Queer highschoolers holding hands in the hallway, the entire universe between their palms.

Linked hands forming a human chain at Stonewall in 1969, tidal waves of change crashing around them.

Lesbians holding the hands of countless gay men at their hospital bedsides, filling in for mothers and fathers who refused to show up for their sons.

A parent holding the hand of their child at their b’nei mitzvah.

These are the images that come to mind for me as I take in the illustration at the top of this email. These, and the clarity that none of us can do this alone. 

That clarity lives at the heart of the shehechiyanu blessing, which millions of Jews will recite on Friday night. One of the things that strikes me most about this prayer is its emphasis on collectivity. Each verb ends in the suffix -nu. Us. 

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech haOlam

shehechiyanu,

v’kiyamanu,

v’higiyanu l’zman hazeh. 

Blessed are You, Eternal One,

who fills us with life,

who sustains us,

who enables us to arrive to this moment.

When I read this prayer, I feel as though I am looking into the eyes of everyone who forms the extraordinary lineage we inherit as LGBTQ+ and ally Jews. Those who have survived and are surviving. Those who did not survive, the many we have lost, who live in our remembering.

In reciting this prayer on Rosh Hashanah, we honor who and what came before, and we honor each other. Being here today not only means we survived the days that came before; it means we are fulfilling the dreams of those who came before. 

We are surviving. We are persisting. We are arriving. We are here. Together.

We are living in a historic moment for our communities, and for Keshet. Keshet is in its 25th year of existence. And while we had hoped to have written our obsolescence plan by now, having achieved full equality for LGBTQ+ Jews and our families, we draw strength from what we are accomplishing together, today.

More youth and LGBTQ+ Jews of Color than ever before are finding a home in Keshet’s programs. More Jewish professionals than ever before are learning how to strengthen their institutions through our trainings. More community members than ever are taking bold action for LGBTQ+ equality with us. Their own words speak volumes to our collective impact.

“I felt like I belonged fully in a way that isn’t really possible anywhere else. I loved it so much.” – T, he/him, Teen Shabbaton participant

“It’s the one weekend a year where I am surrounded by other queer Jews of Color in a space that is fully ours.” – Ziggy Valdez, they/them, QJOC Shabbaton participant

“As I am preparing to retire next year after 26 years serving as a congregational rabbi, I am feeling inspired to lead my community to work with Keshet to be a place not only of inclusion but of full belonging—and to know that my community might one day be led by and benefit from the experience of LGBTQ+ clergy.” – Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz, he/him, Temple Bnai Israel in Willimantic, CT

“My largest takeaway from this experience is that community outreach has the power to change the world.” – A college student who lobbied for LGBTQ+ equality in D.C. with Keshet 

Higiyanu l’zman hazeh. We have reached this moment. We are meeting this moment. Together.

L’shana tova u’metuka—Wishing you goodness and sweetness in the New Year.