Resource Guide Promoting Inclusion Includes Prayers for Jews Changing Genders

Halfway through a newly revised manual promoting inclusion for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in Judaism’s Reform movement are two short blessings written by a rabbi who was raised Eliza and now goes by Elliot. (more…)

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“Come for the Falafel”

Rabbi David Dunn Bauer, Yom Kippur 5768 / 2007

I am clearly striving for the “Bad Rabbi” award. On a day of fasting from food, drink, and intimate touch, I want to talk about falafel, art, and sex. Eros.

I want to talk about Israel.

Many of you may have heard me joke that my real reason for traveling to Israel is the falafel.

After an extraordinarily full and beautiful 11 days of travel there with 15 members and friends of the JCA, this summer not only do I no longer mean it as a joke, but I mean it passionately and sincerely. I mean it as a powerful advertisement to everyone in the community for travel to Israel as soon and as often as possible.

Falafel, if done right, comes in a pita bread that is so crammed full of things that it can’t close, most likely tears, and leaks tehina down the front of your shirt. In the pita are the falafel balls themselves, but also cucumber and tomato salad, hummus, hot sauce, pickles, slaw, and french fries. There is a combination of hot, cold, crisp, creamy, soothing, piquant, pungent, and fiery. They all sort of slop together, but each element retains some measure of its unique texture, taste, or heat. As you munch your way further into it, there is always an opportunity to add more of almost any spicy, sour, or creamy condiment on top, potentially doubling the volume and nutritional content of your original sandwich, and exponentially increasing the likelihood of tehina stains down the front of your shirt.

Ok. I’ll stop.

More….

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“God’s Christian Warriors” Battle Against Gay Rights
AfterElton.com - USA
While watching Amanpour interview some of these fundamentalists, I hoped
she would ask just what would happen to gay people should they get
their way: …

New film season offers dearth of gay themes, characters
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… created popular gay films “Walk on Water” (2004) and “Yossi & Jagger” (2002), and “The Bubble” similarly chronicles the lives of gays living in Israel. …

God’s Warriors Part 3 - Christianity
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I am a Christian Man; I am a Gay - Married Man; I Believe in a woman’s right to choose; I Qualify as a Christian Zionist because of my support of Israel; I Believe that the US has its issues with celebrity, materialism, violence and…

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It is hard to imagine Ronald Reagan sponsoring a federal amendment banning gay marriage or limiting federal funding for stem-cell research. Yet Mr Bush’s departure hardly guarantees a move back to the centre. …

CNN’s ‘God’s Warriors’ Reflects MSM’s Bias Towards ‘Big 3′ Faiths
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The term “right wing” is used seven times to describe the settlers and/or their supporters in Israel and in the United States, and “fundamentalist/-ism” was used three times, once in reference to Christian supporters of the settlers in …

Ivri Lider Talks to Out.com About Being Blacklisted by Israel
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Israeli pop star Ivri Lider’s fame in his homeland has climbed steadily over a decade-long career, only increasing after he came out in 2002 [see Out, March 2007]. As proud of his country as he is of being gay, the singer even did…

Complete list of TIFF doc events
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Director Ran Tal shows the world of the Israeli kibbutz movement from a largely unexplored perspective - that of the first generation of children who were born within the kibbutzim, or rural communities, and lived there for most of…

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.

The day was hot, and the crowd was big. An hour before the parade got down to 12th and 5th where we were, the streets were already lined with thousands of supporters. This year, for the first time, the many religious groups that are part of the march weren’t towards the end when people are tired, and the day has already been saturated by near-naked bodies and pulsating music. No, this year they were at the very front. And, frankly, it was awesome.

The ritual of the march is fairly moving. First come the Dykes on Bikes, loud, simple, in your face, totally friendly. Their opening is ceremonial. It is exciting and reassuring. They come ahead of the rest of the community with an unmistakable presence. They clear the road and send a simple message: we are here. They always seem to me like our protectors, our big sisters that won’t let anyone ruin our day, or ignore our fight. Then come the organizers (Thank You Heritage of Pride) and the Stonewall Veterans. You can’t help but feel a sense of pride and reality, as these men and women come by, reminding you of how far we’ve come and how far there is to go.

But now come the Grand Marshals. This year Rabbi Sharron Kleinbaum and Reverend Dr. Troy Perry lead the way. And there presence, followed by group after group of religious communities (30 communities in the first section alone!) was met with roaring cheers from the crowd. The annual discussion after the march seems to be about the glistening bodies taking over (not that we don’t enjoy them.) But this year Heritage of Pride, affirmed by the community, put religious and community groups front and center. The music, the faces, the kippot, the collars, all created a feeling of community. Not because everyone there was religious, but because we have come to learn in NY that these communities work very hard to support our families, friends, and city.  The long felt schism between religion and LGBTQ pride is being recognized as only one part of the story.  Our community has long been supported and strengthened by faith, and many of these group were created by the LGBTQ population.

Following them came all kinds of other community groups that are not the big names we all know (and are proud of) like PS 3, an elementary school downtown on the west side. The Little Red School House was also there, with a float covered in paintings by their students. There was also the North East Two-Spirit Society and African Ancestral Lesbians United for Societal Change.  It was Queer in the best ways, and it was loving.

We’ll try to get some photos up soon.

Miri on myspace is excited about finding a Gay Synagogue in Dallas, Texas. Living in NY, with CBST and so many open and welcoming shuls, it’s easy to forget how great it was to first discover these places. Thanks for reminding us Miri. Perhaps, Miri, you will share your experience with us?

blog.myspace.com/mirizworld:

Oh this is SO COOL!!! I found a gay synagogue in Dallas!! Congregation El Binah– they are apparently tiny– but I think the next time I’m in Dallas I’m gonna try to hit a service. That is just so cool…

This letter is going out “Shortly” from Arnold Eisen, Chancellor-elect of the JTS, but we’ve got it first

It’s a lengthy letter, like most everything in the Conservative Movement, but a thoughtful one.

Having a history with the Conservative Movement, this is a monumental occasion that brings up all kinds of emotions. Here’s the letter:

To the JTS Community:

I write to announce that, effective immediately, The Jewish Theological Seminary will accept qualified gay and lesbian students to our rabbinical and cantorial schools.

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