Several years ago, Dr. Sienna created a moving ritual of welcoming these guests into our Sukkot in the fall. This Pride Month, as we yearn for stories of strength, creativity, and resonance in our traditions, we are sharing these powerful ancestral snapshots in hopes they might offer some.
As Dr. Sienna and Keshet wrote in the Sukkot ritual: “Because many of these ancestors were denied the opportunity to live a full and vibrant Jewish life, and their stories were not passed down as part of our Jewish heritage, we welcome them as an act of healing. As we bring our history and our future together, we invite these ancestral guests to join us, and we pray that our communities may be spaces of true belonging for all.”
May their memory make us proud, and be seen in our tradition. And may they offer us the sustenance we need in this holy season of Pride, and in our own time.
A note on content: LGBTQ and Jewish history contain many moments of power and celebration, as well as marginalization and oppression. Some of these stories include anti-LGBTQ+ and antisemitic violence. We tell these stories not to perpetuate narratives of oppression or violence, but as an act of intergenerational healing and tikkun.
Keshet envisions a world in which all LGBTQ+ Jews and our families can live with full equality, justice, and dignity. Stay connected by joining our email list and following us on social media.
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