Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Briya” mean?
"Briya" is one of a few Hebrew words that means "creation." The root of the word can be found in the first phrase in the Bible: "In the beginning, God created..." It connotes the process of creating a physical manifestation out of abstraction, to make the world around us as we wish it to be, to the extent that our human capacities will allow us to do so.

Do I have to be Jewish to enroll in a Briya workshop?
No. There is no religious, ethnic, or other requirement for participating in a Briya workshop. We simply ask that each participant (of any background) respects: the Jewish frame of our endeavors; that connecting to tradition is meaningful to many within and beyond the Briya community; and the varied backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, feelings, and processes of other participants.

What is the “Jewish frame” of Briya workshops?
There are two main elements to the Jewish frame of Briya workshops. First, the themes and prompts we'll be exploring in each session reflect where we are in the Jewish calendar, and how they correspond with the cycles and seasons of nature. For example, our drop-in sessions may be focused on the changing of the Hebrew months, which follow a lunar cycle, as well as the cycles of the sun at the equinoxes and solstices. In multi-session workshops, we'll take inspiration from the Jewish holidays and their themes, as well as the season that unfolds during the course of the workshop.
The second element to Briya's Jewish frame is that within each session we'll open and/or close with a ritual, that will be inspired by Jewish ritual and prayer.

What do you mean when you say we’ll open or close a workshop session with a ritual? What kind of ritual?
When we come together, we are entering a sacred space, which we try to imbue with trust, compassion, patience, nurturing, kindness - for each other, and for ourselves. We mark this entry with a ritual. This could be a reading, a song, an exercise, or a short ceremony. A favorite example is havdala, the ritual usually performed on Saturday night, which concludes Shabbat, the day in which we are meant to rest and refrain from creation, and brings us into the new week where our labors bring about the new. Many say that havdala can be performed through Tuesday, as people hold on to the peace of Shabbat. At Briya, we like to think of our workshops as being in that space between, where we are in a restful and nurtured state, yet we are ready to create. (This is one of the reasons we often hold workshops on Sunday and Monday!) Havdala is performed with blessings sung, a candle lit, a glass of wine, the smell of spices. This is one kind of ritual we would share at the Briya Project.

I mean, but come on. Rituals? Really? I don't believe in that. What does that have to do with creativity anyway?
We hear you. It is not for everyone, and it is not for every time in an individual's life. We have also not always connected to creativity, spirituality, or anything really through ritual. This is a much longer conversation than we can cover here, a conversation we hope to continually engage in. To start, our answer is to refer to Julia Cameron's approach in The Artist's Way - you may not believe in it, but we have found that it works. We ask you to try, not to believe. See what happens when you try it. The impact may yield surprising results.

I see some Hebrew on your website. Do I need to know Hebrew to join a Briya workshop?
No. There is no expectation that any participants will speak or know any Hebrew at all. Briya workshops may bring in Hebrew words, or rituals that include some Hebrew. If Hebrew is included, it will absolutely be translated, and will be introduced for a particular purpose that will be connected to the creative work in a session.
And why use Hebrew at all if many don't understand it? Because we find meaning in the Jewish connection to what is ancient, and part of that is the language, its rhythms, sounds, and nuances - and we believe that bringing that to Briya participants will enrich our individual creative work, as well as our communal experiences.
If we ever err and neglect to translate something, that would be an inadvertent and human omission we'd like to correct, so please ask! If it is uncomfortable to ask in the session, please reach out individually.

What experience do I need to take a Briya class?
None. You don't need to be an experienced writer, artist, student, anything. Just human. We simply ask that Briya participants come to class with a desire to create, a willingness to try, or if some days you can't, then just showing up will do. We ask that even if on some days you are unable to create anything, that you still come to class with respect and patience for your fellow participants, a sensitivity to offer them useful, honest, and kind feedback, and if that is not something you yet know how to do, then please bring a willingness to learn! We come together to learn to try, both in our own writing, and in how we support others'.

What kind of writing and creating will participants do in class?
Whatever you want! You can write poetry, memoir, drama, fiction, nonfiction, anything that calls to you. You don't need to call it anything, you may not know what it is until you've started it, maybe even not til you've finished it. It is whatever you like.
That is the case in almost all of our classes, certainly all of the drop-in sessions.
The only exception to this is that in some weekly courses, participants will be collaborating to create a project together. In this case, the group will decide what project to pursue (and, it may be a project that allows each participant to write their own component and dictate their own direction). That is up to the class, because those courses will be focused not only on creation but also on collaboration. That said, the weekly course descriptions will clearly indicate if the project will be collaborative or if individuals will be writing alone.

