Eshel Out Loud

News, Views, and Updates from the Eshel Community

Introducing Our New York Program Manager!

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.16" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_image src="https://www.eshelonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Blog-Post-Images-1.jpg" alt="Introducing Our New York Program Manager" _builder_version="4.17.4" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.17.4" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}"]We are excited to introduce the newest member of our team! LV joined us recently as our New York Program Manager. She brings a wealth of community [more]
Giving a Face to Difficult Texts

Giving a Face to Difficult Texts

The Torah reading for Yom Kippur mincha contains some of the more difficult verses for lesbian, gay, and bisexual Jews. On Yom Kippur, we read both Leviticus 18:22 and the proscription against following מעשה ארץ מצרים. For many of us, these verses imbue a painful layer to the day. Many years ago, in conjunction with [more]
First Day of School Jitters

First Day of School Jitters

It's a new year and students are heading back to school. The uncertainty of a new situation brings anxiety and jitters. Whether it's a new job, a new home, a new classroom, anxiety about the unknown seems universal. Feeling the anxiety levels rise just a bit in my own home, I opened up a conversation [more]
Cultivating an Accepting Home

Cultivating an Accepting Home

As a new mom, things like news stories, divrei torah from the bima, even conversations with friends and community members hit differently. I can’t help thinking, “what does this mean for my child’s future?” I want my kid to have access to as many opportunities as possible and be loved, accepted, and celebrated by my [more]
Oceans and Rivers

Oceans and Rivers

The high holidays end with a dramatic focus on water in the form of rain. Jonah finds in the depths of water a renewed sense of God’s patience and love. However, for me the holidays begin with water too. Every year I remember a water lesson that I learned thirty years ago in the month [more]

Finding A Home for the Yamim Noraim

אַחַת  שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת־יְהֹוָה אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית־יְהֹוָה כׇּל־יְמֵי חַיַּי One thing I ask of Hashem, only that do I seek: to live in the house of Hashem all the days of my life. In just two days, we will start reciting this verse as part of the psalm for the month of Elul. It reminds [more]