Bill O’Reilly, well known for being a well educated moron, recently had Rachel Tiven, Executive Director of
Immigration Equality on as a guest. Rachel is well known for being a well educated non-moron, as well as an intellectual, activist, and Jewish woman.

We applaud her and Immigration Equality for going on the show (I, for one, don’t think I could have lasted without losing my cool.)

Also, notice that Bill O’Reilly drives home an important point: The problem is that the Federal Government doesn’t recognize Same Sex unions. Thanks Bill. Unfortunately, Bill also seems to feel that no spouses or partners should be able to immigrate to the US with their loved one as a sponsor.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD4CaukaQus[/youtube]

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Pride in the Pulpit, a program of the Empire State Pride Agenda has expanded its part of the website with lots more material and resources.  Check it out.

 Empire State Pride Agenda Pride in the Pulpit

D’var Torah

by Shoshana Jedwab

Adapted from a d’var torah given at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York City during Pride Month in June.

I want to begin by telling you about an experience I had at the recent Nehirim retreat.  Nehirim is an independent national organization that creates spiritual and cultural community for Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgendered Jews.  They run an annual spring retreat for queer Jews of all backgrounds and denominations.

During the opening icebreaker, I was asked to write down on a large piece of paper a verb to describe where I am currently at Jewishly.  I stole a verb common in GLBT circles and shared that I am transitioning. I am transitioning from modern orthodox Jew to Medicine Woman.

Coming out as a Medicine Woman was my dramatic way of saying I am becoming more of an earth-based Jew. Becoming an earth-based Jew means more than refusing plastic bags at Fairway, or eating local organic food.  It means looking at plants and animals as part of my living community.   It means looking at myself as part of a physical and spiritual ecosystem that includes all life.  Becoming an earth-based Jew means I am interested in things in the Torah and in the Talmud that I had once written off as irrelevant. It also means I am now open to believing in things I had once thought were not true.   The Torah contains much that is hard to believe. In one parsha alone, Parshat Hukkat, which we read a few weeks ago, we are told that a potion made of Red Cow juice can beat back the gloom of death. That if you are thirsty you can ask a stone for water. And that Moses will never enter the Promised Land because he hit a rock.  But then from my previous life as a modern orthodox Jew, my current queer lifestyle would be hard to believe and a challenge to tolerate.   Like much of the Torah, my journey to where I live now was an earthly journey of body and spirit, of flesh and impulse, imagination, humor, healing, community, celebration, advocacy, and love.   In fact, my journey bears more resemblance to the earthy wisdom of Parashat Hukkat than might be apparent at first. (more…)

The Jewish Buddhist has been around and the idea has become more and more a part of the landscape.  Not surprisingly, Queer folk have had a big part in bringing spiritual practice and awareness to the Jewish community, and the world in general.  Here’s a blog I recently came across that I thought would interest some of our readers.

Another Queer Jewish Buddhist:

Another Queer Jewish Buddhist Sexuality and Spirituality. Politics and Religion. Gay Activism and Culture. Advertising and Media.

We thought it would be an exciting day when GayGevalt posted its 613th event.  We thought the symbolism would be a good way to mark the growth of the LGBTQ Jewish Community.  Well, We flew past 613 to a whopping 620 events!  Over a dozen events were posted this week!

Thanks to everyone for your support.  Please spread the word!  The more people (Gay Jews or allies) visit and find events on GayGevalt, the more all of our events, YOUR events, are seen.

Thanks again!