How will my work be critiqued?
It's a great question, and yet we don't love the word "critique." Feels too close to "criticism," which is all too often the way feedback is given to budding and bloomed artists. It can hurt. Well, it can always hurt to share what we've created, but at the Briya Project we really strive to offer feedback that helps an artist grow. Everyone is different, and everyone needs something different. So, we ask each participant to share what kind of feedback would be helpful for them to hear. We may also ask others to share their perceptions of a piece, what they learned in hearing it, or how they felt. It is as much a goal of these classes to cultivate each participant's skill of giving helpful and nurturing feedback, as it is to cultivate writing. So, in our classes we will review how to give and receive feedback, and the instructor will facilitate the conversation to keep it supportive for the writer's growth.

I am interested in Briya classes, but am terrified to write and/or to share my writing with others. Should I still sign up?
Yes. A resounding yes. It can really be terrifying to express yourself and share it with others, particularly if you've felt unseen, unheard, dismissed, misunderstood. And yet, you are considering these classes, likely because you are yearning to express yourself and to find others who want to hear you and support you. That is our most deeply-held purpose at the Briya Project. We will be happy to speak with you one-on-one to discuss your concerns, your dreams, your needs, your boundaries, your process. Please reach out if you'd like to talk.

I am interested in Briya classes, but am nervous that I don't know how to give the kind of feedback you're talking about. I know I can be critical, and I don't want to offend anyone. Are these classes right for me?
Yes! Many of us have been trained to demonstrate our intelligence by putting people down. We do it unconsciously and inadvertently, even sometimes when we wish to compliment someone or their work! We at Briya know that we're all human, and we can err, and we only build new skills by trying. Our classes are designed to support you not only as an artist in your own right, but also to help you as a member of an artistic community learn to support others. This is our purpose, and we want to help! We will be talking about this in class, especially in our 8 week courses. If you'd like to discuss this one-on-one, please reach out!

Would Briya Project classes be good for teenagers and/or children?
The answer is... yes and no. We believe our methodology is vital for teens and children. We would like to offer youth courses in the future - because of capacity, at present we cannot offer youth open enrollment courses, but we'd be happy to work with you to customize classes for your age cohort. As for our current open enrollment classes... these are geared towards adults, and because we strive to create a place of free expression for our participants, we will not be able to limit the subject matter or language of what a writer chooses to share with the group. For this reason, we believe our open enrollment classes are best suited for adults, which we consider to be 18 years old and above. That said, if you have a teenager in mind who you believe could thrive in and contribute to adult classes, or would like to customize a class for younger creators, please reach out - we'd love to discuss these possibilities with you!

How long does a Briya class last?
We offer: weekly courses that consist of 8 sessions, 2 hours each, once a week; and several drop-in classes that consist of 1 session that is 2 hours each. We like 2 hour sessions because they tend to offer enough time for individuals to write alone, and then come back together to share the work and offer each other feedback - and it can hard to be on Zoom for longer than that!
We also are happy to work with you to customize classes for your congregation, organization, school, community, or family, in which case we'll work with you to determine the right fit.

Is there homework?
For most Briya classes, there will be no assigned homework, and all of the work will consist of writing within the timeframe of a class session. We may on occassion ask you to bring something to class, an object you would have in your home already. We may recommend readings or exercises for you to consider outside of class - that would be completely optional. If there is a class with homework, that will be explicitly stated in the class description on the enrollment page.

How much does a Briya class cost?
At this time, we are offering one-time drop-in sessions for $20, and 8 week courses for $200. We offer tiered pricing for every class, because we want to make sure that people are not blocked from participating based on cost. We trust that you understand that the fees from these classes allow us to operate.

Do I have to pay in full before a class begins?
Yes. At this time, we do not have the capacity to offer payment plans. We hope that will change in the coming year.

Do you offer any free courses?
Not at this time. We aim to offer affordable classes that support your artistic growth, and that are also sustainable to operate.

I'm interested in your classes but am not sure I can afford them. What do I do?
We are so glad that you're interested in Briya classes! We'd like to find a way to work together that is financially sustainable for you and for the growth of the Briya Project. We hope you'll notice that we offer tiered pricing on all of our classes. If you have, and it is still a stretch, please reach out to us here to discuss.

I see your classes are offered online, on Zoom. Do you offer in-person classes?
Not at this time. We are currently only offering classes online, for a variety of reasons, including safety and mobility concerns, as well as a desire to bring together individuals regardless of geography.

I'm not so good with Zoom. Can you help me?
We'll be happy to offer support so that you can participate comfortably in a class, though we may be limited based on technology or capacity. Please reach out to us through this contact form with your particular questions and concerns, so we can assess how to support you!

I still have a question (or several!) about the Briya Project and its classes. Can I reach out to someone to ask?
Absolutely! Please contact us through the form on this page. We will be delighted to hear from you, and will respond as soon as we are able.