DOCSLIB.ORG

Spring 2017 TEMPLE BETH ZION KOLEINU

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Spring 2017 TEMPLE BETH ZION KOLEINU Spring 2017 TEMPLE BETH ZION KOLEINU Maintaining Hope by Reb Moshe page 10 Reb Moshe’s 10 Tips for Making Passover Both Joyous and Kosher Marching as a Jew, Marching on Shabbat by Rav Claudia The Rebirth of Tikkun Olam at TBZ TBZ News & Events OUR RABBIS Reb Moshe Waldoks, Senior Rabbi ext. 12 NEWS FROM THE CO-PRESIDENTS [email protected] Rav Claudia Kreiman, Rabbi ext. 11 by Sara Smolover [email protected] SYNAGOGUE STAFF As we write this, the TBZ building is literally space are just some ideas. Sitting in the Steven Greenberg, Executive Director ext. 10 humming—or even vibrating—with the intimate lounge space for a heart-to-heart [email protected] activity of construction. New walls, new conversation? Moving our new adjustable Cantor Becky Khitrik, Education Coordinator ext. 14 [email protected] wiring, new spaces, new systems—there is tables to make room for yoga? With so much Beth Ehrenreich, Rabbis’ Assistant ext. 13 so much “new” happening up above, while additional space we are able to accommodate [email protected] at the same time the foundation beneath more people in our programs—so spread the Ed Kleiman, Bookkeeper [email protected] us is rooted deeply and grows stronger word that the TBZ spirit has expanded and is Sara Lustberg, Executive Assistant, ext. 17 with our new board and leadership in place. open to more visitors and members. office @tbzbrookline.org Voted in at our Community Meeting in Once the spaces are ready, we are prioritizing December are new Board Member Eddie OFFICERS, BOARD MEMBERS their use for TBZ programs and members Co-Presidents: Sue Kahn, Sara Smolover Taub and returning member Jenny Berz, our for the first year. We’ll get a sense of how [email protected] new VP of Spiritual Life Michael Goldberg, Vice-Presidents and when the spaces are being used, and returning VP of Finance and Administration, External Relations: Carol Kamin then determine how to respond to the many Finance & Administration: Tali Buechler Walters Tali Walters, and VP of External Relations, inquiries we will receive, and have already Member Relations: open Carol Kamin. Continuing their terms as Programming: open been receiving, about renting the space to at large members are Dan Marx, Diane Spiritual Life: Michael Goldberg outside users. Treasurer O’Donoghue, and Geoff Stein, who also serves Geoff Stein as Treasurer. I am honored and excited to It took a lot of imagination to conceive of this Secretary serve as Co-President under the guidance expansion and even more generosity to make Daniel Marx of and with the partnership of Sue Kahn, it happen. Thanks to so many of you who At-Large Members Jenny Berz, Diane O’Donoghue, Geoff Stein, Eddie Taub who graciously agreed to serve one more joined in our vision, participated in various Past Presidents year as Co-President. I am learning so much ways, and gave gifts that were meaningful to Gabriel Belt, Irwin Pless, Howard Cohen, Myra Musicant, about leadership and the thoughtfulness and you. We succeeded in reaching our ambitious Enid Shulman, Jay Zagorsky, Fran Adams, Jonathan Klein, David Cherenson, Jenni Seicol, Tali Buecler Walters foresight that are required for this job. I also fundraising goal of $1.2 million! As the actual Committee Chairs want to recognize the strong administrative construction got underway, the budget was Adult Learning: Phyllis Goldstein, Maxine Lyons support that is keeping everything running adjusted upward slightly. So we are still Beit Rabben Steering Committee: Rebecca Blouwoulff, Julia Freedson seeking to raise an additional $200,000 to Book Club: Suzanne Gelber smoothly in our office under the leadership of Building: Jack Daniels Steven Greenberg, Executive Director. fully pay for our building revitalization without Building Revitalization: Jonathan Klein, Ken Wexler any long-term debt. Development: Carol Kamin, Jill Goldberg As you know, a major focus of the past year Garden: Rick Bankhead has been raising the money and making On September 10th we will join together for Hesed: Debbie Morley, Linda Rosen the plans for renovating and revitalizing our the dedication of the space as the Reb Moshe Inclusion Committee: Sue Brent, Suzanne Gelber, Danya Handelsman Israel Committee: open beloved, timeworn building. In just a short and Anne Waldoks Lifelong Learning Center. Membership: open time from now, we will be revealing accessible, You will hear more about this in the weeks Men’s Group: Mark Dwortzan, Steve