Resources for Day Schools

Through a generous grant from the Micah Foundation, Eshel works with Jewish day schools to create a more inclusive, safe learning environment for students through conversations with Rabbis, educators, students, and parents.

What We Do

For Administrators:

• Consult with administrators to manage immediate crises

• Provide administrators with resources and develop action plans to prevent crises

• Help frame school policies and statements of well-being for students

• Address related issues such as bullying, verbal and psychological abuse, and other challenges

• Provide ongoing support in addressing day-to-day challenges as they arise

• Engage local Rabbis and Jewish community professionals when appropriate

For Educators:

• Provide individualized training for educators, Judaics teachers, and health professionals, and other groups of faculty 

• Help faculty have a better understanding of gender and sexual identity as it relates to their student population

• Educate faculty about mental health and safety issues for LGBTQ students and the general population of the school

• Train faculty in recognizing and supporting students’ mental health and safety needs

For Parents and Students:

• Provide resources on use of inclusive language, raise awareness of the presence of LGBTQ students and families within the community

• Help and advise students who want to create safe spaces in their schools

• Facilitate conversations between faculty, parents, students, board member

Over the last year, KeshetUK has worked together with Chief Rabbi Mirvis, Jewish schools and Jewish LGBT+ people to produce a groundbreaking report ‘The Wellbeing of LGBT+ Pupils: A Guide for Orthodox Jewish Schools’.

The purpose of this Guide is to reduce harm to LGBT+ young people in the Jewish community. Designed with practical application in mind, the Guide is split into clear chapters and appendices that cover:

• The challenges that can be faced by some young people who might be struggling to reconcile their LGBT+ and Jewish identity
• The use of appropriate language, and tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying
• How to provide pastoral support to LGBT+ young people
• A review of UK equalities legislation and schools’ inspection criteria
• A glossary of current LGBT+ terminology
• How to have supportive conversations with LGBT+ young people