These Hasidic Legos Are Coming to a Death Star Shul Near You

By Matthue Roth

The wonder of Legos is that you’re supposed to be able to build anything you can imagine. While sitting around their Baltimore Shabbos table, Tobey Finkelstein and family decided that what they wanted to build was a Lego construction that reflected their own interests–that is, observant Judaism and Star Wars. Rubber tires became shtreimels. A miniature robot construction site becomes the youth service. And beards become…well, beards.

Their mission: to build Beis Death Star Kochav Chaim, the first intergalactic synagogue.

Beis Death Star Kochav Chaim
Tobey Finkelstein and family decided they wanted to build a Lego construction that reflected their own interests–observant Judaism and “Star Wars.”

But don’t worry–Ms. Finkelstein and her kids aren’t building a real Death Star. But their successful Kickstarter campaign just raised over $1500 to support purchasing parts, printing, shipping, and (Finkelstein child) labor to produce their “Brickovickers’” HQ, a Hasidic shul complete with men’s and women’s sections, a rabbi’s seat, a Youth Service, and the one thing that no synagogue in the galaxy can be without: an unfinished basement.

Any synagogue with the name “Death Star” in the title might not be the most, well, welcoming place ever. But this one, “kochav chaim” literally means “star of life,” which takes its deathly inspiration and gives it, well, a new hope.

Lego bricks can be seen as an awesome metaphor for Jewish philosophy–where the pieces are rigid, but can be arranged in any way you choose–and the Finkelsteins have made their Brickovickers project into their own brick masterpiece.

Matthue Roth writes for Jewniverse.

You May Also Like
Everyman Theatre to Present ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Everyman Midsummer

This spring, Everyman Theatre will bring director and Associate Artistic Director Noah Himmelstein’s unique vision for Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" to the stage in a contemporary production that's full of surprises.

Mother-and-Daughter Artist Team Exhibited at Gordon Center’s Meyerhoff Art Gallery
Margy Feigelson and Laura Kellam

On display through May 1, “It’s All Relative: Dual Impressions of Nature" features the works of Margy Feigelson and Laura Kellam.

Birthright Participants Find Visiting Israel During Wartime a Unique Experience
Birthright Israel

Birthright Israel packs an emotional wallop for those participating in the aftermath of Oct. 7th.

Hiring People With Disabilities is a Win-Win for Everyone
woman at desk

People with disabilities bring the same assets and qualities to a job as any other perspective employee, writes Stanley Stith of Jewish Community Services.