Lewis bright, clean, well-equipped meeting, learning, ahead. We extend our deep appreciation to Mishpachot: Kathy Kates, Shoshanna Korn-Meyer Lauren and Jonathan Garlick for chairing Nishmat Hayyim: Reggie Silberberg and gathering spaces meant for all to enjoy! Nominating Committee: David Cherenson It’s time to imagine the possibilities for fully the Dedication. We hope you are excited Rosh Hodesh: Judy Epstein-Fisher, Susan Farber utilizing these spaces. Beit Rabban, morning to expand your own use of our building, as Social Action playgroups, a meditation/quiet space, friendly well as deepen your connection to our TBZ Family Table: Alan Weisner, Marilyn Glazer-Weisner GBIO: Susan Bookbinder, Rosalind Joffee foosball competitions, sharing an afternoon Community, and to make it your home away Literacy Project: Kim Meyers cup of coffee in a bright and comfortable from home. Tikkun Olam: Judy Schechtman, Michael Goldberg Synagogue Practices: Jed Shugerman Koleinu Editor: Beth Harris Inclusion Committee request for our members with scent/chemical sensitivities. Use of perfume, aftershave even scented dryer sheets can literally make some people sick Temple Beth Zion with headaches, hives and other symptoms. Please refrain from wearing scents or scented 1566 Beacon Street Brookline, MA 02446 products when attending services or events at TBZ. Thank you for your consideration. 617.566.8171 www.tbzbrookline.org 2 KOLEINU SPRING 2017 TBZBROOKLINE.ORG TBZ NEWS & EVENTS This is only a sample of the exciting events happening at TBZ! Check out our website to learn more about our programming and committees, and help us continue to grow our dynamic and spirited community. Beit Rabban Shabbat Walk for Hunger Sunday, May 7 During our joyous celebration of student learning Please join or sponsor this year’s walkers from TBZ, or plan to help with our young members will lead parts of Kabbalat the snack station. Our team will join over 40,000 walkers, 2,000 volunteers Shabbat with their classmates and teachers, and and thousands of donors as we raise awareness about hunger in our state take an active role in greeting guests, serving the and raise funds for programs designed to break the cycle of food insecurity meal, and leading activities after dinner. For Beit in our communities. More then 700,000 people are chronically hungry in Rabban families. Registration required. the state. The 2017 Project Bread Walk for Hunger offers us all a chance to Friday, March 3, 5:30 - 8:30 pm. make a difference. Community Retreat May 12 - 14 More information about signing up to be part of the TBZ team, sponsoring walkers and volunteering will be available soon. Our 9th Annual Community Retreat will take place at beautiful Craigville Retreat Center Cape Cod. Please join us for a Shabbaton (weekend) of meaningful services, delicious meals, interesting programming ADULT LEARNING and amazing community building. All TBZ members are encouraged to attend. There will be programming Lunch and Learn with Rav Claudia and services for people of all ages. Sign up on the TBZ Class will continue during the spring. Bring your dairy/parve lunch and website. Early bird deadline March 15. Registration join with others for discussion around relevant readings. Coffee/tea closes April 15. and seltzer will be provided. Thursdays, 12:30 pm - 2 pm (specific dates to be announced) Family Pesach Program Biblio dramaturge, Becky Price will conduct a family workshop. Details to follow. Trope Class with Cantor Becky Khitrik Sunday, April 2: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Learn to chant Torah in just six weeks. Open to musicians, people who believe they are not musically inclined and even those who think Family Purim Celebration (mistakenly!) that they are tone deaf. Participants should have a basic Please join us to sing, dance and parade our way knowledge of how to read Hebrew. through the Purim story. Take part in a costume Mondays, April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22: 7 - 8:30 pm and prop making workshop with the Boston Puppeteers Cooperative, an abbreviated Wise Aging Group Megillah Reading and Purim Spiel. Back by popular demand! Join Reb Moshe and Ann Waldoks to explore Sunday, March 12: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. what Wise Jewish Aging is, and can be, using texts (both Jewish and Tikkun Leil Shavuot May 30 general) and our relationships with our physical and spiritual selves, at Kehillath Israel and with each other. Join hundreds of friends and neighbors for a Wednesdays, April 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24: 