Eshel in the News

In new letter, Orthodox rabbis say Jewish law forbids ‘conversion therapy’

In new letter, Orthodox rabbis say Jewish law forbids ‘conversion therapy’

[caption id="attachment_165132" align="aligncenter" width="624"]\ Photo by Mercedes Mehling/Unsplash/Creative Commons[/caption] by Yonat Shimron (RNS) — A group of Orthodox rabbis from the U.S. and Israel issued a strongly worded letter condemning discredited practices that try to “convert” LGBTQ+ people to heterosexuality — a rarity for an establishment that still largely sees queer people as sinful. The [more]
When Leviticus isn’t the Last Word

When Leviticus isn’t the Last Word

by Nadine Epstein As a teenager in West Hempstead, NY, on Long Island, Oliver Paneth loved spending time at their family’s shul and was a popular babysitter in the Orthodox community. They also attended Yeshiva University High School for Girls in Queens. “I was never the girlie girl, I was way more into sports,” recalls [more]

Bottom Up Torah: How Queer Jews Are Changing Orthodoxy

Imagine being told you belong to a faith that is fighting to keep you out—and refusing to leave. In this week’s Madlik, Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz welcome Rabbi Steve Greenberg, the first openly gay Orthodox-ordained rabbi, for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation. Rabbi Greenberg recounts his early struggles attending Yom Kippur services, [more]
Eshel | And Here’s Modi

Eshel | And Here’s Modi

Modi and Leo are joined by Miryam Kabakov, the executive director of Eshel, an organizing that seeks to build LGBTQ+ inclusive Orthodox Jewish communities. Listen: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1826078/episodes/18107758