welcome to the Light Lab!

transformative t’fillah, together.

hi, i’m eliana!

I'm an educator with 10+ years of experience making t'fillah accessible and meaningful for all ages. Since graduating from JTS with a masters in experiential education, I've song-led in synagogues, started minyanim, taught at conferences and graduate schools, written curricula, toured as an artist-in-residence, and put out three albums of original Jewish music. Through exploring what t'fillah is and why we do it, I believe we can change ourselves, our communities, and our world.

On the Podcast
Episode 66: Shabbat at Home - Hamotzi
blessings, alternate melodies, Shabbat at Home, Shabbat blessings, eliana sings about jewish things, hamotzi, challah, ellen dreskin
Episode 66: Shabbat at Home - Hamotzi
blessings, alternate melodies, Shabbat at Home, Shabbat blessings, eliana sings about jewish things, hamotzi, challah, ellen dreskin

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?

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blessings, alternate melodies, Shabbat at Home, Shabbat blessings, eliana sings about jewish things, hamotzi, challah, ellen dreskin
Episode 65: Opening the Treasure Box of Tradition (with Casper ter Kuile)
Guest, interview, spiritual journey, prayer, jewish wisdom, t'fillah, casper ter Kuile, the power of ritual, nearness, harry potter and the sacred text, how we gather, sacred in the secular
Episode 65: Opening the Treasure Box of Tradition (with Casper ter Kuile)
Guest, interview, spiritual journey, prayer, jewish wisdom, t'fillah, casper ter Kuile, the power of ritual, nearness, harry potter and the sacred text, how we gather, sacred in the secular

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.

What personal practice can you cultivate into prayer?

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Guest, interview, spiritual journey, prayer, jewish wisdom, t'fillah, casper ter Kuile, the power of ritual, nearness, harry potter and the sacred text, how we gather, sacred in the secular
Episode 64: Shabbat at Home - Hand Washing
blessings, alternate melodies, Shabbat at Home, Shabbat blessings, hand washing, al netilat yedaim, eliana sings about jewish things, nigunim
Episode 64: Shabbat at Home - Hand Washing
blessings, alternate melodies, Shabbat at Home, Shabbat blessings, hand washing, al netilat yedaim, eliana sings about jewish things, nigunim

This week, in our Shabbat at Home series, Eliana and Josh explore the hand washing. Topics include taking ownership over rituals, the act of giving and receiving to and of ourselves, and hand washing as a mikvah moment. Plus, we listen to our favorite hand washing nigunim!

How can we interact with water as divine source?

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blessings, alternate melodies, Shabbat at Home, Shabbat blessings, hand washing, al netilat yedaim, eliana sings about jewish things, nigunim

  • What We Do

    Our mission is to make Jewish liturgy and prayer practice accessible and meaningful to all seekers.

  • How We Do It

    Through heart-centered, embodied, inviting methodology, we unlock the transformative power of t’fillah to strengthen our spiritual cores and revitalize our communities.

  • Our Vision

    A future where t’fillah inspires, comforts, and empowers us towards Oneness and a healed world.

“Eliana's presentation touched me on a personal level and on an educator level. She instructs with beautiful music, delightful humor, and a wisdom beyond her years. Absolutely outstanding.” -ISJL Conference Participant

What would this look like for you or your community? Let’s connect!

  • Professional Development

    Elevate your t’fillah leadership & education through insightful, playful, impactful PD.

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  • Consulting

    Consulting

    Let’s work together to discover the “why” of your organization’s prayer life, helping you offer more meaningful experiences to more people.

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  • Programs and Classes

    This is the “lab” in Light Lab- our place to play with prayer, lean into liturgy, and learn with our full selves.

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Newsletter

Be the first to know about classes, gatherings, resources, and more!

View fullsize The Light Lab is excited to announce the 15 fellows in our first ever T’fillah Teachers Fellowship!  These educators come from diverse Jewish communities all around the country, with their own teaching styles, expertise, and experience. Wh
View fullsize 💡New episode! This week, @_elianalight_ & @ellendreskin are joined by very special guest Rabbi @noahdiamondstein to explore Sim Shalom! We talk about “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once,” Paul Simon, the Force, and what “Shalo
View fullsize Have you listened to our latest episode yet? We got bingo! What else should we put on the Light Lab Podcast bingo board? Squares so far from top to bottom: Eliana gets a kick out of being on a podcast; Ellen recalls her Texas childhood; Josh does gem
View fullsize 💡New episode! This week, Ellen, Eliana, and Josh explore “v’al kulam” and the threefold blessing, bridging the gratitude and peace sections of the weekday Amidah. Topics include Glinda the good witch, gematria, Siddur differences (
View fullsize 💡New episode! This week, we are honored to bring you our interview with organizer, coach, and leader April N. Baskin. April is the founder and CEO of @joyous.justice , a “multiracial community-powered social justice and spiritual transformatio