Eshel Out Loud
News, Views, and Updates from the Eshel Community
A Student too Eager
Eshel has been working with shuls and schools for more than a decade now on policy issues. In 2018 we encouraged schools to “take the pledge,” a document drafted by an Orthodox high school student and his principal. It promised that when students come out of the closet in high school, the school would not [more]
Census and Consensus
This past week’s Parsha, Badmidar, isn’t really my jam; I tend to gravitate more naturally toward the narrative-based chapters contained in Bereishit and Shemot over the intricately detailed portion of Bamidbar that we just heard; I prefer my Torah spoon-fed to me through colorful stories of fratricide, floods, and famine. So, at first glance, I [more]
Saying Yes, AND
This year, I had the pleasure of attending three spectacular weekends: the Eshel in Israel Parent Shabbaton, the National LGBTQ+ Retreat, and Eshel Parent Retreat. While each is unique in their own way, these Eshel weekends are the crown jewels of our work. Each time we come together for a retreat weekend or smaller Shabbaton, [more]
Why Should We Be Excluded?
This Friday will be the 14th of Iyyar, exactly one month after Pesach. We celebrate Pesach Sheni, an ancient reminder of the value of inclusion. It originates the first year after the Exodus from Egypt. Bnai Yisrael are instructed to repeat the lamb offering they made the night that they went free: “you shall offer [more]