Mar 24, 2026 | Eshel Out Loud
Every year, on the 15th of Nissan, Jews around the world gather around tables, with their families and friends, in their own homes and as guests, to partake in the Seder—a meditation on our freedom. The Seder, while a meditation, is far from peaceful. The Seder, broken up into fifteen dramatic acts, full of ritual [more]
Nov 4, 2025 | Eshel Out Loud
“And He (Abraham) planted an eshel (tamarisk) in Beersheba, and he proclaimed there the name of the Lord, God of the universe” (Genesis 21:33). Every year, when we read Parshat Vayera, we are reminded of why we chose the eshel tree as our namesake. In the Torah, the eshel is an ancient welcome sign. In [more]
May 19, 2025 | Eshel Out Loud
For the past ten years, Eshel has been searching for shuls for LGBTQ+ Jews - individuals and families - who want to be part of a frum community. Since the founding of the Welcoming Shuls Project, I have spoken with almost 300 shuls and Rabbis. We work with large and small congregations, independent minyanim, and [more]
May 6, 2024 | Eshel Out Loud
Not everyone lives in New York, LA, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, or other cities with large Jewish communities and numerous organizations supporting Jewish life. For LGBTQ+ Jews and those who love them, living in places with smaller Jewish communities can be extra challenging if the local Jewish community is not as welcoming or as religious as [more]
Mar 4, 2024 | Eshel Out Loud
For several years, Eshel’s Welcoming Shuls Project has guided shuls and Rabbis in LGBTQ+ inclusion and helped LGBTQ+ people find the right shul for them and navigate shul life. Despite the increase in anti-trans media coverage and legislation, there is more interest than ever from our Welcoming Shuls to find ways to fully embrace transgender [more]
