Eshel Online

Eshel LGBTQ+ Phone-in Support Group
2023-07-19 21:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York)
What: Join this anonymous phone-in support group for LGBTQ+ individuals who are unable to attend one of our in-person sessions.
When: Fourth Wednesday of every month | 9:00 PM EST
Where: For notifications and sign-in information, please register below. (You only need to register for this group one time.)
Questions? Email info@eshelonline.org

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Day on Fire Island
2023-07-30
Join Eshel for a Sunday outing on Fire Island! Eshel’s Board President, Shlomo Ashkinazy, and his husband, Michael Gomillion have generously invited Eshel members to join them on Sunday, July 30, in their rented beach house in Cherry Grove on Fire Island.
Spend the day enjoying all that Fire Island has to offer, and enjoy a potluck lunch with the Eshel community at 1:00pm! Please bring a kosher dairy or pareve dish to share that serves at least 6. The rest of the day is yours to plan – feel free to use Shlomo and Michael’s place as a central spot for meeting up, resting, eating, bathroom breaks, and washing up between activities. If there’s enough interest, we also may host mincha.
Cherry Grove offers a variety of opportunities for fun activities to choose from, including:

Beautiful Beach
Hotel Pool
Nature Walks
Extremely Friendly Community
Live Cabaret Pool Show at 3PM
Live show in The Hotel’s Ice Palace Cabaret/Disco at 6PM

Don’t forget to bring:

swimsuit
towel
beach blanket
sandals
sunscreen
sunglasses

Note: Cherry Grove is a world famous, predominantly LGBT Community, with a reputation for skimpy attire and occasional nudity. Much of the entertainment includes off-color humor, and coarse language. This event is not recommended for people who may be sensitive to such material.
How to Get There:
Cherry Grove is located on Fire Island, and is accessible by Ferry from the Ferry Terminal in Sayville, Long Island. Round Trip Ferry Fare is $18.
Travel to Sayville, Long Island via the Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station. (Mini-Buses transport passengers from the Sayville train depot directly to the Ferry Terminal, a few minutes away)
Sayville can also be reached by car via the Long Island Expressway or the Southern State Parkway. Cars are not allowed in Cherry Grove, so drivers will need to leave their cars in the Parking Lot at the Ferry Terminal and take the Ferry. (Parking is $10 per day)
Expect a minimum of 2 hours travel time from Manhattan.

This event is at capacity. Check out our calendar for more upcoming events.

NJ Parent Picnic
2023-07-30 17:30 - 21:00
Join us on Sunday, July 30th at 5:30 pm for a picnic for Orthodox parents of LGBTQ+ children.
We will meet at the home of Eshel parents in Englewood, NJ. Please bring a kosher dairy or pareve dish to share.
Register to receive location details – one registration per adult.

Orthodox+* People of Trans Experience Support Group
2023-08-01 21:00 - 22:30
Welcome to Eshel’s Meetup!
What: This virtual support group will be a space for people who identify as transgender, non-binary, and gender questioning. All shades of Orthodox including Chareidi, Modern Orthodox, Ex-Orthodox, are welcome to come and share in a safe and confidential virtual group.
When: Meetings will be held on the third Thursday of every month at 9 pm EST – 6 pm PST.
Where: For notifications and sign-in information, please register below. (You only need to register for this group one time.)
This group is confidential: all attendees are required to adhere to the privacy of its members.
About the Group Coordinator
This Eshel Meetup is led by Joshua Avishur, a transgender Orthodox Jew who enjoys connecting with people and embracing the beauty in all individuals. Joshua is a Masters-in-Social-Work student with experience in mentoring LGBTQ+ folk and developing and leading therapy groups for children and individual counseling with at-risk youth. Joshua is also a transgender panel moderator and panelist.

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Israel Parent Meetup
2023-08-16 12:30 - 13:30 | Zoom
Join Eshel’s local chapter in Israel for parents of LGBTQ+ children.
This group will provide support and build community in an intimate, confidential setting in English. This group meets in person most months, with a Zoom meeting once per quarter.
Register below for monthly reminders, links, and location details.

