Historically, the Orthodox community has not been known for its inclusivity regarding LGBTQ members of the community. The past decade has seen immense progress, from victories against conversion therapy to the rise of organizations like Eshel, whose members embody the principle that there is no contradiction between being LGBTQ and being a committed Orthodox Jew.
R’ Mike Moskowitz is Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, the world’s largest LGBTQ synagogue. R’ Moskowitz, a deeply traditional and radically progressive advocate for trans rights and a vocal ally for LGBTQ inclusivity, received three Ultra-Orthodox semichot/ordinations while learning in the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem and in Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ.
R’ Moskowitz has partnered with TribeHerald to produce a new weekly pro-LGBTQ Torah series, promoting inclusivity and empowering members of the Jewish LGBTQ community, in the spirit of inclusivity. TribeHerald is honored to be working with distinguished rabbis such as R’ Moskowitz to produce Torah content designed to promote inclusion and affirmation for a diverse Jewish community.
In this week’s 18-minute class, we discuss “ex-gays”, religious freedom and inclusion, and the upcoming holiday of Chanukah:
Weekly classes will be available on TribeHerald for $9/month. Click here to subscribe. Existing members of the TribeHerald Foundation receive classes as part of their monthly membership. To become a member of the TribeHerald Foundation, click here.
