Honoring Chosen Family This Shavuot

A tight squeeze and warm embrace signaling unconditional love is not something I will ever take for granted. I grew up in an unstable household. The dysfunction and trauma I experienced from my family of origin, in conjunction with my community’s homophobia and transphobia, left me depressed and alone. I…

Florida is My Home

I have lived in Florida my entire life. I am a product of Florida public schools and a close-knit Jewish community. I remember growing up and knowing I was gay in kindergarten. I don’t even know how I knew, considering I had never seen or heard about LGBTQ+ people before.…

Our 2022 Annual Report

In 2022, our work for change felt more urgent than ever. More than 300 bills assaulting the LGBTQ+ community were introduced or passed in 26 states. Politicians attacked the lives of trans children, drag shows were protested, and teachers were prohibited from discussing our history and lives.  And yet, thanks…

Loving Trans Youth With All of My Soul

As a proud parent of a transgender child I worry constantly about transphobia and the violence that naturally follows this kind of irrational hatred. As a Jew, I am also triggered by all acts of dehumanization because they contribute to the erasure of God’s identity as our Creator. We are…

Let’s Write the Next Chapter

I remember what it was like before I read a story like mine.  I was sitting in a park with a friend. As a young, queer, American Jew, I was lamenting the fact that I had seen Jewish stories and queer stories, but no Jewish, queer stories in popular media.…

Celebrating Queer Jewish Youth

This past weekend, we held our third-annual Midwest LGBTQ+ and Ally Teen Shabbaton! We talked about what it means to live at the intersection of LGBTQ+ and Jewish, we prayed together, played a glow-in-the-dark game of Capture the Flag, and explored how our relationship to our hair is intimately connected…

Meet Sivan, a Keshet Youth Program Participant who Created a Workbook for Kids to Learn about Gender & Judaism

Meet Our Team: Jay Smith, Chief Communications Officer

Keshet is made up of a team of dedicated, smart, and fun individuals. Every month, we’re sitting down with one person so that you get to know them a little better! This month, we spoke with Keshet’s Chief Communications Officer Jay Smith. Here’s what they had to say: Keshet: What…

Writing from Israel

A Place for All to Dwell | Tazria-Metzora

“When the community is immersed in suffering, a person may not say: I will go to my home and I will eat and drink, and be at peace with myself… Anyone who is distressed together with the community will merit seeing the consolation of the community.” –Ta’anit 11a These words…