Eliana Light. Learn more and register here.

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Your three regular podcast hosts are back as we continue our deep dive into the Amidah with a blessing that is more like a malediction than a benediction, “against enemies,” and its flipside, “for the righteous.” We do some ancestor empathy work and wrestle with language. Other topics include: theological coattail riding, the Talmudic power couple Bruriah and Rabbi Meir, and of course, holy glue.

Who are you dedicating your learning to today?

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We are thrilled to share this interview with educator, songstress, and space-holder extraordinaire Marni Loffman. Marni connects to thousands over social media with their soulful voice and warm presence, both of which they bring to our conversation (stay through the end for a spiritual song practice!) Through sharing their journey with prayer, liturgy, and g?d, Marni makes space for us to hold multiplicity, curiosity, awareness, wholeness, and healing.

How can we connect to the human experience inherent in liturgy?

How can we add our voice to this everlasting story?

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It's our first year-iversary! Aka one whole year of the Light Lab Podcast. In this ever so special minisode, Ellen, Eliana, and Josh check-in, share favorite moments, and look towards what's next. There's a baby, there's water aerobics, there's Cheshvan appreciation, and there's a whole lot of love. 

Thank you for being on this journey with us. Here's to many more years! 

Join our new facebook group to connect with other listeners and get more t'fillah education goodness! 

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Today we’re so honored to share our interview with Rabbi Minna Bromberg, PhD. Rabbi Bromberg is the founder and president of Fat Torah, an initiative dedicated to ending weight stigma in the Jewish community and raising up body liberation through a Jewish lens. Fat Torah is also a community with a presence on facebook for Jewish fat folks and allies, a first of its kind. Rabbi Bromberg shares her t’fillah and body liberation journey, what inspired Fat Torah (it involves a song leader and a jelly doughnut), and how to make our prayer spaces inclusive for fat folks.

How can we see all bodies as reflections of the divine image, including our own? How can we move our community from narrowness to freedom?

Follow Fat Torah on instagram here!

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Today we’re excited to share our interview with Jewish educator and social media influencer extraordinaire, Tony J. Westbrook, Jr. You might know him better as @frumjewishblackboy if you’re one of his 39k+ followers on TikTok or Instagram (and if you aren’t yet, we highly recommend it!) Tony talks about the questions that led him on his Jewish journey, blessings as intentions, wisdom as liturgy, combating social media junk with Jewish joy, and more. So take a listen- it’s only 49 TikToks long!

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