Mar 3, 2025 | Eshel Out Loud
It’s easy to look at Purim and see a story opposing extremes - either very quiet, with hidden identities and secret meetings, or loud with parades in the streets, month-long parties, and even a regional war. There’s also the lavish extravagance of the Persian empire, juxtaposed with Mordechai decreeing Jewish people wear rags and fast. [more]
Jul 3, 2024 | Eshel Out Loud
For the last fifteen years, I have worked in fundraising in primarily Orthodox spaces, where I asked for gifts for day schools, Yeshivas, social justice organizations, and special needs support. Throughout that time I saw myself as an outsider, strengthening Orthodoxy, but not feeling connected to it myself - since the Orthodoxy I was strengthening [more]
May 28, 2024 | Eshel Out Loud
In just a few days it will be June, which means it is time to celebrate how far the LGBTQ community has come, band together as a community for more progress on the way, and reflect on what it all means to us. These journaling prompts are meant to guide you to contemplate what pride [more]
Jun 30, 2023 | Eshel in the News
By Andrew Lapin “There is a cultural divide between the rabbis and the LGBTQ+ community,” Miryam Kabakov, executive director of the nonprofit Eshel, which supports LGBTQ Orthodox Jews and their families, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency about the flag controversy. “The rabbis think that LGBTQ+ symbols are about sex,” Kabakov added. “They are not. They are [more]
May 30, 2023 | Eshel Out Loud
Pride Month, to me, is an occasion to celebrate visibility. It provides an opportunity for a community that can sometimes operate under the radar to proudly showcase our unity. Living in Chicago's official gay district (since 1997!), it is quite common to see LGBTQ+ individuals and rainbow flags around. Yet I still get excited each [more]
