#trans converts

I definitely need more practice but I’m not too mad about it. Been wearing mitpachot casually for a few weeks now and I feel more connected to my body spiritually than I think I ever have before.

Next paycheck I’m probably spending way too much at Wrapunzel.

It would be nice if I could find other transfem Jews and giyorot who wear mitpachot but if I have to be the representation i want in the world, oh well I guess I will.

Shavua Tov to everyone!

Racism in the Jewish Community

Ilana Kaufman is also the executive director of the Jews of Color Field Building Initiative. 

-- Keshet’s resource list for LGBTQ Jewish people of color

-- Other organizations for Jewish people of color include: Jewish Multiracial Network, Be’chol Lashon, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, & Jews in All Hues

-- and more general resources regarding tackling racism in the Jewish community

What makes a shul/community an affirming place?

If you could design your own LGBTQA affirming shul, what would be important?

I have a few of these so I’ll answer them all here:

- Find a synagogue doing services online and try to attend as often as you can

- If they’re moving other aspects of their congregation online, see if you can be involved there, too

- Read! Read a lot online, buy books, etc. This is a great time to do lots of big picture sweeps of Jewish topics. Find some areas you want to dive into some more, because those ideas will come in handy when you pursue conversion in person later. 

- Also looking into Jewish orgs online to learn more history! There’s ELI Talks on Youtube (think Jewish TED Talks), and the Jewish Women’s History website. I also found it personally helpful to look into the Jewish communities within my other identities: look for Jewish trans orgs, Jewish people of color (generally or in your specific racial or ethnic background(s)), Jewish languages in different areas, etc. 

- Familiarize yourself with Jewish culture. Some of my friends who were born Jewish and I made lists of Jewish movies they had all seen growing up, or TV shows, and watched those! Similarly, there are Jewish book groups online so you can read Jewish authors, etc. Even fiction made by Jews or with Jewish characters will help you better understand some of the cultural touchstones you may have missed in not being raised Jewish.

- I would say it’s also okay to try your own personal celebrations of things like Shabbat. Of course goyim shouldn’t, for example, host their own Passover seder, but there’s nothing saying you can’t read a haggaah by yourself on Passover. So, try lighting your shabbat candles and adopting some of the many practices of Shabbat. It’s not the same as being in the community, but it may help you feel more rooted or realize if something feels very right or very off for you spiritually. 

- Lastly, documentaries. Some of my faves are Punk Jews (on YouTube!) and a great, also on Youtube, doc about Jewish music that you can find through some searching. Also not explicitly Jewish but one of the other documentaries I found by looking at my various identities was Supergirl, a Jewish powerlifter who was at the top of her weight class by the time she was a teen!

Tonight, bring in Shabbat with an (online) community: 

Juneteenth Kabbalat Shabbat Hosted by Be’chol Lashon Date: Friday, June 19, 2020 Time: 5:00PM EDT Location: Online Registration (required): https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsd–rrz8tHtERvkx7KNlRpkX_Nn4eSg6A

Are there other ways you’re marking Juneteenth with the Jewish community? Please share! 

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I also want to include part of the message sent out by my synagogue for non-Black Jews to do our homework: 

“We want to first acknowledge the transformative role of antiracist work led by April Baskin, former vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism, who provided instrumental strategy and vision for the Audacious Hospitality initiative, which we continue to build off of today. Many of the Jewish leaders of Color who have and continue to guide the Reform Jewish Movement were engaged and mentored by April, and she remains a thought leader in the field. You can read many of April’s writings here, including her poem “Racial Justice is a Jewish Issue.” 

Other valuable resources include:

Commit to Long-Term Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

URJ Community Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Assessment

"The Black Jews Are Tired" by Chris Harrison

"Ways Your Congregation Can Act Now for Racial Justice" by Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner

"Mourning, Broken, Afraid: A Letter to My Friends" by Jessi Kingston

"Why I Am a Zionist for Black Lives Matter" by Rabbi Josh Weinberg 

URJ Racial Justice Resource List

URJ Colorblind Mentality Resource

URJ Community Racial Justice Checklist

“A Tool For White People Navigating Conversations About Race” 

You would convert as you - so, as a man. You may have some difficulties with finding rabbis who are informed on trans issues, so I would suggest searching Keshet’s list of LGBTQ-friendly synagogues and clergy.