The Light Lab Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

This week, in our Shabbat at Home series, Eliana and Ellen consider the Midrashic possibilities of Hamotzi - the blessing over the challah. Topics include how challah holy-tizes all of our time, to tear or to cut, and which gardens grow bread trees. Plus, we listen to our favorite 90s Jewish hip hop classics! 

As partners with g?d in the act of creation, how can we create that world of sustenance and goodness and support for all?

Join our facebook group to comment.

Check out this week’s show notes and transcript @ www.lightlab.co/podcast/episode-66-hamotzi

Follow us on facebook and instagram @thelight.lab.

Support our show! Sponsor an episode or donate here, and please rate, subscribe, and share around. Thank you!

This week, we are elated to bring you our interview with Eliana and Casper ter Kuile. Casper is the author of The Power of Ritual, and the co-founder of Sacred Design Lab, Nearness and the podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text. We explore finding the sacred in the secular, where folks find spiritual community these days, and snuggling your dog as prayer. 

Check out this week’s show notes and transcript @ lightlab.co/podcast/episode-65-casper-ter-kuile

What secular practice can you cultivate into prayer?Comment below or join our facebook group to connect around each episode. 

Follow us on ⁠facebook⁠ and ⁠instagram⁠ @thelight.lab.
Support our show! Sponsor and episode or donate here, and please rate, subscribe, and share around. Thank you!

This week, in our second episode of our Shabbat at Home series, Eliana, Ellen, & Josh explore the liturgy of Shalom Aleichem. Topics include angels of good and evil at the table, different melodies used for the text, and what this poem sparks in us. Plus, we listen to our favorite versions of Shalom Aleichem! 

What is your favorite Friday night Shabbat memory? Join our ⁠facebook group⁠ to connect and comment. 

Check out this week’s show notes and transcript @ lightlab.co/episode-53-shalom-aleichem 

Follow us on facebook and instagram @thelight.lab.

Support our show! Donate here, and please rate, subscribe, and share around. Thank you!

This week, in our third episode of our Shabbat at Home series, Eliana and Ellen explore the family blessings. Topics include the origin of this tradition, the Human-G?d-Compassion triumvirate of blessings, why should we want our kids to be like ephraim and Menashe, and how to choose your spouse anew each week. Plus, we listen to our favorite family blessing songs, including Eliana’s!

What challenges have been passed down to you that can be viewed as blessings? Join our facebook group to comment.

Check out this week’s show notes and transcript @ lightlab.co/episode-56-family-blessing  

Follow us on facebook and instagram @thelight.lab.
Support our show! Donate here, and please rate, subscribe, and share around. Thank you!

This week, we are proud to bring you our interview with Eliana and Rabbi Doctor Professor Ruth Langer. Professor Langer is a liturgy scholar and director of graduate studies at Boston College's Theology Department. We explore how liturgical change gets squashed, how the Talmud set the course for future liturgical halacha, and how prayers emerged throughout history. 

What is the value of knowing liturgical history to the pray-er?

Join our ⁠facebook group⁠ to share your thoughts. 

Check out this week’s show notes and transcript @ lightlab.co/podcast/episode-55-liturgy-origins 

Follow us on facebook and instagram @thelight.lab.

Support our show! Donate here, and please rate, subscribe, and share around. Thank you!

Welcome to our second SPARK! A more free-wheeling, connective conversation between our hosts that we hope sparks something new in you. In this SPARK, Eliana, Ellen & Josh explore Hanukkah gematria, rituals that light up our lives, and spiritually exercises for the heart muscle. Plus, we listen to some of our favorite songs for the season! 

Are there enough blessings for all of us?

Join our facebook group to connect and comment. 

Check out this week’s show notes (including links to songs referenced) and transcript @ lightlab.co/podcast/episode-54-spark-hanukkah

And check out the light lab podcast hanukkah spotify playlist!

Follow us on facebook and instagram @thelight.lab. 
Support our show! Donate here, and please rate, subscribe, and share around. Thank you!

This week, in our first episode of our Shabbat at Home series, Eliana, Ellen, & Josh explore lighting the Shabbat candles. Topics include why we light, different melodies used for the blessing, and what this blessing sparks in us. Plus, we listen to our favorite songs about lighting Shabbat candles! 

When does it start to feel like Shabbat for you? Join our facebook group⁠ to connect and discuss. 

Check out this week’s show notes and transcript @ lightlab.co/episode-52-candles

Follow us on facebook and instagram @thelight.lab.
Support our show! Donate here, and please rate, subscribe, and share around. Thank you!

This week, we are privileged to bring you our interview with Eliana and Rabbi Kohenet Jill Hammer, PhD. Hammer is an author, teacher, midrashist, mystic, poet, essayist, and priestess. We explore where to look for g?d, how to call on g?d, and the venn diagram of poetry and liturgy. Plus, we dive into Hammer’s new book, Undertorah!

How can dreams impact our liturgical selves? Join our facebook group to connect and comment. 

Check out this week’s show notes @ lightlab.co/podcast/episode-51-under-torah

Follow us on facebook and instagram @thelight.lab. 
Support our show! Donate here, and please rate, subscribe, and share around. Thank you!

This week, Eliana, Ellen, & Josh go behind the music with Eliana’s new album: ORAH HI. Topics include how to make an album with friends, making Hebrew songs accessible, and accessing vulnerability through song. Plus, we learn about the magic behind these sweet new tracks! 

Is it more important to correctly conjugate g?d language or let the prayer flow uninhibited?

Listen to ORAH HI on Spotify or support the artist and buy the album!

Read the liner notes and purchase ORAH HI sheet music @ elianalight.com/orah-hi 

Check out this week’s show notes and transcript @ lightlab.co/podcast/episode-50-orah-hi 

Follow us on facebook and instagram @thelight.lab. Join our facebook group to connect around each episode. 

Support our show! Donate here, and please rate, subscribe, and share around. Thank you!

Welcome to our first SPARK! A more free-wheeling, connective conversation between our hosts that we hope sparks something new in you. In this SPARK, Eliana, Ellen & Josh explore re-returning, joyful prayer at Yom Kippur, and the courage to bring g?dly acts into the world.  Plus, we listen to some of our favorite songs for the season! 

What is the still small voice contained in the shofar blast saying to your heart this year?

Join our facebook group to connect and comment. 

Check out ⁠the light lab podcast SPARK high holidays Spotify playlist⁠!

And check out this week’s show notes and transcript @ lightlab.co/podcast/episode-49-spark-high-holidays 

Follow us on facebook and instagram @thelight.lab. 
Support our show! Donate here, and please rate, subscribe, and share around. Thank you!