Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation

LGBTQ

Celebrating LGBTQ Love This Valentines Day with AARC <3

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For this month’s Zoom Pop-In Study with Rav Gabrielle, AARC members participated in a torah study about LGBTQ love. AARC has made a commitment to be a welcoming and inviting Jewish congregation for all people. As part of this commitment, AARC tries to bring everyone into the big tent of our community and celebrate them. We celebrate our LGBTQ members this Valentines Day and every day! To get a little snapshot of this week’s teaching, you can read Rav Gabrielle’s summary below.

Rabbi Gabrielle Pescador writes:

According to ultra-orthodox Rabbi Mike Moskowitz (Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, the world’s largest LGBT synagogue), when we study Torah, we don’t respond to the text but to people. No person is hypothetical.  Torah is for everyone.

Some highlights from our pop in study session:

We studied the Deuteronomy 22:5 about the prohibition against a man dressing like a woman and woman dressing like a man:  “A woman must not put on man’s apparel, nor shall a man wear women’s clothing; for whoever does these things is a to’eva to God.”  (To’eva is commonly translated as abhorrent or an abomination, although there is dispute amongst the rabbis of the mishnaic period on the true meaning of the word).

 Rabbi Mike Moskowitz has a fresh perspective on this verse.   He understands it as “the very source that not only permits transgender Jews to wear clothing that supports their gender identity, but also arguably obligates them in doing so.”  He asserts that with identity comes responsibility.   In other words, we are obliged to be ourselves and to not pretend or hide our true nature and because of that we are also obliged to provide sanctuary and be allies of LGBTQ folks in our communities. 

(Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, “I’m a Boy and These Are My Clothes”, https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/im-a-boy-and-these-are-my-clothes/ )

Rabbi Alyson Solomon of Temple Beth Israel Eugene says that Rabbi Moskowitz’s framing of Torah is aligned with the message of Deuteronomy 22:8, of our obligation to create safe spaces and prevent harm:  “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone should fall from it.” 

Our tradition teaches us that we are all created in b’tzelem Elohim, in the mysterious multi-faceted image of God. If we hide our uniqueness or force others to do the same, then we are causing pain and suffering to ourselves and others.  We read the 2 verses mentioned above before the High Holy Days in parshat Ki Teitzei, a parsha that includes many other mitzvot that are designed to prevent us from causing harm and to help us become more empathetic and compassionate human beings.

We hope that you enjoy this tidbit from this month’s Pop In teaching with Rav Gabrielle and can join us next month, details will be sent out in the weekly mailer!

AARC Attends LGBTQ Advocacy Training with Keshet

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On Thursday November 7th, Rabbi Ora, Gillian Jackson, and Judith Jacobs joined congregations and Jewish organizations from all over Metro Detroit to learn how to be more inclusive and how to advocate for LGBTQ communities. The training was led by Keshet, a national organization working for the full equality of LGBTQ Jews and families. Emily Saltzman, dynamic leader from Keshet, was joined by representatives from Nextgen Detroit Pride and Stand with Trans. The training provided a framework for understanding LGBTQ core concepts such as sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Participants also learned about the history of LGBTQ inclusion in Jewish communities and the challenges that LGBTQ-identifying people face in our culture. The seminar concluded with an opportunity for each organization to form goals to improve its LGBTQ advocacy.

The training in Michigan grew out of a 2018 survey, the “State of Equality Index,” that reviewed areas of the US for positive policies supporting LGBTQ equality. Michigan scored as an area of high priority; this means we have many areas of law, health and safety measures, and religious recognition that must be updated to include protections for LGBTQ individuals.

As our blog about welcoming remarked, Judaism has a rich history of gender diversity and inclusion. However, modern Jewish culture still has a long way to go until our organizations make LGBTQ individuals feel safe, welcomed, and respected. Keshet suggested that organizations provide leadership on LGBTQ inclusion through programming, policy, and culture. AARC has taken steps to improve our organization on all of these fronts.

The AARC action plan includes the formation of a LGBTQ inclusion policy, a new LGBTQ welcoming section of our website, visible LGBTQ welcoming signs at our welcome table, and the organization of a new annual Pride Shabbat. If you would like to take part in the planning or implementation of any or all of these new initiatives, please email me or speak with Rabbi Ora. We look forward to hearing from you!