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Eshel’s mission is to create a future for Orthodox lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, and their families. Through its innovative and culturally sensitive programming, Eshel works with each individual, family, and community in creating a place for their LGBTQ members. Eshel envisions a world where Orthodox LGBTQ individuals can live out their lives in the Orthodox communities of their choice.

Chicago Parents Meetup with R' Steve Greenberg
2023-08-16 19:00 - 21:00
Learn from Rabbi Steve Greenberg and connect with other Orthodox parents of LGBTQ+ children in Chicago!
Join us at the home of Eshel parents in Skokie on Wednesday, August 16 at 7:00 pm for a shiur and discussion led by Rabbi Greenberg.
Orthodoxy is arguably the most diverse of the contemporary Jewish denominations. While the Orthodox response to homosexuality has at times seemed univocal, in fact the record demonstrates much variety.
On the basis of contemporary documents and alongside an Eshel Survey of 250 Orthodox rabbis, Rabbi Steve Greenberg will offer three distinctive portrayals offered by Orthodox rabbis in understanding these human realities.

Sibling Support Group
2023-08-24 21:00 - 22:00
WHAT: A group for Orthodox Jews with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer siblings seeking community and peer support.We will discuss family dynamics, supporting parents and siblings, navigating the Orthodox community, and advocating for our LGBTQ+ siblings. Whether you have a sibling who just came out or you have known for a long time, this is a space where you can share about your experiences as a sibling and learn from others on a similar journey.
WHEN: Second Thursday of the Month9:00 pm ET8:00 pm CT6:00 pm PT
WHERE: Zoom (register for the link)
Confidentiality Policy: We take confidentiality very seriously. By attending this group, you agree not to disclose the identity of anyone else, or repeat what was shared in the group.

Eshel New York City LGBTQ+ Meetup
2023-09-11 20:00 - 21:00
Calling all adult members of the NYC queer community who are Orthodox, formerly Orthodox, or “Ortho-curious.” If you are interested in connecting with other individuals who are exploring their Orthodox LGBTQ+ identity please join us! Members will have the opportunity to mingle and engage in peer-led discussions in a casual and confidential environment.
WHAT: A confidential gathering for people who identify as LGBTQ+ and are Orthodox, Ortho-curious, or formerly Orthodox.
WHEN: The first Monday of every month | 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET
WHERE: For notifications and sign-in information, please sign up below. (You only need to register for this group one time.)
Questions? Email new-york@eshelonline.org.
Participants are asked to adhere to strict confidentiality.

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Eshel Parents of Trans People & Gender Non-Conforming Support Group
2023-09-19 21:00 - 22:00
What: This group is for traditional Jewish parents who may be struggling with their child’s gender identity and/or wish to connect with other parents like themselves.

When: Tuesday, September 19, 9:00 PM EST – 8:00 PM CST – 6:00 PM PST(Usually 4th Monday every month)
Where: For notifications and sign-in information, please register below. (You only need to register for this group one time.)
Questions? Email info@eshelonline.org

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Israel Parent Meetup
2023-09-20 12:30 - 13:30

Parents Drop-In Support Group
2023-10-02 20:00 - 21:00
Join our drop-in support group for parents! We meet every Wednesday at noon ET and the first Monday every month at 8pm ET.
For notifications and sign-in information, please fill out the form below. (You only need to register for this group one time.)

Sign up to Join

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LGBTQ+ Support Group
2023-10-02 20:00 - 21:00
A confidential space for LGBTQ+ adults who are Orthodox, formerly Orthodox, or Orthodox-adjacent to access peer support, share their experiences, and connect and gain insights from others.

First Monday of the month
8:00 pm ET, 7:00 pm CT, 6:00 pm MT, 5:00 pm PT
Register below for Zoom link and to receive notifications each month.

