Judaism & Sexual Orientation: The Effects of Prop. 8
November 22, 2008
Havurah Tikvah, Los Angeles, CA
Featured Speaker: Dr. Joel L. Kushner
What Clergy and Educators need to know about the Coming Out Process
November 18, 2008
A Lunch and Learn Experience. Hebrew Union College-JIR, Los Angeles, CA
Panelists: Sara Cannon, Rabbi Jonathan Klein, and Sylvia Weisenberg
Human Development
November 7, 2008
Human Development - Dr. Larry Garf, School of Education, Hebrew Union College-JIR, Los Angeles, CA
Invited Speaker: Dr. Joel L. Kushner
Knowing the Heart of the Stranger: Judaism and Homosexuality from the Bible to Proposition 8.
November 2, 2008
Temple Israel of Long Beach; Annual Pilger Lecture
Featured Speaker: Dr. Joel L. Kushner
Faith for Equality: A Multi-Faith No on Prop. 8 Call to Action
November 1, 2008
Los Angeles, CA
Co-Sponsor: The Institute for Judaism, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity
Leviticus 18:22 - Who's Sleeping With Who and What's a Modern Boi or Grrl To Do?
November 1, 2008
Models of Pride Conference for LGBTQ Youth. Occidental College, Eagle Rock, CA
Presenters: Institute staff and guest facilitators
Religious Perspectives on Integration of LGBT Issues and Aging
October 13, 2008
SAGE - National Conference on LGBT Aging
Moderator: Dr. Joel L. Kushner; Panelists: Rabbi Richard Address, Dr. John E Hirsch, Herbert Leiman, Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, Barbara Satin
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"For an LGBT generation that grew up closeted and among peers that are less progressive on LGBT issues, how can religious institutions support the inclusion of LGBT individuals when they may need higher levels of care?" This open dialogue explored the intersections of religion, LGBT issues, and aging. Other panelists included Rabbi Richard Address, Union for Reform Judaism, New York; Dr. John E. Hirsch, Temple Beth-El of Great Neck, NY; Herbert M. Leiman, Union of Reform Judaism, Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Community Church, Barbara Satin, Transgender and Aging Activist and Faith Work Consultant
No Matter What You Are, There You Are: Understanding Gender and Sexual Orientation in our Jewish Community.
August 25, 2008
Hebrew Union College-JIR Opening Kallah, Kutz Camp, New York.
Facilitators: Karen Perolman and Neil Hirsch.
Beyond the Gender Binary: The Tumtum & the Androgynos in Antiquity and Transgender & Intersex Communities Today.
August 24, 2008
Hebrew Union College- JIR Opening Kallah, Kutz Camp, New York. Facilitators: Imani Henry, Jo Hirschman, Melissa Simon.
OUTFEST Jewish LGBT Collaboration Closing Dinner and Havdalah Service.
July 26, 2008
West Hollywood, CA.
Introduction to the Institute and its resources.
July 24, 2008
Day School Leadership Through Teaching (DeLeT) fellows Orientation
Invited Speaker: Dr. Joel L. Kushner
Antarctica - Film Screening and After Party to follow.
July 20, 2008
OUTFEST Community Collaborator, Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles, CA.
Her Own Way - Film Screening.
July 13, 2008
OUTFEST Jewish LGBT Collaboration, Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles, CA.
Seeds of Summer - Film Screening and Wine Tasting to follow.
July 13, 2008
OUTFEST Jewish LGBT Collaboration, Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles, CA.
Contemporary Jewish Issues: LGBT Jews - A Marginalized Population.
July 10, 2008
School of Jewish Communal Service, HUC-JIR Los Angeles Campus
Guest Lecturer: Dr. Joel L. Kushner
Citizen Nawi - Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion.
July 10, 2008
OUTFEST Community Collaborator, Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles, CA. Panel Discussion with Rabbi Denise Eger, representing Jerusalem Open House and Rivka Ben Daniel, Board member, Salaam Shalom Educational Foundation.
The Secrets - Film Screening and post film Mixer.
