Submitted by Liz Macedo, Co-Chair TBA’s Tzedek Committee
On June 9th & 10th, Temple Beth Abraham celebrated their third annual Pride Shabbat to celebrate the lives and contributions of Queer Jews. Members of the Tzedek Committee led a Kabbalat Shabbat service with prayers, songs, and reflections written by LGBTQ+ Jews and hosted a panel discussion on Shabbat afternoon about the intersection of Trans and Jewish identities. “I love being Jewish and I love being Trans,” said panelist Ozzy Gold-Shapiro, to a round of snaps and claps from the crowd.
Panelists discussed their lived experience, and how they see themselves reflected in Jewish history and in sacred texts, referring to the teaching of b’tzelem Elohim, “in the divine image” and the 8 genders recognized in Talmud, 6 of which describe genders which we might today call trans and non-binary. Audience members were able to ask questions which sparked an excellent discussion about binaries and the places they show up in our world in ways that are helpful and in ways that are limiting. In other words, while we read in Torah that Hashem created ‘day’ and ‘night’, we also know that twilight exists.
TBA consulted with Keshet, a national non-profit organization that works for the full equality of all LGBTQ+ Jews in Jewish life, to plan the month-long celebration. In addition to Pride Shabbat, the Tzedek Committee at TBA sponsored the Nashua Pride Festival, marched in the Pride Parade, and held a community-wide training on LGBTQ+ belonging and how to create inclusive Jewish spaces. The training was developed and led by Keshet’s team of educators and trainers.
Rabbi Jon Spira-Savett reflects, “I’m so proud that community members have taken the initiative to make our Pride Shabbat into a Jewish month of Pride. For me, having queer voices in our Jewish community and in prayer doesn’t stop with welcoming and inclusion. The panelists told us stories about what it means to be committed to Jewish community that has new layers. Even the words I have been singing for years in prayers have new layers of meaning when I listen to LGBTQ+ composers and teachers explore them and unlock them.”
The TBA Tzedek Committee’s mission is to provide opportunities for learning, dialogue, and action on social justice issues, through a Jewish lens, in order to fulfill the mitzvah of tikkun olam– “repairing the world.” If you’re interested to learn more or attend any upcoming events, please visit the Tzedek Committee webpage at https://www.tbanashua.org/engage/tzedek-committee/.