Baltimore/DC Sukkah Party
2023-10-04 19:00 - 21:00
Get together with our Baltimore/DC Eshel family in the sukkah for an intimate, fun gathering with light nosh, games, and Torah! Please RSVP to let us know you’re coming even if you have already signed up for this group.
WHAT: A party to celebrate Sukkot with your Eshel family.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 4, 7:00-9:00 pm.
WHERE: In the Sukkah! RSVP for address.

Thanks to Our Baltimore/DC Sponsor

Closeted Men's Support Group
2023-10-10 20:00 - 21:00, 2023-12-19 20:00 - 21:00
Connect with other closeted Orthodox men in a welcoming, supportive, and confidential peer support group. This group offers a warm and empathetic environment where you can share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with other LGBTQ+ frum, Jewish men. This is a nonjudgmental space to explore your questions and concerns wherever you are on your journey. We welcome those from all backgrounds, whether you’re Chassidic, Haredi, Yeshivish, modern Orthodox, or not sure where you fit.
Second Tuesday of the month
8:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm CT / 6:00 pm MT / 5:00 pm PT

Closeted in Crown Heights
2023-10-11 20:15 - 21:45, 2024-01-03 20:15 - 21:45
In our community, there are many women who feel vulnerable and that they have much to lose if they come out: a job, housing, children, or family. This group is here to provide mutual support and unconditional love no matter where your journey is leading you. This support group is a non-judgmental space – there is no pressure to change your situation unless you want to.
This group might be for you if you:

Are a woman in the closet
Are married or divorced
Have children
Are afraid of what you might lose if you come out

This is a confidential group. Respect for each others’ desire to remain confidential or anonymous is of the utmost importance.
This group will meet in person in Crown Heights, but participants living in other locations are welcome.

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The Holy Closet at the Manhattan JCC
2023-10-17 19:00 - 21:00
What does the wedding ceremony of two religious Jewish gay men look like? Or a family of two mothers and four children? Or the pregnancy of a religious trans man? This film raises these questions and tells the stories of LGBTQ people who chose to remain religious Jews, building their lives, relationships, families, and everyday activities according to the Jewish faith.
Join us for a screening of The Holy Closet (Aron Hakodesh) followed by a panel discussion on Tuesday, October 17.
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Doors open 30 minutes before the event starts.
334 Amsterdam AveNY, NY, 10023

Get Tickets

Israel Parent Meetup
2023-10-18 12:30 - 14:00
Wednesday October 18, 7:30 pm Israel Time
Join Eshel’s local chapter in Israel for parents of LGBTQ+ children.
This group will provide support and build community in an intimate, confidential setting in English. This group meets in person most months, with a Zoom meeting once per quarter.
Register below for monthly reminders, links, and location details.

Sign up for our other newsletters

Eshel’s mission is to create a future for Orthodox lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, and their families. Through its innovative and culturally sensitive programming, Eshel works with each individual, family, and community in creating a place for their LGBTQ members. Eshel envisions a world where Orthodox LGBTQ individuals can live out their lives in the Orthodox communities of their choice.

Eshel Across America
2023-11-03 - 2023-11-04
What is Eshel Across America?
Eshel Across America is an annual event that we mark on the week of Parshat Vayera to teach the Torah of hachnassat orchim, welcoming guests. Shabbat Vayera has a special place in our heart because it is the source of our name. In this parsha, Abraham plants a tamarisk tree, an eshel. Our midrashic tradition teaches that the eshel that Abraham planted provided shelter and nourishment to travelers in the desert. This echoes the heavy emphasis placed on the mitzvah of welcoming strangers in the parsha, as Abraham and Sarah show generosity in caring for the three mysterious strangers who visit them.
Every year, on Shabbat Vayera, we invite our community to participate in the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim. Beyond simply hosting our friends and family, the mitzvah of hachnassat orchim requires us to expand our boundaries, to make space for those who are different from us around our table.
How Can I Participate?

