Eshel Out Loud
News, Views, and Updates from the Eshel Community
What’s in a Strategic Plan?
At my first Eshel retreat in 2010, I remember feeling like the idea of queer Orthodox community, or a true observant future was unfathomable. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that parents would support their children coming out. I assumed the shuls and schools I grew up in would never engage in conversations [more]
Giving Thanks
What Eshel staff are grateful for this year: I'm grateful for continued support in living authentically in every aspect of my identity. - Mendel I'm grateful to have access to so many rich, vibrant, and energetic Jewish communities. - Sophia I'm grateful for queer friendships. - Jamie I'm grateful for my wife, everything that she [more]
On Being a Trans Ally
As Jews, we know the dangers that come from dehumanizing rhetoric. For thousands of years, antisemitism has flourished by asserting that we are less human, somehow other than the rest of the world. When people view us as animals, or a plague, or an infestation, it is easy for those in power to argue that [more]
Hospitality as a Central Pillar
“And He (Abraham) planted an eshel (tamarisk) in Beersheba, and he proclaimed there the name of the Lord, God of the universe” (Genesis 21:33). Every year, when we read Parshat Vayera, we are reminded of why we chose the eshel tree as our namesake. In the Torah, the eshel is an ancient welcome sign. In [more]