It begins with a seed.
וַיִּטַּע אֵשֶׁל בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַע וַיִּקְרָא שָׁם בְּשֵׁם ה׳ אֵל עוֹלָם
“[Avraham] planted an eshel in Be’er Sheva, and invoked there the Name of the Eternal, the everlasting God” (Bereishit 21:33).
Next week, when we read Parshat Vayera, we encounter the biblical source of Eshel’s name – the eshel tree that Avraham plants. The proper name of the species is Tamarix aphylla, commonly known as the athel tamarisk. It is a fast-growing, expansive, and hardy evergreen tree native to the Middle East. Its roots reach deep for water that other plants cannot find, and its canopy spreads wide, providing ample shade. Alternatively known as the salt cedar, tamarisk trees have a unique ability to thrive in tough soil conditions with high levels of salt by excreting it through their leaves.
Many wonder at how this tree can live in such hostile conditions. How can it survive a dry, unforgiving climate, and even grow, providing ample shade under its canopy, in conditions that few other plants could tolerate?
This harkens to a question I am often asked about my work at Eshel: why not just leave Orthodoxy? Why would you try to stay in an environment that isn’t fully LGBTQ+ affirming, when you could be part of some other denomination or community?
The eshel tree is our answer. We draw all the richness and nutrition from the soil that we can, finding meaning and inspiration from Torah, halacha, and our tradition. We shed what does not serve us, working through internalized queerphobia in favor of self-acceptance and letting go of hurtful comments and messages. We do what we can with what we have, and we work to create more shade and shelter in our communities by advocating for other LGBTQ+ Jews.
Living a life of Torah and mitzvot, in community with others who hold the same values, makes it worth persevering.
Eshel has been working for over fifteen years to help our Orthodox communities live up to the values of Avraham and Sarah, building a tent open on all sides. In my time here, I have begun to see the fruits of the seeds that we have planted these many years: the person I met at their first ever LGBTQ+ community event who has blossomed into a leader in their local community; the parent who was in shock at their child’s coming out who now mentors other parents; the Rabbi who was unsure how to address policy questions on LGBTQ+ issues who now speaks with confidence and compassion.
Midrashically, the eshel that Avraham plants is understood as a way of supporting his generous hospitality. The tree serves as a source of food for guests, and as a beacon of the shelter and welcome that Avraham offers to travelers. An eshel in the desert provides nourishment to those who are hungry, and proclaims openness to outsiders.
We took our name from next week’s parsha for this reason. The tree that represents us – made up of many individual leaves, yet held together by a single trunk – signifies the beauty and vibrancy of a community that honors the identities of each individual member. Our name symbolizes our commitment to welcome.
There is room in our tradition for all of us. Just as Avraham planted an eshel to make space to welcome in the stranger, to nourish and shelter them, so too it is our chiyuv, our responsibility, to build communities where all of us can find belonging.
Sara Singer
Director of Marketing and Communications