Kavanah and blessing to begin the day for queerness
Rabbi Lily Solochek (they/them) has shared a Kavanah (intention) and blessing that they say as part of the morning liturgy that plays with Hebrew language and gender.
The birkhot hashakhar invite us to celebrate the miracles of everyday life. I begin my day in gratitude for my queerness, praising the Creator for making me exactly as I am. To honor my complex and vibrant gender identity, I weave together masculine and feminine Hebrew words for the self and the Divine:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ רוּח הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשַֽׂנִי בְּצָלְמוֹ כִּרְצוֹנָה
Blessed are You, Creator, Spirit of all Worlds, who created me in (his) image, according to (her) design.
Check out these Ritualwell blessings and poems
Blessing for Black T&GNC Folks
by Martin Rawlings-Fein
Template for a Coming Out Ceremony
by Lisa
Ceremony of Affirmation and Renaming
by Rabbi Neal Schuster
Pride Shabbat Blessing from an Ally
by Sara Stock Mayo
Check out these Evolve essays to delve more into Transgender Folks and their lives
Roan Boucher writes “Defending Trans Communities: Why American Jews Should Mobilize Against the Christian Right Agenda.”
Rabbi Elliot Kukla writes “From the School Yard to the Talmud: Trans People Exist and Are Not Going Away.”
Rabbi Sandra Lawson writes about “Transgender Rights.”
Rabbi Irwin Keller writes about “Joseph’s Womb: Gender Complexity in the Story of Joseph.”
Listen to these podcast episodes from Evolve & Hashivenu
Activist Roan Boucher examines the surge in anti-trans legislation tied to Christian Nationalism while highlighting sources of hope through mutual aid networks and Jewish spiritual practices. Listen here.
Laynie Soloman from SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva reframes Halakhah not as restrictive Jewish law but as “Jewish practice and its surrounding discourse,” discussing their Trans Halakhah Project that empowers trans Jews in a hostile political climate. Listen here.
Rabbi Deborah Waxman and Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie discuss how queer and feminist perspectives intersect with Zionism, Israeli identity, and progressive Jewish values as World Zionist Congress delegates. They explore building an inclusive Judaism committed to justice while reflecting on personal history, political activism, and Jewish theology. Listen here.
Looking for ways to make your community’s commitments to LGBTQ+ belonging concrete?
Check out this checklist created by the Thriving Communities team.
Immediate & Quick Actions
- Release a statement that your community affirms the rights and dignity of trans, nonbinary and LGBQ+ individuals and that your synagogue will continue to be a haven and a place of belonging.
- We created a Template Congregational Statement Affirming Trans Dignity to help.
- Post Reconstructing Judaism’s “All Are Welcome Here” and/or Keshet’s “Trans Jews Belong Here” signs in your building.
- Publicly reaffirm your community’s commitment to using the names and pronouns your LGBTQ+ community members use for themselves.
Short Term Actions
- Organize a congregational text study on the 2017 Reconstructionist Movement Resolution in Solidarity with and Affirming the Rights of Transgender, Non-Binary and Gender Non-Conforming People.
- Ensure access to gender-neutral bathrooms in your gathering spaces and publicize this in your community.
- Host a postcard writing party at your synagogue to your elected representatives to affirm your commitment to LGBTQ+ rights. Before you go, make some calls together as well.
- Study the anti-trans legislation tracker to better understand what’s happening in your state.
Long Term Actions
- Create or update policies (like anti-harassment, anti-bullying, and non-discrimination) that affirm the dignity and safety of all members.
- Join Thrive: The Jewish Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+ Youth to add your organization’s voice to critical federal and state advocacy.
- Create a fund or contribute to the rabbi’s discretionary fund to send LGBTQ+ youth in your community to queer-affirming programs, such as Keshet teen retreats, an all-gender Moving Traditions teen group and Camp Havaya.
