This year, I am counting the Omer. I have never counted it before. Counting the Omer is about preparing to receive the Torah. We move from a place of recounting and remembering (the Passover story) to learning and growth (receiving and studying Torah). I have heard for many years about…
View the originalOn Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, as we face increased antisemitism and continued attacks on LGBTQ+ rights today, we draw strength from our ancestors, those who survived as well as those we lost. That list includes Magnus Hirschfeld—a gay Jewish doctor who innovated gender-affirming care in Germany in the late-19th…
View the originalDear Transgender Jew (or ally), As a trans Jew, myself, I have experienced some of the difficulties as well as moments of joy that come with existing in the intersection of transness and Jewishness. Yet, despite the growing breadth of literature on gay, lesbian, and other queer-identifying Jews, there’s still…
View the originalWith less of a bang and more of a whimper, the Florida legislative session has come to a close. Thanks to our partners and the Florida Jewish community, we’ve stopped anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in its tracks! Here are some of our monumental wins in Florida and next steps to get involved:…
View the originalAs I completed grad school in 2011 with a Master of Social Work, I vividly remember my professors urging us to choose career paths where we could enact profound change within our own communities. Their words resonated deeply with me as a young Jewish woman. I wanted to apply my…
View the originalGrowing up, I wanted to be like Queen Esther. She’s an inspiration to many little Jewish kids. She’s described as so beautiful and brave, and these inherent traits allowed her to be queen and save the Jewish people. She was an #Icon well before social media. As I’ve gotten older,…
View the originalI’d been envisioning this exact Shabbat for months, the Keshet Neshamot/Rainbow Souls Shabbaton, a name inspired by the vibrant spirit of the QJOC (queer Jews of Color) community. As the lead organizer, I had made dozens of strategic and logistical decisions, all with the hope that participants would walk away feeling…
View the originalAs a parent, we all have ups and downs and surprise turns with our children. Let me tell you the story of our fourth kid, whom we fondly refer to as #4. When #4 was nine, they abruptly stopped playing on the competitive girls’ soccer and basketball teams. My husband…
View the originalWeaving friendship bracelets. Swimming in the lake. Hiking through the tall trees. Memories that last a lifetime. Summer camp is an integral part of Jewish life for thousands of campers and staff members every summer. But LGBTQ+ campers who are isolated, excluded, or harassed by their peers don’t get to…
View the originalAh, February! A month where the air buzzes with the vibrant energy of Black History Month… and my inbox? Well, it’s bursting at the seams. As a Black Jewish professional, my heart is overjoyed seeing a sea of messages, events, and writing that celebrates and uplifts the legacy and continuous…
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