Our Story

Founded in 2024, Shleesh was born out of a need for a third place dedicated to the rigorous pursuit of matters of the soul. Realizing the lack of space available for people to ask and explore the big questions and bring creative ambitions to life in community with the traditional liturgies, but without traditional hierarchy, we built “HaMakom HaShleeshee”, The Third Space. We are a women-led, intergenerational community where intellect, theology, justice, and creativity can thrive. We cultivate an environment that combines religious practice, music, and justice work with the intellectual exploration of the soul.

Core Values

As an ever-evolving community, in spirit and in practice, we are uncompromising in our commitment to the following:

• Be here now: Our identities and values, religious and otherwise, are an amalgamation of experiences of the here and now. We embrace the moment, choosing to be present where we are. 
• Be good to each other: All people, individually and collectively, are deserving of human dignity. There is no hierarchy of human value.
• Be willing to learn: Openness to new ideas and experiences is the only way forward. We learn from each other.
• Be in community: Building community is an act of creation. Creation takes many forms, everybody contributes something.
• Rest is sacred: Six days a week, we pursue work, education, and justice. On the seventh day, we rest in community, leaving the work of the world outside.

Community Rules

• This is not a safe space, but it is a protected space, so don’t be mean on purpose.
• No AI. Bring your own thoughts and consideration of the environment.
• Assume good intent (within reason). We give each other grace to find the right words, but we don’t tolerate abuse of any variety.
• In-person spaces are for people, not phones, so turn them off or leave them elsewhere. We provide spaces to store phones safely.