7 - 8:30 pm unique educational and cultural experience at the 9th Annual Community Tikkun Leil Shavuot “Colliding Dreams” Film Discussion Coming in May in Brookline. The service will end with shacharit Jan Darsa will facilitate a series of discussions inspired by the film at sunrise led by Rav Claudia and others. Learn, discuss, eat and shmooze all night long. Colliding Dreams. The gripping documentary deepens understanding 9pm - 4 am. KI Harvard St. Brookline of the too-often-ignored history of Zionism, one of the most influential, controversial, and political ideologies of the modern era. Over three Yom HaShoah sessions, participants will view key sections of the film and explore the Take part in The Greater Boston Community Yom issues they raise. Be on the look out for details in Happenings. HaShoah (Holocaust) Commemoration to be held in Fanueil Hall.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • November 2020
    November 2020 | 14 Cheshvan 5781 – 14 Kislev 5781 | Volume 75, Number 6 2021 Annual Campaign Leadership By Jamie Richman Allan has provided David Eichholz Autumn has arrived, and believe years of service to the will co-chair the it or not, the 2021 Savannah Jewish community including Men’s Campaign. Federation Annual Community serving on the Jewish This father-son Campaign season is also here! We are Educational Alliance duo will be sure excited to announce the 2021 Campaign Board of Directors and to mix things up Leadership Team and thank them for teaching at Shalom this campaign Candle Lighting Times their commitment School. Hilary Kronowitz season with their David Eichholz to our Federation Hilary Kronowitz passion for and Friday, November 6 5:12pm and entire Jewish will chair the Women’s dedication to the Savannah Jewish community. Campaign. Kronowitz has community. David is currently the Friday, November 13 5:07pm Michelle Allan chaired the Lion of Judah Vice-President of the Federation Friday, November 20 5:04pm has graciously division for the past handful Board of Governors. Friday, November 27 5:02pm agreed to serve as of years, sits on the Federation When you get a call from the 2021 overall Michelle Allan Board of Governors and is one of them or one of our many Friday, December 4 5:01pm Campaign Chair excited to coordinate the dedicated volunteers, please after serving as Women’s Campaign entire Women’s Campaign. answer and give graciously. Chair for the 2019 & 2020 campaigns. Benjamin Eichholz and Benjamin Eichholz Creativity flourishes through COVID-19 In this Issue By Jennifer Rich who, prior to the shutdown, were timely topical conversations, access P2 Now More Than Ever When COVID-19-19 shut not able to come to the synagogue to curated resources to help with our down Synagogues in Savannah and due to limited mobility or health rea- personal, emotional, and spiritual P4 Greenberg Retirement throughout the United States in sons.
    [Show full text]
  • Sept08greenberg.Pdf
    the opportunity to engage and to relate to the sources today, particularly during Yom sacrificial service. Kippur when the Seder HaAvodah serves as For modern Jews, sacrifice was anath- the climax of the entire sacrificial system. ema; those ancient forms of worship seemed The language of these sources expresses vital primitive and outmoded. The notion that ideas about relationship, closeness and God is to be found in one central place was distance, gift-giving, and the connection be- objectionable. The burning of animals in tween human behavior and God’s willing- service to God seemed unnecessarily cruel. ness to abide among us. The language of the Temple and sacrifice, We need new approaches to reclaim these which could have lent itself so easily to difficult texts. Although Temple and sacrifice metaphor, art, and poetry, disappeared, and have long ceased to exist, the imaginative, in- the vast number of sources that were rooted terpretive, and linguistic influence of these in such language were cut off. We need these texts can indeed last forever. Sorting Sins: When the Law Stays the Same and Everything Else Changes Steven Greenberg t has long been the claim of the Orthodox tus of Shabbat and its violation needed to be Icommunity that Jewish law does not or understood in a different light. Important or- should not change to accord itself with the thodox poskim (halakhic decisors) insisted that times. Among certain Jews, since the early Sabbath violators not be classified and treated 19th century, all new things are considered a as idolaters or gentiles whose touch disquali- priori forbidden.