Invite guests to your Shabbat meal on November 3 or 4! Be mindful of including those who you’ve never hosted before, those who have different backgrounds, demographics, points of view, and life experiences.
Order challah (including rainbow challah!) from our partner, Challah Back Girls to brighten your Shabbat table. Use discount code ESHEL for 15% off your order. (Order by Sunday to guarantee delivery for Shabbat).
Sign up below to receive our discussion guide. Use your Shabbat meal to raise questions and discuss the obligation of welcoming the stranger.

Frequently Asked Questions:
How should I invite guests, even those I may not have met yet?
There are many ways you can opt to invite guests to your table. You might reach out by email or text to send personal invites to those you already know. Online platforms such as OneTable and Evite allow you to share a link to the meal you’re hosting more broadly, such as in local Facebook or Whatsapp groups, and welcome new faces to your table. You can also reach out to Rabbis, community leaders, and friends to identify individuals local to you in need of hospitality.
Do I have to be LGBTQ+ to host an Eshel Across America meal?
No! This year we are opening up Eshel Across America hosting to all – LGBTQ+ people, parents, siblings, friends, and allies. We believe that expanding our Orthodox communities’ awareness and comfort with talking about and sharing space with people who are different from them will help us humanize one another and be more open to conversations about LGBTQ+ experiences.
What if I’m not available that Shabbat or can’t host people in my home?
We encourage you to think creatively about the ways you can create a welcoming space to gather people to practice and discuss hachnassat orchim. Maybe you can host a group on a Thursday night for a mishmar-style preparation for Shabbat, get together in a park or larger space, or gather for a melave malka after Shabbat ends on Saturday night. You can always sign up to receive our discussion questions and use them another time.
Will the meals be Kosher?
We encourage hosts to make their meals kosher, but understand that people may have different standards about what counts as kosher. With that in mind, we ask that hosts make it clear to their guests what the kashrut standards are at their meal (such as whether the meal will be catered, homemade, or potluck-style; meat or dairy; cholov yisroel; etc) so people can make informed decisions about attending. Let us know if you need help making a kosher meal – whether that’s by ordering from a kosher restaurant, cooking in a neighbor’s kitchen, or some other creative alternative.

NYC Comedy Outing
2023-11-08 21:30
Event Sold out – Congrats Raye Schiller!
Come grab a drink with some Eshel friends and enjoy a night of comedy from our very own Raye Schiller!
Sign up below to get a special Eshel discount! After you receive your discount code by email, purchase your tickets through Eventbrite. We’ll meet up at the comedy show, then finish the night with some drinks at a nearby bar. This event is 21+.
Big Yenta Energy with Raye Schiller
Club Cumming
505 East 6th Street New York, NY 10009
Raye Schiller and their hilarious comedian friends will make you laugh and cry and remember that you should call your mother. Slay. Oy Vey.
Featuring:
Clara Olshansky (Reductress)
Dylan Adler (The Late Late Show)
Leah Forster (The Comedy Cellar)
Sami Schwaeber (TimeOut New York)
Raye Schiller is a queer, formerly Orthodox Jewish comedian and writer from New York currently based in LA. They’ve performed at top comedy clubs all over the U.S. including the Comedy Store and the Hollywood Improv, and internationally in Rome, Lisbon, Tel Aviv, and Peru. Check out their comedy podcast, Yenta! wherever you can find podcasts and find them @rayeontheway

Israel Parent Meetup
2023-11-15 12:30 - 14:00
Wednesday, November 15
7:30 pm Israel Time
Join Eshel’s local chapter in Israel for parents of LGBTQ+ children.
This group will provide support and build community in an intimate, confidential setting in English. This group meets in person most months, with a Zoom meeting once per quarter.
Register below for monthly reminders, links, and location details.

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Navigating Challenging Times for Queer Jewish Students on College Campuses
2023-11-16 20:00
Jewish students at universities across the US are experiencing the worst outbreak of antisemitism and anti-Zionism in recent memory. Hate speech and threats of violence are sharply on the rise on many campuses. This is even more pronounced in liberal spaces, where some LGBTQ activists have stoked the flames of anti-Zionism. As queer Jews, we feel particularly heartbroken by the loss of these spaces which once felt welcoming.

