Jul 2, 2026 | Eshel in the News
[caption id="attachment_166196" align="aligncenter" width="2121"] motimeiri/iStock via Getty Images Plus[/caption] RNS) — “The kid is a feigele!” I can still hear my relative saying the derogatory phrase, used to refer to a gay man or boy, aiming his ugly remark at a young man at a bar mitzvah celebration. In Yiddish, “feigele” literally means a [more]
Jun 29, 2026 | Eshel Out Loud
When you ask a potential wedding vendor, “Do you know what a tisch is?” the question underneath is usually much bigger than vocabulary. What you are likely really asking is: Will I have to explain my wedding from scratch? Will you be thrown off by the flow of the day? Can I trust you to [more]
Jun 22, 2026 | Eshel Out Loud
As observant Jews, we know what it means to navigate challenges and make difficult choices. Across generations, we have drawn on resilience, faith, and commitment to our families, communities, and values. We understand the language of compromise. At Eshel, however, we believe that the most essential parts of ourselves should not be subject to compromise. [more]
May 5, 2026 | Eshel in the News
Imagine belonging to a faith that is fighting to keep you out—and refusing to leave. Some of you in our Mama Dragons community know this experience well. Some of you are still living it, loving your families and your traditions while also working, every day, to make change from within. That tension—the push and pull [more]
May 5, 2026 | Eshel Out Loud
This year, I had the pleasure of attending three spectacular weekends: the Eshel in Israel Parent Shabbaton, the National LGBTQ+ Retreat, and Eshel Parent Retreat. While each is unique in their own way, these Eshel weekends are the crown jewels of our work. Each time we come together for a retreat weekend or smaller Shabbaton, [more]