    [Show full text]
  • Judaism and Homosexuality: an Authentic
    Book Review Compassion and Halakhic Limits: Judaism and Homosexuality: An Authentic Orthodox View by Chaim Rapoport Reviewed by Daniel Rynhold Abstract: In his comprehensive rabbinic study of homosexuality, Rabbi Chaim Rapoport argues that Orthodox leaders can and should take a compassionate approach that accommodates innovative policy suggestions without contravening any halakhic bottom lines. But does the very fact of his sincere compassion show once and for all how halakhic boundaries can never allow Orthodoxy to engage fully the personhood of The Edah Journal the Orthodox homosexual? Biography: Dr Daniel Rynhold is Lecturer in Judaism in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, King’s College, London. His first book, Two Models of Jewish Philosophy: Justifying One’s Practices (Oxford University Press) is due out in March. The Edah Journal 5:1 Edah, Inc. © 2005 Tammuz 5765 Compassion and Halakhic Limits: Judaism and Homosexuality: An Authentic Orthodox View by Chaim Rapoport Reviewed by Daniel Rynhold In one of the most famous opening lines in argument of the main text, the illuminating English literature, we are reminded of ‘a truth footnotes are an outstanding work of scholarship universally acknowledged’: that a single man must in themselves, with many informative and fully be in want of a wife. The fact that Jane Austen is referenced discussions of tangential halakhic and famously pre-empted by the rabbis of the Talmud aggadic issues. One certainly cannot fault R. at Qiddushin 2b, and again with specific reference to Rapoport’s halakhic scholarship—at least as a men, seems only to reinforce the universality of relative ‘reed-cutter in the marsh’ in the halakhic this yearning, and while both quotes are found in a realm, I could not.
    [Show full text]
  • Gay-Orthodox.Pdf
    "JONATHAN" AND "DAVID" are naomi observant Jews. They belong to the same Orthodox synagogue in New York City. From time to time, other synagogue members invite them to Shabbat lunch. Periodically, Jonathan and David host a fam­ ily for Shabbat in the Manhattan apartment they share. Occasionally, someone who doesn't know them well will try to interest one or the other in a nice Orthodox girl. After all, Jonathan and David are sin­ gle professionals in their early 40s—ripe material for a sbiddach (match). But both men always respond, politely, that they are not interested. That's because Jonathan and David are already committed. To each other. Jonathan is a social worker. But that does not define him in the Orthodox Jewish world nearly as emphatically as his sexuality. That is why he is not openly gay in his Orthodox community (and why he, and several other gay men interviewed for this arti­ cle, asked that their real names not be used). "I am not keeping [it] a secret," says Jonathan, "but I also don't feel I have to make a statement. People don't need to know everything about me— especially something that is so personal." More and more, gay and lesbian Orthodox Jews seem to be taking Jonathan's approach: acknowledg­ ing they are gay, even if they don't advertise it. And in response, a growing number of underground support groups geared specifically to Orthodox Jews are crop­ ping up both online and in Jewish centers in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Miami.
    [Show full text]
  • Booklet Program.Pub
    Gathering / אסיפה Memorial and Solidarity The New York LGBTQS and Jewish Communities August 6, 2015 / 21 Av 5775 Sponsors Congregation Beit Simchat Torah Jewish Queer Youth Co-Sponsors 14th Street Y Lab/Shul A Wider Bridge Manny Cantor Center ARZA Park Slope Jewish Center Brotherhood Synagogue Rabbinical Assembly Central Conference of American Rabbinical Council of America Rabbis Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association Congregation Ansche Chesed Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Congregation Or Chayim Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Downtown Jews Romemu East End Temple Society for the Advancement of Judaism Eshel The Bronfman Center, NYU Hebrew Institute of Riverdale The New Shul Hebrew Union College - Jewish T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Institute of Religion / NY UJA-Federation of New York JCC Manhattan Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Theological Seminary West End Synagogue Keshet * List in formation We are grateful to our host, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Com- munity Center and to Executive Director Glennda Testone for their generosity and fellowship in providing facilities, equipment, and staff for this event. We are proud to be partners with this important institution. 1 Program אנוש ( תהילים קג) Enosh , Psalm 103:15-17 CBST Community Chorus, led by Music Director Joyce Rosenzweig Music: Louis Lewandowski כחציר ימיו; אנוש, .Our days are like grass כציץ השדה, כן יציץ. .We bloom like flowers of the field כי רוח עברה-בו ואיננו; ;A wind passes by, and we are no more ולא-יכירנו עוד מקומו. .our own place no longer knows us וחסד ה', מעולם ועד- עולם- על- יראיו; But the Eternal’s steadfast love is for all eternity toward וצדקתו , לבני בנים.