July 10, 2008
OUTFEST Jewish LGBT Collaboration, Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles, CA.
Marriage Equality and Judaism: A Text Study
May 20, 2008
Pacific Southwest Council Executive Committee, Union for Reform Judaism. Invited Speaker: Dr. Joel L. Kushner.
Leviticus 18:22 - Creating a Safe Space to Discuss Difficult Texts.
May 20, 2008
Leviticus - Dr. Tamara Eskenazi. Hebrew Union College-JIR, Los Angeles, CA.
Invited Speaker: Dr. Joel L. Kushner
Jeffrey A. Miller Scholar in Residence Weekend at Congregation Sha'ar Zahav
May 16-17, 2008
Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, San Francisco, CA
Scholar: Dr. Joel L. Kushner
Learning and Teaching Inclusive Jewish Sexual Ethics for Teenagers
April 29, 2008
A Joint Institute for Judaism, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity and Kalsman Institute for Judaism and Health Lunch and Learn Experience
Hebrew Union College-JIR, Los Angeles, CA
Invited Speaker: Rabbi Deborah Schuldenfrei, Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'a lot, Irvine, CA
USC Hillel and JAGS (Jewish and Gay Students at USC) LGBT Seder
Premier of the Haggadah (service/prayer book) developed by JQ International, and the Institute for Judaism, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity
April 26, 2008
Los Angeles, CA.
Leader: Student Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg.
LGBT Jews: The Rise of Personal Identity Movements
April 15, 2008
American Jewish History - Dr. David Kaufman, Hebrew Union College-JIR, Los Angeles, CA
Invited Speaker: Dr. Joel L. Kushner
To Have and To Hold - Faith Leaders Speak on the Freedom to Marry - You Tube Video launch.
April 8, 2008
Developed with California Faith for Equality
Understanding the Basics - LGBTQQIAAGNC
April 8, 2008
Gender and Judaism - Rabbi Lisa Edwards, Ph.D., University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Invited Speaker: Dr. Joel L. Kushner
Homosexuality in Judaism
April 1, 2008
Day of Silence Commemoration, Milken Community High School, Los Angeles, CA
Invited Speaker: Dr. Joel L. Kushner
Celebrating Inclusion at Jewish Theological Seminary.
March 26, 2008
Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, New York.
A day of celebration and reflection on the one year anniversary of admitting
openly lesbian and gay students to the rabbinical and cantorial schools at JTS
Dr. Joel L. Kushner, Panelist
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March 26th, 2008 is an important day of celebration and reflection for the Conservative Movement, marking exactly one year since Chancellor Arnold Eisen announced that openly lesbian and gay students would be allowed to attend the rabbinical and cantorial schools at JTS. In the past year, openly gay and lesbian students have started school at JTS and many more are applying for the coming year. The presence of Jews of all sexual orientations at JTS is cause for huge celebration. At the same time, there has been little discussion of what it means to be an inclusive community, no comprehensive and open conversation about how we have changed as a school now that openly gay and lesbian students are part of the "us" of the community, rather than a theoretical "them" or other. From casually dropped slurs to a lifecycle curriculum that does not reflect the experiences and stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Jews, we clearly have a lot of work to do to fully welcome Jews of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
That is why we are coming together this year on March 26th for a day of study and celebration, a day of thinking about how we live in community together, lovingly and respectfully, and model cooperation and co-existence based on the present reality, incorporating all of us into this holy kehilah. The day will include a variety of learning sessions and opportunities for joyous communal celebration, organized by the JTS Committee on Inclusion (a committee established by the chancellor last month). Darkhei Noam, a ten point plan with concrete goals for inclusion and diversity in the Conservative Moment will be presented to the faculty and student body. The event will be open to the entire Rabbinical Assembly, the whole JTS community, and students and faculty from other rabbinical schools.
Health and Jewish Values - Day School Leadership Through Teaching (DELET)
Fellows Seminar
March 13, 2008
Dr. Joel L. Kushner discussed LGBT families, school inclusion and Jewish Values.
HUC-JIR Los Angeles campus.
