Israel Parent Meetup
2026-01-15 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-05 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-11 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
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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Living a Religious Life as a Transgender Jew: A Halachic Conversation
2026-01-22 20:00
On Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 8PM, we will present “Living a Religious Life as a Transgender Jew: A Halachic Conversation.” During this program, Yaakov, a transgender college student, will discuss with Rabbi Dov Linzer, President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School, many of the halachic issues that arise for a transgender individual seeking to live a religious life as an Orthodox Jew. We will reserve time at the end of the program to answer questions from the audience. Please join us by registering for this FREE program below.
This program follows the program that we ran earlier this year, “LGBTQ Children in Orthodox Day Schools.” In that program, two students (one of which was Yaakov) and three parents shared their experiences dealing with Orthodox day schools, particularly administrators and teachers. If you missed that program, you can watch the recording at www.poratonline.org/events.
Where: Zoom
When: Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 8PM EST
Rabbi Dov Linzer is the President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School. In this dual capacity, Rabbi Linzer has set the vision for YCT as a Center of Torah and Torah Leadership, and, with an amazing team of colleagues and partners, oversees its growth, reach, and further development, including establishing a premier rabbinic leadership program and pastoral training center in Israel. An acclaimed Torah and halakha scholar, Rabbi Linzer has been a leading rabbinic voice in the Modern Orthodox community for over 30 years. He has published hundreds of Torah articles and teshuvot (responsa), and has hosted a number of highly popular Torah podcasts. In his capacity as a mentor, Rabbi Linzer provides religious guidance to the yeshiva’s students and the over 150 YCT-ordained rabbis who are serving in the US and 60 rabbis and rabbaniyot serving in Israel and answers thousands of halakhic questions from YCT rabbis and broader community each year.
Yaakov is an Orthodox Jew and transgender man currently studying at Brandeis University. He has faced a number of challenges since coming out and through his experience has gained a unique perspective on living a Jewish life as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Israel Parent Shabbaton
2026-01-29 - 2026-01-31
Enjoy an inspiring and restorative Shabbat with Eshel Israel!
Spend Shabbat Shira with other religious parents of LGBTQ+ children. We’ll enjoy a relaxing Shabbat together, connect, give each other chizzuk, and dive deep into the challenges and joys of parenting LGBTQ+ children.
This Shabbat is an opportunity for us to slow down, take a break from our busy lives, and connect with a community of parents who share our experiences.
Date: January 29 – 31Location: Kibbutz Lavi
Weekend Highlights Include:

Spirited Shabbat davening
Thought-provoking sessions led by fellow parents and experts
Beautiful and relaxing natural environment
Delicious meals
Warm, welcoming community of parents

Register below! Payment is required via Paypal after submitting the form. Registration is not considered complete until payment is received.
Housing Options:

Eden: Modern rooms, most of which overlook the magical Galilean landscape.Double Occupancy: 2500 NIS per coupleSingle Occupancy: 2100 NIS per person

Hod: Welcoming and warm design, with a balcony overlooking the spectacular view of the Galilee and Golan mountains.Double occupancy: 3000 NIS per coupleSingle occupancy: 2400 NIS per person
Registration is now closed.

NYC | Tu B'shvat Karaoke Night
2026-02-02 19:00 - 21:00
Back by popular demand, Eshel is pleased to invite you to Karaoke Night at the Manhattan JCC! Even better, we will be able to sing in celebration of not just one, but two holidays: Tu B’Shvat and Groundhog Day!
Sushi and drinks to be served. Vegan options available!
This event is 21+ and free to attend.
When: Monday, February 2nd, 7:00-9:00p
Where: Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

NYC 20s and 30s Pre-Purim Pregame w/ JQY
2026-02-17 19:00 - 21:00
Join Eshel and JQY for our first 20s & 30s program of 2026! Ring in Rosh Chodesh Adar with a wine and cheese Purim pre-game at the JCC with new and familiar faces. This will be a great opportunity to ideate about your Purim costume, if you haven’t yet come up with one yet!
This 20s & 30s event is 21+ and free to attend.
When: Tuesday, February 17, 7:00-9:00p
Where: Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Registration for this program has closed.