    [Show full text]
  • Trembling Before G-D
    Mongrel Media Presents Trembling Before G-D A Film by Sandi Simcha DuBowski 2001. Israel/USA. 84 min. In English, Hebrew and Yiddish with English subtitles. Distribution 1028 Queen St. West Toronto, Ontario Canada M6J 1H6 p: 416.516.9775 f: 416.516.0651 e: [email protected] www.mongrelmedia.com Publicity Bonne Smith Star PR Tel: (416) 488-4436 Fax: (416) 488-8438 Email: [email protected] TREMBLING BEFORE G-D - Credits A Film by Sandi Simcha DuBowski Simcha Leib Productions and Turbulent Arts present in Association with Keshet Broadcasting Ltd. (Israel) in co-production with Pretty Pictures (Paris) and Cinephil Ltd (Tel Aviv) Trembling Before G-d a film by Sandi Simcha DuBowski Produced by Sandi Simcha DuBowski and Marc Smolowitz In Creative Collaboration with and Edited by SUSAN KORDA Director/Producer SANDI SIMCHA DuBOWSKI Producer MARC SMOLOWITZ Edited by SUSAN KORDA For Keshet Broadcasting, Ltd., Israel JOHANNA PRENNER, Commissioning Editor Co-Producers JAMES VELAISE, (Pretty Pictures, Paris) PHILIPPA KOWARSKY, (Cinephil, Ltd.Tel Aviv) Composer JOHN ZORN Music Supervisor CAROLE SUE BAKER and JON L. FINE OCEAN PARK MUSIC GROUP Post Production Supervisor LIZZIE DONAHUE Cinematographers, USA DONNA BINDER SANDRA CHANDLER MIK CRIBBEN JIM DENAULT KEN DRUCKERMAN SANDI DUBOWSKI KIRSTEN JOHNSON KEVIN KEATING KAREN KRAMER JENNIFER LANE DAVID LEITNER MARIE PEDERSON BEN SPETH FAWN YACKER ANDREW YARME Cinematographers, UK NOSKI DEVILLE SANDI DUBOWSKI Cinematographers, Israel NILI ASLAN SANDI DUBOWSKI ISSA FREIJ JACKIE MATITHAU YORAM MILO
    [Show full text]
  • Neuerwerbungsliste Theologie April 2005
    Neuerwerbungsliste der Seminarbibliothek Theologische Fakultät April 2005, geordnet nach Signaturen Allgemeiner Wissenschaftsapparat <Aa 46<6b>> Woolley, Leonard: The art of the Middle East including Persia, Mesopotamia and Palestine / by Leonard Woolley. [Translated by Ann E. Keep]. - New York : Crown Publishers, 1961. - 259 S. : Ill. (Art of the world, non-European cultures : the historical, sociological and religious backgrounds) <Ab 14> Evangelisches Gemeindelexikon / hrsg. von Erich Geldbach ... - Sonderausg. - Wuppertal : Brockhaus, 1986. - 557 S. : Ill. ; 19 cm ISBN 3-417-24082-4 (kart.) <Ab 38<24>> Biographisch-bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon / begr. und hrsg. von Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz. Fortgef. von Traugott Bautz Bd. 24: Ergänzungen XI . - Nordhausen : Bautz, 2005. - XL S., 1600 Sp. ; 27 cm Literaturangaben ISBN 3-88309-247-9 <Ab 38<Reg.1-24>> Biographisch-bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon / begr. und hrsg. von Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz. Fortgef. von Traugott Bautz: Register zu Band I - XXIV . - Nordhausen : Bautz, [2005]. - 120 S. ; 25 cm <Ab 9<28>> Dictionnaire d'histoire et de gâeographie ecclâesiastiques / sous la dir. de R. Aubert T. 28: Jonopolis - Kilber . - Paris : Letouzey et Anâe, 2003. - 1520 Sp. ISBN 2-7063-0217-8 Allgemeines zu Theologie und Bibel <Ba 10<208>> Schewe, Susanne: Die Galater zurückgewinnen : paulinische Strategien in Galater 5 und 6 / Susanne Schewe. - Göttingen : Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2005. - 215 S. ; 24 cm (Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments ; 208) Zugl.: Münster, Univ., Diss., 2003 u.d.T.: Schewe, Susanne: Im Geist beginnen - im Fleisch vollenden? ISBN 3-525-53072-2 <Ba 10<92>> Weippert, Manfred: Die Landnahme der israelitischen Stämme in der neueren wissenschaftlichen Diskussion : ein kritischer Bericht / Manfred Weippert.
