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Information

Temple Beth-El
After school / Supplemental Hebrew School; Chevra Kadisha / Burial Society; Mikvah; Social Group; Synagogue or Prayer Group; Youth Group
Conservative
(607) 273-5775
402 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, New York 14850

About

Our synagogue is a warm, vibrant, and proudly queer-affirming community where LGBTQ+ Jews and families are fully seen, valued, and celebrated. Queer inclusion is central to our identity as a congregation, and we are proud to have queer lay leadership and staff. We offer a rich mix of adult, family, and intergenerational programming that is intentionally inclusive and welcoming of diverse family structures and identities. Our ritual life is fully egalitarian and embraces gender expansiveness, with lifecycle events that honor and affirm queer identities and relationships. Ours is a highly engaged, volunteer-driven community that values relationship-building, participation, and care, and where newcomers are welcomed with openness and authenticity. Above all, we strive to be a place where queer Jews feel at home—welcomed as their full selves, reflected in leadership, and embraced as essential to the life of our congregation.

Listing Details

Organizational Policies

  • Benefits such as health insurance, parental leave, etc. are gender-neutral and LGBTQ+ inclusive
  • Has written nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policy that mentions gender identity and expression
  • Participation in gender-specific programs is based on gender identity
  • Has written nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policy that mentions sexual orientation
  • All registration forms have been updated for LGBTQ+ belonging (i.e. adult 1 / 2 , parents or guardians, expansive gender options, pronouns, etc)
  • Strategic priority of LGBTQ+ engagement

Programming

  • Engages with LGBTQ+ civil rights in a way that is consistent with our engagement with civil rights for any core constituency
  • Curriculum and educational materials reflect LGBTQ+ people and identities
  • Has regular programming on LGBTQ+ themes
  • Observes LGBTQ+ days of significance (such as Pride, National Coming Out Day, Transgender Day of Visibility, etc)
  • Speakers/presenters/scholars in residence include LGBTQ+ people

Ritual

  • Offers and frequently uses gender-expansive ritual language
  • Celebrates LGBTQ+ life cycle events
  • Mikveh can be accessed for LGBTQ+ life cycle events
  • Our mikveh has a gender-neutral area
  • Mikveh users can bring their own guides/witnesses or specify a desire for a trans/nonbinary mikveh guide
  • Requirements for ritual wear are trans- and nonbinary inclusive

Spaces

  • Has all-gender restroom/s and locker/changing rooms (if applicable) available
  • Works with gender-expansive individuals on a case-by-case basis to assign bunking or accommodation that affirms their gender

Staff & Leadership

  • LGBTQ+ people are represented in our senior leadership
  • LGBTQ+ people are represented on our board
  • Incoming staff and public-facing volunteers receive LGBTQ+ awareness training as part of orientation