Living a Religious Life as a Transgender Jew: A Halachic Conversation
January 22, 2026 at 8:00 pm
On Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 8PM, we will present “Living a Religious Life as a Transgender Jew: A Halachic Conversation.” During this program, Yaakov, a transgender college student, will discuss with Rabbi Dov Linzer, President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School, many of the halachic issues that arise for a transgender individual seeking to live a religious life as an Orthodox Jew. We will reserve time at the end of the program to answer questions from the audience. Please join us by registering for this FREE program below.
This program follows the program that we ran earlier this year, “LGBTQ Children in Orthodox Day Schools.” In that program, two students (one of which was Yaakov) and three parents shared their experiences dealing with Orthodox day schools, particularly administrators and teachers. If you missed that program, you can watch the recording at www.poratonline.org/events.
Where: Zoom
When: Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 8PM EST
Rabbi Dov Linzer is the President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School. In this dual capacity, Rabbi Linzer has set the vision for YCT as a Center of Torah and Torah Leadership, and, with an amazing team of colleagues and partners, oversees its growth, reach, and further development, including establishing a premier rabbinic leadership program and pastoral training center in Israel. An acclaimed Torah and halakha scholar, Rabbi Linzer has been a leading rabbinic voice in the Modern Orthodox community for over 30 years. He has published hundreds of Torah articles and teshuvot (responsa), and has hosted a number of highly popular Torah podcasts. In his capacity as a mentor, Rabbi Linzer provides religious guidance to the yeshiva’s students and the over 150 YCT-ordained rabbis who are serving in the US and 60 rabbis and rabbaniyot serving in Israel and answers thousands of halakhic questions from YCT rabbis and broader community each year.
Yaakov is an Orthodox Jew and transgender man currently studying at Brandeis University. He has faced a number of challenges since coming out and through his experience has gained a unique perspective on living a Jewish life as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.