Nightlife: A Cult?

Could the buzzed-about cutting edge program for single girls in Crown Heights be a cult? I mean, its center is an enormous underground room laden with candles. It has hundreds of fans who constantly spread the word and bring more followers. Many girls come religiously and won’t miss a night. One girl even begs to help clean up.

But, according to guest lecturer Yossi Jacobson, it just can’t be.

Yup, that’s right. In his words, “The food at Nightlife is too good and the couches too comfortable.”

More in the Extended Article! (Photos by Chana Lewis)

This was just one of the many pointers Rabbi Jacobson had for an audience of 60 girls this past Monday, offering cult definitions while addressing the question, “Is Chabad a Cult?: Da Ma Shetashiv.”

The engaging dialogue with the sought-after speaker is part of a bi-weekly Monday lecture series at the Nightlife lounge, just one of the many magnetic features that the program has launched since resuming in December.

Nightlife has mastered making a lounge and offering programs that feel entirely exclusive while including every age and style of the Crown Heights’ young single ladies demographic. In the past few months, the enthusiasm of hundreds of girls from every so-called circle has proved that Nightlife has something for all interests. And it’s not only because of the food and couches: with an emphasis on keeping girls challenged, creatively expressed, entertained and social, Nightlife has become the ultimate venue.

So what keeps girls coming back, each continuously bringing new faces with them? Well, it’s something different for everyone.

Certainly, the warm lounge vibe and comfortable but sophisticated furnishing is a draw. Each event showcases room transformations in color, style and food – always keeping everyone surprised. From the candles to the floor pillows, entering the Nightlife lounge is like arriving to a little bit of home with a little bit of Soho.

But for most girls that have become Nightlife enthusiasts, the décor is just the icing on the cake (sometimes literally).

Nightlife is the ultimate source for girls looking for the atypical class from top notch educators. The program just concluded its “Wisdom from Sinai” course with JLI course-writer Shimona Tzukernik. The deep exploration of the Ten Commandments challenged girls’ notions and offered the refreshing feeling of taking college night classes. Now that the course is over, Nightlife has gathered girls’ suggestions and signed up acclaimed speakers Rabbis Yossi Jacobson and Asher Crispe. But in signature Nightlife style, you won’t hear these speakers espousing their usual topics. Rabbi Jacobson’s hilarious and captivating lectures – which usually lead to more intimate prolonged discussions – have included “Get Rid Of The Static: Harmony Between The Mind, Body and Soul,” “The Big Decision: How Do You Know He’s the Right One?” and “Is Chabad a Cult?” Rabbi Asher Crispe engages the crowd in Kabbalah-illuminated journeys through topics that have included self image and dating. This past Monday night, he spoke to a spellbound audience about what modern technological and scientific advancements tell us about how our present can be understood through our future.

Apart from the Monday schedule, Nightlife has hosted acclaimed speakers Esther Piekarski, Rabbi Naftali Silberberg, Rabbi Mendel Samuels, Masha Lispkier, Chana Rochel Schusterman and Rochel Goldman. A speaker highlight also included Rabbi Yaakov Parisi, a former Chrisitian Pastor who, along with his wife, discovered Judaism and converted. Parisi, who has only recently started sharing his story, painted a detailed, awesome and hilarious picture of their journey.

When speakers, workshop facilitators and entertainers descend down the spiral staircase that leads to the Nightlife lounge, they too are stunned. “I wish they had this when I was younger” is a more than common reaction, as they take in the humungous vibrant chic room.

Girls looking to express their untapped creative energy will be especially surprised. The out-of-the-box workshops that one would have to search for far and wide, not to mention pay a lot to attend, are available right here in Crown Heights. Over the past months, girls have walked home with beautiful charcoal artwork of the Rebbe, high-décor lamps, elaborate fondant cakes, sophisticated and personalized jewelry, and gorgeous dried flower creations. All workshops are taught by experts who enjoy sharing their expertise in a beautiful and intimate setting (of course, while enjoying freshly brewed coffee).

