substantiation

an outreach table for trans community connections in tel aviv

i loved the trans remembrance shabbat service at sha’ar zahav. it was powerful on so many incredible levels. i loved rabbi angel’s joy of using siddur sha’ar zahav throughout the service paying attention to all of the prayers already written-into the text specifically related to trans remembrance. i loved martin rawlings-fein sharing note cards with a random selection of people to stand and read the names so they could too experience the public remembering. i loved sarah hoffman’s drash on exploring the experiences of parenting her gender variant child attending a local jewish day school.

after the service, a dear friend of mine sitting near me who now identifies as a butch lesbian, could not stop talking (really, this friend, usually quiet, was talking and talking and talking for quite a long time) about how she felt validated: finally. “outloud” she said, “i heard my experience as being this seriously awkward kid summarized. sarah {hoffman} substantiated so much of what i always felt but never really verbalized myself during her drash. if only someone turned to me 20 years-ago and said, kid, you don’t need to be someone else. you are great just as g*d created you – i would be a much more confident person today.”

in addition to jewish communities in los angeles, san francisco, boston, new york and oakland holding space for this important day folks in tel aviv, israel did too. it is powerful knowing that across the globe folks in tel aviv honored transgender day of remembrance as we did in san francisco. in tel aviv folks marked trans remembrance day not only with a ceremony at the lgbt center but a march as well bringing attention to the harm of transphobic violence and discrimination.

this continual communal need to encourage spiritual care, bring new voices of leadership into the public conversation, as well as the impetus towards social-change based activism is an integral piece of what makes me proud to be part of this global jewish community.

 

tearing down the wall with amos lassen

Image by goldberg via Flickr

life never fails to surprise me. i was on the phone with my niece who is undergoing sexual reassignment surgery to become my nephew when noach dzmura’s “balancing on the mechitza” arrived. i immediately sat down and read it, cover to cover. perhaps “read” is the wrong word, i devoured the book. i would be … Read More

via reviews by amos lassen

 

trans remembrance

Image by moonty via Flickr

since november 20 of 2005, san francisco’s congregation sha’ar zahav has stepped into the role of caretaker for the annual sacred event of transgender day of remembrance (tdor). this year marks the fifth since sf transgender empowerment advocacy and mentorship approached them to use the sanctuary to remember all who were killed in the past year due to anti-transgender violence. once again this year congregation sha’ar zahav will host transgender remembrance shabbat providing an evening of spiritual care, advocacy and education open to the greater community…read more on trans remembrance day by martin rawlings-fein