Related Blog Posts on Audacious Hospitality, LGBTQ+ Jewish Life, and Strengthening Congregations

Photo of a group of people on A Wider Bridge Leader's trip to Israel
Israel

Hope and Pride in Be’er Sheva

Rabbi Dara Lithwick
During Pride Month, I participated in a leaders' trip to Israel through A Wider Bridge, an organization dedicated to connecting LGBTQ+ people in North America and Israel. Around Israel, pride events this year focused on calls to free the hostages, support the hundreds of thousands of displaced people, and reach a meaningful ceasefire.
Photo of Chaim Harrison wearing a Walk the Moon shirt, holding his hands up, standing in fromt of a rainbow colored arch
LGBTQ+ Jewish Life

Being Honest with God and Myself

Chaim Harrison
I took the Commandments seriously. However, one of the Commandments deeply resonated above all others: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor," meaning "You shall not lie" (Exodus 20:13). This affected me most because I was lying to others and myself about a core aspect of my identity: my bisexuality.
female and male symbol combined and written with chalk
Transgender Inclusion

Affirming and Loving Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive Grandchildren

Given these realities, the Union for Reform Judaism, Jewish Grandparents Network, and Keshet collaborated to create a series of conversations to support grandparents and other loving adults who are interested in providing affirming spaces for gender expansive, non-binary, and transgender young people. These sessions have provided grandparents with foundational knowledge, shared language, and inclusive practices.
LGBTQ+ Equality

Affirming Trans & Non-Binary Youth in Our Jewish Communities

This Pride Month, NFTY North American Board members Daniella Abbott and Cameron Samuels joined HUC rabbinical student Kelly Whitehead to discuss how their trans and non-binary identities have influenced their attitude toward systems of oppressions in the wake of new legislation aimed at attacking queer identities.
Parenting

Choosing to Have a Living Daughter

Aron Hirt-Manheimer

Our hope is that more and more people will join together to expand the network of supportive communities until transgender people are no longer shunned.