Entertainment has included a diverse style of performances. During Chanukah, 150 girls went from laughing during a professional hypnotist show to crying during a stunning performance depicting the story of Chana and her seven sons. Shortly thereafter, at a Motzei Shabbat event, girls were quite intrigued when Stella Filler, a Jewish mime, depicted various rites-of-passage in Judaism and famous biblical stories, including a wacky and memorable portrayal of Chava and the snake. Girls couldn’t resist getting out of their seats and joining Stella, culminating in a wildly hilarious evening. Another night, the laughter continued when comedian Esther Rachel Russell performed comedy improvisation, challenging girls to “let go” and get involved.

Of course, girls are still raving about Nightlife’s spectacular open-mic night, which entertained and wowed a crowd of 100 girls. Performers took full advantage of Nightlife’s no-pressure atmosphere and took to the stage with all sorts of talents, including singing, poetry, music, storytelling, monologue and motivational speaking. The girls laughed, cried and danced through the night and were so inspired from the culmination of talents that they’re insisting on opening the stage again soon.

Girls also count on Nightlife to provide satisfying and colorful programming on special days on the Chabad calendar. A Yud Shvat farbrengen led by Rabbi Mendel Samuels provided a vivid picture of the Rebbe-Chossid relationship during the Rebbe’s lifetime, with practical implications for today’s generation. For Hei Teves, Rabbi Crispe, a self-proclaimed bibliomaniac, spoke about how the Rebbe’s campaign of “a house filled with sepharim (books)” relates to our inner DNA, the pages of information within every human. Chof Beis Shvat drew over a crowd of 80 that came to enjoy a viewing of the just- released video on the Rebbetzin and to hear an inspiring presentation from Rivky Kaplan, Shlucha to Tzfat, Israel.

More recently, girls enjoyed a dance and nutrition class instructed by nutritionist Dages Keates. Dages answered a horde of questions about eating habits and gave girls practical steps they can take to improve their health (no, Nightlife will not stop serving those delicious cheese thingies).

On Motzei Shabbos, 45 girls showed up to take advice and inspiration from color designer Chanchi Lieder. Lieder, who studied fashion and image consulting at FIT and learned from famous color consultants, opened the mysteries of color and gave girls valuable information on how to best use colors, fabric and makeup based on an intricate palette-system. Girls were amazed as Chanchi used examples to show the color/season interplay and prove that everyone can really look and feel beautiful naturally. Of course, the evening was accented with four different food tables, all offering a taste of summer, autumn, winter and spring.

As you can see, Nightlife is just too fun and multi-dimensional to be a good cult. But while we’re considering Nightlife’s status, there’s one more thing we should clarify:

Nightlife is not devoted to the rescue of depressed single girls living in dingy basements. While the reality of some single girls living in the hood may mean the program fills some sort of void, it’s all too clear that Nightlife views the Crown Heights ladies scene as one rockin’ group in no need of rescuing. Nightlife continues to challenge the normal idea of “fun” by providing high-caliber programming, to the amazement of all types of girls – out-of-towners and Crown Heights residents alike.

To those who have yet to discover the Nightlife cult, err, lounge for themselves, consider this an official invitation (notice the lack of force). The food is warm, the music is always playing, and there’s always something happening that will leave you happier – or smarter, or more fit, or more artistic – than when you came (guaranteed, or your $5 bill back!).

So is Nightlife a cult? Probably not. But if you or a loved one gets sucked in, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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Leave your cash at home!
Nightlife now offers a $50 Nightlife E-Z Pass: 10 Nights, and the 11th free!
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Visit the Nightlife Blog: www.CHnightlife.wordpress.com

Coming up!
Thursday, Feb.14th, 8pm: Rabbi Daniel Schoenbuch, author of “Teens at Risk, but Never out of Reach,” will be speaking about effective communication.
Motzei Shabbos, Feb.16th, 8:30pm: The Knitting Café! Come learn different needlepoint styles to make that perfect blanket, hat or scarf!
Monday, Feb. 18th, 8pm: Rabbi Yossi Jacobson will be addressing the topic of “Male Dominance in Judaism.”

Nightlife is a joint project of the CHJC and BYIT (division of THI)
Nightlife is sponsored by the CHJCC