February Farbrengen: LGBTQ+ Brooklyn Shabbat Oneg
2026-02-27 20:30 - 23:30
Escape the cold weather and join Eshel for our first Brooklyn LGBTQ+ Shabbat Oneg in Crown Heights. Enjoy post-dinner snacks, games, singing, and socializing. This event is 21+ and free to attend. This event will be hosted in a private home. Location to be sent the week of the event.
PLEASE NOTE: For internal tracking and discretion purposes, we require separate registrations for each guest. Thank you for your understanding.

LGBTQ+ Community Purim Chagiga
2026-03-02 18:30 - 22:30
Come be marbin b’simcha on Monday, March 2nd with Eshel and our partners for the annual LGBTQ+ Purim Chagiga! This year, we come together again to hear the classic tale of Esther’s ascendance and the heated rivalry between Haman and Mordechai. Arrive dressed to the nines for Megillah (traditional Orthodox and egalitarian readings), followed by break-fast, mishteh (drinks) and simcha dancing, with music from DJ Shua—back by popular demand!
Join just for Megillah reading (free for all ages!) or stay for the party. Party is 21+.
Featuring:🔊 DJ Shua spinning beats🍸 Open bar🍡 Delicious bites
General Admission – $36 ($40 at the door)🐦 Early Bird (ends Feb. 11) – $25 🐦Student Ticket – $18
Registration required for both megillah reading and party.
Thanks to our community partners: UJA-Federation, Sephardic Mizrahi Q Network, Shalom Dykes, and the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan.
📅 Date: Monday, March 2⏰ Time: 6:30 pm Maariv📜 7:00 pm Megillah Readings (egalitarian and Orthodox), followed by light break-fast🎉 8:00 – 10:30 pm Party and dinner
A limited number of comped tickets will be offered to volunteers. To learn more about volunteer opportunities and expectations, please contact info@eshelonline.org.
PLEASE NOTE: For internal tracking and discretion purposes, we require separate registrations for each guest. Thank you for your understanding.

South Florida | Post-Purim Meetup
2026-03-07 20:00 - 21:30
Connect with other LGBTQ+ Jews and family members at Eshel’s South Florida Post-Purim Meetup. Join us for a relaxed evening together at a local restaurant.
Date: Saturday, March 7thTime: 8:00 pmLocation: Grand Cafe, 2905 Stirling Rd, Hollywood, FL

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Baltimore Allies Training
2026-03-12 19:00
During this training, you will learn to identify ways to support LGBTQ+ people in your Orthodox community. Whether you are a shul member, day school parent, or lay leader, you can play a role in making LGBTQ+ individuals feel more welcome.
This training will cover information about the nature of the LGBTQ+ population and their needs, skills for allyship in a variety of situations and institutions, and opportunities to practice. Open to anyone who would like to be an ally in Orthodox settings including in synagogues, schools, camps, and at home.

Led by Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Sara Singer

When: Thursday, March 12 at 7:00 PM
Where: Baltimore, MD (Address provided upon RSVP)

2026 National LGBTQ+ Retreat
2026-03-13 - 2026-03-15
Learn More and Register: https://www.eshelonline.org/2026-lgbtq-retreat/

Upper West Side Community Shabbat Dinner feat. Rabbis Elie Friedman & Zvi Weiss
2026-03-20 18:55 - 22:00
THIS EVENT IS AT-CAPACITY AND REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
Eshel is thrilled to be partnering with Darkhei Noam Pride and Base UWS for this special community Shabbat, celebrating the vibrancy of the Upper West Side LGBTQ+ Jewish community. We invite you to join us for davening and dinner at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, followed by a very special shiur led by Eshel’s very own board member, Rabbi Elie Friedman (RIETS), and Rabbi Zvi Weiss (RIETS).
Where: Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, Auditorium
6:55pm – Davening – Orthodox Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv at the JCC, Partnership Minyan at Kehilat Hadar Shaare Zedek
8pm – Dinner
9-10pm – Torah from Rabbis Elie Friedman & Zvi Weiss
This program is open to all community members. No charge for children under the age of 3. Please note in the included field of the registration form if you will need childcare at this event.
Early Bird Price (ends March 6th): $25
Regular Price: $36
Student Price: $18
Children (under 18): $15
Eshel and our partners believe that financial hurdles should never be an obstacle to participating in our programs. If financial circumstances are cost-prohibitive for you, please reach out to info@eshelonline.org.
PLEASE NOTE: For internal tracking and discretion purposes, we require separate registrations for each guest. Thank you for your understanding.