While many Jews who desire a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have felt abandoned by friends who have engaged in justification of Hamas, the need for a space for religious LGBTQ+ Jewish students that welcomes and affirms all aspects of their identity is especially strong at this moment.

We are gathering to sustain and support each other, to learn what we can from each other, to build friendships and alliances from campus to campus, and to affirm our deep love of Israel alongside our commitment to the image of G-d in every human being.

The Holy Closet - LA film screening & panel discussion
2023-11-19 19:00 - 21:30
What does the wedding ceremony of two religious Jewish gay men look like? Or a family of two mothers and four children? Or the pregnancy of a religious trans man? “The Holy Closet” delves into these questions and offers a heartfelt portrayal of LGBTQ+ individuals who choose to remain dedicated to their religious observance while navigating the complexities of their identities.
Following the screening, join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring leaders and members of the LGBTQ+ and Jewish community. This will be a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and gain insights into the way LGBTQ+ Jews are changing Orthodoxy here in the US.
Event starts at 7 with the film at 7:30, followed by the panel discussion.

For last minute reservations, please email sgoldman@tbala.org.

Eshel Brooklyn Women's LBTQ+ Meetup
2023-11-21 20:30 - 21:45
Women’s New York Area Meetup on Zoom
What: Meet other individuals who identify as female and who are exploring their Orthodox LGBTQ+ identities.
When: Meeting Weekly: Every Tuesday from 8:30 pm – 9:45 pm
Where: For notifications and sign-in information, register below. (You only need to register for this group one time.)

Chanukah Candle Lighting Meet and Greet
2023-12-14 17:00 - 19:00 | JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave. at 76th St., New York, NY, 10023
Meet us at 5 pm for a community candle lighting and meet and greet. Drop in and enjoy some Hanukkah treats 🍩 and meet some new friends. No need to RSVP. Family friendly and open to allies!
Where? Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan334 Amsterdam Ave at, W 76th St, New York, NY 10023Lobby

Israel Parent Meetup
2023-12-20 12:00 - 14:00
Join Eshel’s local chapter in Israel for parents of LGBTQ+ children.
This group will provide support and build community in an intimate, confidential setting in English. This group meets in person most months, with a Zoom meeting once per quarter.
Wednesday, December 20 at 7:00 pm Israel Time in Beit Shemesh
Register below for monthly reminders, links, and location details.

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LGBTQ+ Support Group
2024-01-08 20:00 - 21:00
A confidential space for LGBTQ+ adults who are Orthodox, formerly Orthodox, or Orthodox-adjacent to access peer support, share their experiences, and connect and gain insights from others.

Second Monday of the month
8:00 pm ET, 7:00 pm CT, 6:00 pm MT, 5:00 pm PT
Register below for Zoom link and to receive notifications each month.

Israel Parent Meetup with Sunnie Epstein
2024-01-10 12:30 - 14:00
Join Eshel’s Israel chapter for Orthodox parents of LGBTQ+ children! We’re excited to welcome Dr. Sunnie Sterling Epstein to join our group and facilitate a discussion on how we can all navigate the new twists and turns in our lives. Join us Wednesday, January 10 at 7:30 pm at the home of an Eshel parent in Arnona.
Register for location.

Eshel National Retreat 2024
2024-01-12 - 2024-01-14
Friday January 12 – Sunday January 14
Isabella Freedman
Falls Village, CT

Register Now

Top Hats, Tichels, and Tiaras: The Many Hats We Wear
Join us in celebrating the beauty and diversity of our Eshel community. We all wear different hats in different areas of our lives. We are large – we contain multitudes. We are children, parents, grandparents, siblings, partners, friends. We are students, professionals, retirees, creatives, entrepreneurs, explorers. We come from communities that are modern Orthodox, Haredi, Chassidic, traditional, Ashkenazi, Sephardi. Our genders and sexual identities span every inch of the rainbow. In many aspects of our lives, we promote or downplay certain aspects of who we are. This weekend, we will explore and embrace the many different sides of ourselves.