    [Show full text]
  • Orthodox Non-Conformism Steven Greenberg
    Orthodox Non-Conformism Steven Greenberg even years ago I wrote an anonymous article ing out last year that was abusive or hateful. And since called ”Gayness and God.” Then I was the coming out, I am for the first time, partneTed with an Scloseted Rabbi Yaakov Levado. Today I am, absolutely wonderful guy We have not yet fi@ out as far as I how, the first openly gay Orthodox rabbi. how two gay orthodox men are supposed to put a life While I have been out to family and friends for nearly a together. Gay life, even coupled monogamous gay life, decade, last March I decided that it was time to come does not yet mix so well with contemporary Orthodox out publicly I sat on pins and needles for a month wait- society. We attend a synagogue where it is fairly well ing for the onslaught of attack and criticism. To my known that we ap.e a couple. The rabbi has been very surprise, there was no public outcry There were a few accepting, but we were encouraged by some members mean quotes here and there, but taken together the re- to keep our relationship ”private.” sponse ranged from cautious For most orthodox gays, understanding to outright ap- the risks of corning out in the plause. Old friends and ac- community are formidable. quaintances, colleagues, and Thepatestfearisthatwewill students came forward to offer How could a people lose the closeness and comfort th& support and encourage- knownfor unrelenting family offers. It is terrifying ment. h reb.nspect, the para- to imagine seeing the same lyzing terror that I suffed for inquiry become so disgust that one felt about more than twenty years had patently conformist oneself in the eyes of loved been a paper tiger.
    [Show full text]
  • A Great Moral Issue of Our Time Vayera October 23 2010
    A “Great Moral Issue” of Our Time Parashat Vayera October 23, 2010 Rabbi Carl M. Perkins Temple Aliyah, Needham This book (the Humash) has brought much inspiration to many people over the centuries. It has helped them aspire to and reach heights of decency, kindness and justice. It has also served as a pretext for cruelty and violence, and has brought much pain and distress. Many people, in the name of this book, have done wonderful things. Others have done shameful things. In today’s parashah, we are introduced to the city of Sodom, a place of great evil and depravity. In the part of the parashah we read today, we weren’t told precisely what kind of evil took place in the city, but later in the parashah we learn that the men of Sodom are not only inhospitable, brutal and cruel – but also homosexual. 1 Now, this is the Bible. So it has a lot of authority to it. And by associating a metropolis of evil and depravity, a place so horrible that it was worthy of God’s deliberate destruction, with homosexuality, the Bible is making clear what it thinks of people who would engage in such conduct. They’re not worthy to live . There aren’t very many texts in the Bible that mention or allude to homosexuality, but each of them, like this one, appears to condemn it. 2 It is no surprise, then, that anyone raised in a religious faith based on the Bible, whether it be Judaism, Christianity or Islam, gets a clear message that homosexual conduct is wrong.