Nehirim West GLBT Jewish Spiritual Retreat
March 7-8, 2008
Walker Creek Ranch, San Francisco, CA
Co-sponsor: Institute for Judaism, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity
Hide Details Where: Walker Creek Ranch, outside of San Francisco, CA
About: Nehirim is a Spiritual Initiative for GLBT Jews to create innovative programming, build community,
and offer authentic, life-affirming spiritual paths for Jewish members of sexual or gender minorities. After four
East coast retreats, this is the first on the West Coast. Nehirim West offers:
A wide range of spiritual options, from traditional shabbat davening to meditation, yoga, and dance.
Connections with GLBT Jews of all ages, religious affiliations, and walks of life.
Workshops and seminars featuring a wide range of teachers.
Teachers including Jhos Singer, Rabbi Jane Litman, Karen Erlichman, Sara Felder, Andrew Ramer, Noach Dzmura,
Dev Noily, Bruce Bierman, Jay Michaelson and Rabbi Julia Watts Belser.
Full scholarships for students, and financial aid for those in need
The Institute is a co-sponsor and workshop leader of this event.
Using Kulanu, an LGBT Guide to Inclusion to Change Communities
March 1, 2008
Department of Jewish Family Concerns Annual Advisory Board Meeting,
Union for Reform Judaism. Dr Joel L. Kushner, Invited speaker.
Trans 101: Gender Diversity in Judaism
February 18, 2008
LimmudLA Conference Costa Mesa, CA
Presenters: Rabbi Julie Pelc and Daniel Gould, MSW
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LimmudLA is an independent, grassroots organization that brings together Jews of all ages and backgrounds in
Los Angeles to celebrate Jewish learning, arts, and culture.
Not all language for gender diversity is new. Early rabbinic writings extensively explored the role of
exceptionally gendered individuals in Jewish society. In this session, we will review how, historically and
in the present, Judaism recognizes that gender is complex and provides us with the tools to build a community
that celebrates gender diversity.
Rabbi Julie Pelc and Daniel Gould, MSW - Workshop facilitators
Making Your Congregation and Community a Welcoming Place for Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Jews
February 17, 2008
LimmudLA Conference Costa Mesa, CA
Presenter: Dr. Joel Kushner
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LimmudLA is an independent, grassroots organization that brings together Jews of all ages and backgrounds in
Los Angeles to celebrate Jewish learning, arts, and culture.
Inclusion and access for LGBT Jews is a core value of progressive Jewish denominations' commitment to social
justice and creating a welcoming community for all Jews. Programs, tools and resources with an introduction to
Kulanu: All of Us, a newly published LGBT inclusion guide will be discussed in this workshop.
Dr. Joel Kushner - Presenter
Leviticus 18:22 : Who's Laying with Who and What's a Modern Jew to Do???
February 8-10, 2008
National Union of Jewish LGBTQQI Students (NUJLS) Conference.
Presenter: Jay Golden
The National Union of Jewish LGBTQQI Students Conference (www.nujlsonline.org/conference.php)
brings college students together for a weekend that includes speakers, text study, and workshops on topics
such as Judaism and queerness, activism, relationships, ethics, coming out, and politics, as well as providing
an opportunity for students to build community, network, and practice Judaism in a queer context.
Jay Golden, Institute Program Associate - Presenter
Empowering People of Faith: What You Need to Change Your Community
February 6-8, 2008 Creating Change: The National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force's Conference for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Movement, Detroit, Michigan
Panelist: Dr. Joel L. Kushner
Homosexuality in the Middle Ages
January 29, 2008
A Lunch and Learn Experience with Maggie Anton, noted author of the Rashi's
Daughters series. Hebrew Union College-JIR, Los Angeles, CA
Building Bridges: Allies and Outreach - Between and Within Trans and Non Trans
Communities in Religious Denominations
January 19-21, 2008
Transgender Religious Summit. Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA.
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The Transgender Religious Summit is a two-day conference with a focus on public
and denominational policy issues that affect transgender communities. It is co-sponsored
by The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (www.clgs.org) and the
National Center for Transgender Equality (www.nctequality.org).