Eshel is like coming home, only better. Meeting new and old friends, in a natural setting, with interesting programming – its something I look forward to all year long.
Sheindy

I came to appreciate that there are so many in our Jewish community who want to feel accepted and valued – and that our Jewish community institutions and organizations sometimes don’t provide that … Eshel, and a retreat like this, plays an important role in addressing an issue that often flies under the radar.
Keith Krivitzky

This was my first ever LGBT event and I felt washed over with love and tenderness. I felt really seen.
Anonymous

Is this retreat for me?What happens at the retreat?What does the Isabella Freedman Retreat Center offer?How do I get there?Is there financial aid available?

Wherever you are on your journey, whether you are questioning, closeted, or looking for community: this is the place for you. We strive to make this a judgement-free space for learning and personal growth. We only ask that each attendee agree to respect other participants’ feelings and attitudes. Each person is on their own journey, which includes many detours, twists, and turns. Come with an open mind and remember that everyone’s path is unique.
Queer or LGBTQ+ adults and families are welcome. Children’s programming will be provided throughout many parts of the retreat.
We all have our own unique Jewish journeys. This is a space for those who are committed to or see themselves in communities of traditional Jewish observance. We welcome participants of all backgrounds, including Modern Orthodox, Yeshivish, Chassidic, Sephardi, traditional, formerly Orthodox, and Ortho-curious.
We take confidentiality very seriously. All participants must agree and sign Eshel’s confidentiality policy. Retreat attendees may not disclose the identity of anyone else without explicit permission. Participants can only share what they hear at the retreat with an individual’s permission.

At our national retreat, the largest annual gathering of LGBTQ+ Orthodox Jews, we spend Shabbat getting to know each other, davening, learning, singing, shmoozing, and relaxing. On Saturday night, we let loose and have fun together! Sunday provides more opportunities to learn together, including some unique activities. Past offerings have included text studies such as “Leviticus through the Looking Glass,” “Gender Transformations in Rabbininc Literature,” as well as safrut, rainbow candle making, and “Sensuality and the Sacred in 1900 Queer Jewish Writing.” Throughout the retreat, you’ll be part of a small chaburah group to discuss and process each step of the journey.
We welcome proposals for sessions from participants. Contact info@eshelonline.org for more information.

Beautiful indoor and outdoor gathering spaces
Delicious, sustainable, and glatt kosher food under supervision of the Hartford Kashrut Commission
Shomer Shabbat environment in beautiful surroundings
A commitment to sustainability through energy efficiency, food justice, animal welfare, and supporting healthy ecosystems
Conveniently located within 2.5 hours of New York and Boston
A shuttle service from the nearest Metro North station
Learn more about the facilities

Participants are responsible for transportation to and from the retreat. Isabella Freedman retreat center is located about a 2.5 hour drive from New York, a 3.5 hour drive from Boston, or just over an hour from Hartford. We offer a shuttle service from the Wassaic Metro North station to and from Isabella Freedman for $35 each way.

We are able to provide flexible payment plans to all retreat attendees – email sara@eshelonline.org to request a weekly or monthly payment plan.
For some, attending the National Retreat may require some sacrifice – choosing to cut back on other discretionary spending such as going out to dinner, buying coffee, or paying for entertainment. We believe the transformative experience of the national retreat is worthwhile. For others, attending the cost of attending the National Retreat may present a hardship if it would make it difficult to put food on the table, pay rent, or pay for transportation to work. If attending the national retreat would present a hardship for you, you may be eligible to receive financial aid.
If you are interested in financial aid to attend the retreat, please fill out our application form to help us better understand your needs. The deadline to apply for financial aid is December 4. You will receive a confirmation email once your application has been received – please reach out to us if you don’t get a confirmation email. Financial aid decisions will be emailed out on a rolling basis.

Registration for the National Retreat is now closed. Please contact sara@eshelonline.org for information about joining the waitlist.