NYC Crafting Freedom: DIY Haggadah Workshop feat. Rabbi Jamie Kuperman-Schwartz
2026-03-23 19:00 - 21:00
Get ready with Eshel for z’man cheiruteinu (the time of our freedom) with a homemade Haggadah crafting night! We will enjoy pizza and hear words of torah from Rabbi Jamie Kuperman-Schwartz, then clear away all of our chametz to decorate our own Haggadahs, which we can use at our Seders this Pesach! This event is 21+ and free to attend.
About the Teacher
Rabbi Jamie Kuperman-Schwartz was ordained by Maharat in 2025. She teaches seventh grade at Greenburgh Hebrew Center, and hosts Talmud classes for adults in her community. Rabbi Kuperman-Schwartz has shared Torah in a variety of settings, including Base Harlem, The Philly Women’s Beit Midrash, and the Eshel National Shabbaton. She lives in Washington Heights with her wife, Esther, loves murder mysteries, and makes a mean potato kugel.
When: Monday, March 23, 7:00-9:00pWhere: Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Cambridge | LGBTQ+ Community Dinner
2026-03-27 18:45
Register

Boston Jewish Film Festival: Pink Lady
2026-03-29 19:00
In an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem, Bati has a seemingly perfect life. She is happily married to Lazer and the young couple have three children. But their world starts to crumble when Lazer is blackmailed and Bati discovers his secret affair with his male study partner. Desperate to protect her family and keep the man she loves, she supports Lazer as he attempts to “cure” his homosexuality, whilst uncovering her true desires.
Followed by a conversation with Rabbi Steve Greenberg, Eshel, Co-Founder and Director of Education, and Idit Klein, VP for Public Engagement at New Israel Fund.
From Ophir Award Winning Director Nir Bergman (Here We Are, In Treatment)

Get Tickets

NYC Sfirat Ha'Omer Sevev: Intention Setting w/ Dinner
2026-04-20 19:00 - 21:00
The period of counting Sefirat Ha’Omer between Pesach and Shavuot is commonly known for its agricultural associations, but it is also an auspicious time for self-reflection. For our monthly program this April, we invite you to join Eshel at the JCC Manhattan for an evening of intention-setting. We will work all together and in smaller groups to empower each other and ourselves in Sefirat Ha’Omer resolutions. Come with a resolution in mind or develop one during the program!
This event is 21+ and free. A Chinese food and Sushi dinner will be served.
When: Monday, April 20, 7:00-9:00pWhere: Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

2026 Parent Retreat
2026-04-30 - 2026-05-03
Learn More and Sign Up: https://www.eshelonline.org/2026-parent-retreat/

NYC LGBTQ+ Lag Ba'Omer Rooftop BBQ Social
2026-05-04 19:00 - 21:00
THIS EVENT IS AT-CAPACITY. PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO BE ADDED TO OUR WAITLIST.
Celebrate Lag B’Omer in style, overlooking the Upper West Side on the Manhattan JCC’s rooftop! We cannot make bonfires on the roof, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some good BBQ! There will be hot dogs, smores, and drinks. Ring in the special day with great company and great music! Rain or shine.
This event is 21+ and free.
When: Monday, May 4, 7:00-9:00p
Where: Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, Rooftop

Baltimore | Lag Ba'Omer Party
2026-05-06 19:00 - 21:00
Join Eshel Baltimore for a party to celebrate Lag B’omer! This event is family-friendly and open to LGBTQ+ people, parents, and any other family members you’d like to bring.

Eshel Brooklyn Women's LBTQ+ Meetup
2026-09-15 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.)

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Closeted Women's Support Group
2026-09-16 20:00 - 21:30
Third Wednesday Monthly
8:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm CT / 5:00 pm PT
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.

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