jews in the d
The playroom
at 36 Mystics
Rabbi
Boruch
Cohen
PHOTOS BY ROB STREIT
Coming Together at
36 Mystics
A place for Jews of all stripes to gather in Birmingham.
ROB STREIT SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
F
ostering community is some-
thing of a Jewish specialty. Jews
across the world have put down
roots, bringing tradition and history
in tow. Community provides a sense
of place, self and continuity.
Rabbi Boruch Cohen and wife, Ita
Leah, have staked their claim in the
heart of downtown Birmingham.
Their goal is to provide a place for all
Jews to gather. The 36 Mystics Jewish
Discovery Center is the manifestation
of that goal.
“We wanted something where peo-
ple would feel welcome and comfort-
able coming in. The tagline is ‘We’ve
popped up, so you can drop in,’”
Rabbi Cohen says.
36 Mystics is equal parts café,
Judaica store, shul and community
center. The center offers everything
from Torah discussions to jazz nights.
A toddler program even provides an
early introduction to Hebrew. The
Cohens stress that Jews of all denomi-
nations are welcome.
“It’s non-judgmental — Jews are
Jews,” Ita Leah says. “It’s a place where
they will feel at home to discover
their Judaism, a local home away
from home for everything Jewish.”
The Cohens came to Birmingham
26
November 22 • 2018
jn
in 2005 with the idea of growing
the Jewish community in the city.
Progress came in fits and starts, and
finding a permanent location proved
challenging. For the past three years,
the rabbi has been working out of his
house. In August, they moved into a
storefront on East Maple Road. The
original plan was to stay through
December in a “pop-up” capacity, but
36 Mystics will likely remain for some
time on a month-to-month basis.
Danielle Gill met Rabbi Cohen
in 2012 when she and her husband
moved to Birmingham from Miami.
Gill has been a frequent visitor to 36
Mystics since its opening.
“We love being able to take our
son to Shabbat services on Saturday
mornings,” Gill says. “There is a
children’s playroom adjacent to the
prayer area where our toddler can
both enjoy playing and listening to
the morning services. My husband
and I enjoy watching him get up from
his toys to dance when he hears the
congregation begin to sing.”
Gill also enrolled her son in the
toddler Hebrew program. Her family
has participated in Rosh Hashanah,
Yom Kippur and Sukkot services.
Rabbi Cohen even built a small suk-
kah in the alley behind the store for
the occasion.
The Cohens want 36 Mystics to
be a catalyst for cultivating commu-
nity among Birmingham’s Jewish
population. “Community is essential
to Jewish identity and spirituality
continuity. Community is person
to person in the neighborhood,” the
rabbi says. “To be part of the city was
always the vision.”
The non-denominational approach
is by design. By including Jews of var-
ious levels of observance, the Cohens
make the center a spiritual hub.
“Jewish spirituality is very cool,
very amazing, very inspiring. It covers
all the things people do to try and see
that part of themselves — the spir-
itual, the self, the balance. It’s all in
Jewish spirituality,” Rabbi Cohen says.
Ita Leah echoes that sentiment.
“Judaism is alive,” she says. “It’s not
something you read in a book. You’re
living it, you’re singing it and you’re
dancing it. Judaism is rich.” ■
36 Mystics Jewish Discovery Center is
located at 361 E. Maple Road in downtown
Birmingham. For more information, go to
www.36mystics.org or follow it on Facebook.
Holiday Events
at 36 Mystics
Nov. 28
7:30 p.m. “The Miracle of Olive
Oil in Dips & Dressings.” A perfect
pre-Chanukah women’s evening.
Learn about the amazing properties
of olive oil along with a variety of
ways to use it in dips and dress-
ings, with special guest Naomi
Elberg. $36 covers refreshments
and take-home samples. RSVP to
alcohen770@gmail.com.
Dec. 4
7 p.m. Join 36 Mystics at the annual
community gathering to light the
city menorah in Birmingham’s Shain
Park.
Dec. 6
8 p.m. A live performance by the
talented happy “Hassids,” the three-
man acoustic band Simply Tsfat
based in Safed, Israel, followers of
the legendary Rabbi Nachman of
Breslov. Register at www.36mystics.
org/thursday-registration.html.