When I became Keshet’s Board Chair in January 2019, that week’s parasha recounted the battles with Amalek. I predicted that during my tenure as Chair, we would surely face Amaleks, large and small. The political landscape looked grim, but none of us could imagine what the future would hold… Here…
View the originalThis Thursday evening is the start of Shavuot when we’ll celebrate receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai and the spring harvest. Traditionally, Jewish communities will read the Book of Ruth, the story of Ruth choosing to join her mother-in-law, Naomi, and become part of the Jewish People. Ruth’s choice to…
View the originalKeshet 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 Bay Area Education & Training Manager, Rabbi Eliana Kayelle. Here’s what they had…
View the originalAs a transgender Asian Jew, I often joke about how lucky I am to have multiple internationally-recognized, month-long opportunities to celebrate my identities: Pride Month takes place in June, and both Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month take place in May. While I find…
View the originalA 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…
View the originalI 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.…
View the originalIn 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…
View the originalAs 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…
View the originalI 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.…
View the originalThis 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…
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