Every year, I look forward to celebrating Hannukah. In the darkest of times, the lights of the Hanukkiah and the songs of the holiday have always lifted me up and inspired me to renew my faith and hope in our people and in Hashem. This year, I have needed this light and renewal more than ever. As the parshiyot shift to the journey of Yoseph the dreamer, one of my favorite stories of the Torah, during Hanukkah, I’m noticing the parallels between the Maccabim hiding and standing up for themselves, and Yoseph’s journey into and out of a pit and a jail cell for believing in his dreams.
Yoseph knew he was born to be someone different than everyone else around him. He dreamed of things he didn’t quite understand, but nonetheless believed in. He was ostracized and isolated by his own family for sharing his dreams, only to go on to serve a greater purpose in bringing his family down to Egypt and saving them from famine. The Maccabim as well, forced to hide and run, were ultimately on the path that led them back to the restored Beit Hamikdash.
These stories, of course, parallel the experiences of many of us in the LGBTQ+ community. For LGBTQ+ people and Jews, being an outcast like Yoseph is nothing new. In particular, many LGBTQ+ Orthodox people experience what Yoseph did – being rejected by our immediate family. Even for those of us with a supportive family, we grow up knowing that we are somehow different than those around us. Many of us have dreams of something that others struggle to understand. I know that the vision I see – of an Orthodoxy that is fully inclusive and welcoming of LGBTQ+ people – is impossible for many others to envision. I pray that, like Yoseph, I might one day see this vision come true, although I know that there are years of hard work ahead.
By continuing to believe in this dream and working towards our goals for over fourteen years, Eshel has begun to create the incredible things we never thought possible – Orthodox LGBTQ+ Shabbat meals, Orthodox LGBTQ+ minyanim, Orthodox LGBTQ+ weddings and family building, and even more incredibly, openly LGBTQ+ families integral to their Orthodox shul and day school communities. By holding on to his dreams even in times of darkness and isolation, Yoseph was led to serve a greater purpose. Like Yosef, Orthodox and LGBTQ+ Jews also must hold on to their dreams and vision of inclusion and belonging.
This year, Jewish communities around the world are reeling from antisemitism, and LGBTQ+ Jewish people are feeling more cast out than ever from their once safest spaces. However, the isolation from others has enabled a bonding of Jewish people across denominations, communities, and identities – all working towards a stronger Jewish people. We have seen that in connecting with over one thousand people in person in the last year at Eshel for dozens of events – joyful, meaningful, and frum.
Eshel has not only supported community members when they needed it most, but enabled our community members to succeed, thrive, and find joy in these dark times. By continuing to follow our vision of a fully inclusive Orthodoxy, in the footsteps of Yoseph the dreamer, and the Maccabim who stood up for themselves, we continue to find inclusion, belonging and joy that not only strengthens ourselves, but also strengthens every Orthodox and Jewish community.
Ely Winkler
Director of Advancement