    [Show full text]
  • Sacred Encounter Text.Indd
    Contents Acknowledgments xv Foreword xvii Introduction: This Too Is Torah xix Short Takes xxv PART ONE • In the Beginning: Biblical and Rabbinic Contexts 1 1. Sexuality: Human Biology versus Rabbinic Decree, RABBI AMY SCHEINERMAN 7 2. The Real Sin of Sodom, RABBI STEVEN GREENBERG 19 3. A Reform Understanding of To-eivah, RABBI NANCY H. WIENER, DMIN 23 4. “A Great Voice, Never Ending”: Reading the Torah in Light of the New Status of Gays and Lesbians in the Jewish Community, RABBI DAVID GREENSTEIN, PHD 43 vii viii • T HE S ACRE D E NC O UNTER 5. How to Respond to Bible-Thumping Homophobia, Or: Judaism as Evolutionary If Not Revolutionary, RABBI KAREN BENDER 57 6. Preaching against the Text: An Argument in Favor of Restoring Leviticus 18 to Yom Kippur Afternoon, RABBI JEFFREY BROWN 65 7. Spirit of Jealousy, Spirit of Holiness: Timeless Insights from a Time-Bound Text, RABBI LISA J. GRUSHCOW, DPHIL 87 Personal Reflection: Kol Ishah—Sexuality and the Voice of a Woman, RABBI JUDITH Z. ABRAMS, PHD 97 Personal Reflection: It Gets Beautiful—One Rabbi’s Perspective on Being Jewish and LGBTQ, RABBI ANDREA MYERS 101 PART TWO · God in the Bedroom, God in the Body: Theology and Identity 105 8. The Kavanah of the Bedroom: Sex and Intention in Jewish Law, RABBI MARC KATZ 111 9. Alone Together, RABBI DANIEL A. LEHRMAN, NCPSYA, LP 121 10. “Your Love Is Sweeter Than Wine”: Erotic Theology in Jewish Tradition, RABBI GEOFFREY W. DENNIS 131 11. “Created by the Hand of Heaven”: Sex, Love, and the Androgynos, RABBI ELLIOT KUKLA 145 12.
    [Show full text]
  • Religion Resources
    Religious Identity Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Gender Expression There are many different stances held by various religious communities. Some are supporting of people who identify as LGBTIQA+ and welcome them without reservation into their churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, or communities while other groups do not or do so under specific conditions. Many LGBTIQA+ identified people struggle with their religious or spiritual beliefs at some point in the coming out process. This section will give you some resources with which you can educate yourself about various religious and spiritual communities’ beliefs regarding faith and LGBTIQA+ identified persons. CHRISTIANITY Christian (Non-denominational) Websites: 1. The Institute for Welcoming Resources [http://www.welcomingresources.org/] The purpose of this ecumenical group is to provide the resources to facilitate a paradigm shift in multiple denominations whereby churches become welcoming and affirming of all congregants regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. 2. Gay Christians [www.gaychristians.org] Information and chat network of friends affirming God’s acceptance and love of all people regardless of their sexual or affectional orientation. 3. Soulforce [www.soulforce.org] The purpose of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance. Christian (Denomination Specific) Websites: 1. Baptist [www.rainbowbaptists.org] Rainbow Baptists is a website providing support, information and advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer identified Baptists, their family and friends. 2. Catholic [www.dignityusa.org] DignityUSA works for respect and justice for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons in the Catholic Church and the world through education, advocacy and support.
    [Show full text]
  • Coming Home to Judaism
    The HRC Religion and Faith Program is working to create a world where nobody is forced COMING to choose between who they are, whom they love and what HOME TO they believe. Thanks in part to this work, more and more Jews JUDAISM aren’t simply engaging in dialogue around LGBTQ equality, they’re AND TO SELF leading the conversation. They do this work not in spite of their Jewish belief or values, but because of them. To learn more, visit hrc.org/jewish To learn more about the Religion and Faith Program, visit hrc.org/religion 1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036-3278 www.hrc.org Welcome Table of Contents Dear Friends, We at the Human Rights ANCIENT FAITHS – NEW TRADITIONS א -Campaign have witnessed first hand the positive power that A PERSONAL JOURNEY religious communities wield in enacting social change. The FOUR MOVEMENTS, PLUS ב ,Jewish community, in particular has been at the forefront of REFORM this work, from the Civil Rights RECONSTRUCTIONIST Movement to the ongoing struggle CONSERVATIVE for LGBTQ equality. Despite all our progress, there is still work to ORTHODOX be done to ensure every person LGBTQ JEWISH COMMUNITIES of faith feels welcomed in their religious community. A NEW GENERATION ג I hope the following pages will provide both helpful insights FINDING YOUR COMMUNITY and practical advice to LGBTQ people seeking a home in A TRANSGENDER EXPERIENCE ד the synagogue, or hoping to become more fully involved and embraced in Jewish communal life. I hope, too, that we offer constructive advice to rabbis and other leaders who are ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER working to create communities that are more fully inclusive A FRESH LOOK AT TORAH AND TEXTS ה .of LGBTQ people THE LAWS OF LEVITICUS I want to offer a special thanks to the many scholars, rabbis and non-LGBTQ allies who have lent their voices and their SODOM AND GOMORRAH expertise.
    [Show full text]