Eshel, a national organization serving the needs of Jewish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Orthodox and traditional Jews, is sponsoring its first-ever Midwest retreat on July 5th. Eshel works to create a place within mainstream Orthodoxy for LGBT Jews through education and awareness-building by providing the Orthodox community with resources and a speakers' bureau. Eshel also helps LGBT Jews maintain their Jewish observance and find meaningful religious community by creating models for integrating their seemingly contradictory religious and sexual/gender identities. Eshel achieves its goals through community-building retreats, advocacy, media watch and response, and parent and family groups. Eshel is also a home for those who are formerly Orthodox, "Orthodox-curious," or anyone interested in being in a traditional Jewish setting as a LGBT Jew.
The word Eshel refers to the tamarisk tree that the Jewish patriarch Abraham planted on the desert plains of Moreh. The tamarisk is a broad tree with bright red flowers. It announced to travelers that they might ease their burdens, find someone to speak with, take a moment out of the harsh sun to find respite and rest before moving on.
Miryam Kabakov, Eshel's co-director, and editor of the award-winning anthology, Keep Your Wives Away From Them: Orthodox Women, Unorthodox Desires, says "there are precious few resources for traditional and Orthodox Jewish LGBT people in the Midwest. The Eshel retreat will gather people from all over including, Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Michigan, Milwaukee and the Twin Cities. Others will be coming from Canada and both coasts."
At the national retreats participants experience a sense of integration that they can take with them into their daily lives. As one participant writes:
I hope you know that you did a ton of good. You let people connect or re-connect with their Judaism and gave Shabbat to those who had forgotten about it. You allowed people to realize that being queer and Jewish is not only OK, but good and do-able. And for me? It was really nice not to be second-class. I am Orthodox. Whenever I go to shul, part of me always feels alone and like an outsider. I know I am different than most people there. And it hurts. But not at Eshel. At Eshel there was no second-class. I wasn't an outsider. I was just me. A gay, Orthodox Jew. And it felt really good. Thank you.
Sessions at the Midwest retreat will include a Speakers Bureau Training and a variety of opportunities for robust Jewish learning. Scholars in residence include: Rabbi Steven Greenberg, author of Wrestling with God and Men, and Golda Goldbloom, professor of Creative Writing and World Literature at Northwestern University and award-winning novelist.
A variety of workshops offered include exploring the spiritual aspects of gender transition with Dr. Benjamin Baader, professor at the University of Manitoba; parenting skills with Yosef Baskin, author of the blog Guerilla Parenting: Serenity for you and the Kids; Sofrut 101; and How to Write a Megilla Scroll with Aviva Buck-Yael, Eshel board member. Shabbat includes spirited davening (prayer), singing and lots of opportunity to meet and connect with other participants. Activities include hiking, boating, swimming and campfires. The retreat site, Ronora Lodge and Retreat Center, is north of Watervliet, Michigan in the middle of orchards, vineyards, lakes, and woodlands with an on-site organic garden. It is also an easy drive to state and local parks on the shores of Lake Michigan, as well as to the shops, galleries and restaurants of South Haven and St. Joseph.
The retreat will be family friendly, open to adults, children, singles and couples. Confidentiality honored. Early bird rates will apply until June 3rd. Scholarships are available to those in need. Participants' confidentiality is honored. Food will be healthful, delicious and strictly kosher using locally grown produce and will be suitable for most dietary requirements.
Eshel's mission:
Eshel's promise is to build community and support for Orthodox gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Jews and increase understanding in the larger Orthodox community for Orthodox GLBT Jews.
Eshel seeks to help traditional communities become more welcoming, to address the emotional and mental health needs of their GLBT members while maintaining their commitments to halacha (Jewish law).
Eshel has also served as a gathering place for traditional communities to share information, learn from one another, and keep families and communities together.
Past Eshel activities and programs include a Speaker/Leader Training Institute, speakers events in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, and national and regional retreats in Connecticut, Boston and Chicago.
For more information about Eshel or the upcoming Midwest retreat, email Miryam@eshelonline.org or visit the Eshel website:
www.eshelonline.org
