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These Dads Are Expecting a Baby After Miscarriage–Here’s Their Story
BY JOANNA C. VALENTE for Kveller
All families come in different shapes and sizes and kinds–but that doesn’t mean the love is any less. For one married couple who are dads to two kids, this couldn’t be more true–and a lesson for those who think families do come “one way.” Trystan and Biff are two dads living in Portland, Oregon who adopted their two children. However, their family isn’t stopping there: Trystan is pregnant.
Trystan is transgender–and has been pregnant before, but suffered a miscarriage around six weeks. For any parent, this is devastating but for Trystan, it was especially complicated because trying to become pregnant means he couldn’t take testosterone. This was why the couple decided to try again shortly after the miscarriage–which the couple discussed on the WNYC podcast, the Longest Shortest Time.
How Rabbis Are Trying To Make The Conservative Movement More Gay-Friendly
Daniel J. Solomon for The Forward
The Jewish coming-of-age ceremony known as a bar mitzvah is always challenging. It happens at the awkward age of the early teen years, and requires the child to chant, before family, friends and congregation, from the archaic Hebrew of the Torah.
For Amichai Lau-Lavie, the Israeli-born scion of an Eastern European rabbinical dynasty, it was even more difficult. The section he read, called Kedoshim, contained the biblical prohibition against sex between two men:
“A man who lies with a male as one would with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon themselves.”
It was a painful moment for Lau-Lavie, now 48, who had already realized he was gay.
No, Hillel Is Not Anti-LGBT: The OSU Controversy Explained
By Kyle Gersman for The Forward
This week, Ohio State University Hillel was accused of being anti-LGBT because it was forced to disassociate with a Jewish LGBT campus group, B’nai Keshet, after the group decided to co-sponsor a fundraiser for queer refugees with Jewish Voice for Peace. I was shocked to hear this accusation and wanted to understand where it had come from, and why.
Being gay and Jewish, I’m fortunate to have a supportive community in my life at Ohio State University, which has allowed me to be active throughout campus as a University Ambassador, a brother of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, and a Morrill Scholar for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, to name a few. My engagement with OSU Hillel has absolutely made me feel more comfortable as a Jewish college student, especially amidst rising anti-Semitic incidents across the country, and I have found an inclusive, welcoming community for LGBT Jews. But recently, this support has been under attack.
Jewish dating site—to match gay men with lesbians
Kobi Nachshoni for YNETNews
A new Israeli site is meant for gay and lesbian religious Jews who want to have a 'traditional' Jewish household with somebody of the opposite sex
A new dating site for gay and lesbian Orthodox Jews seeks to enable them to meet, have children, and raise them together in a "traditional" setting. Thus far, nearly 50 users have signed up, hoping to enter into a halachic Jewish marriage with a person of the opposite sex, despite their sexual orientation to the contrary.
Debra Messing bashes Ivanka Trump as ‘one Jewish mother to another’
By Gabe Friedman for JTA
Tell us how you really feel, Debra Messing.
Accepting an award from GLAAD, an LGBT advocacy group, on Saturday night, the Jewish actress implored Ivanka Trump to stand up to her father, President Donald Trump, on a number of issues, from healthcare to immigration policies to LGBTQ rights,
Messing, who starred on the TV show “Will and Grace,” quipped that Ivanka was secretary of state before calling her out for inaction.
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Did You Know...?
After 16 years at Beth El, Rabbi Isserow is retiring. We are in the process of searching for a new rabbi and would like your input.
We welcome your thoughts by email at [email protected]. We will also be at the annual congregational meeting on June 20 if you would like your voice heard.
Beth El is raising funds for a new playground?
With seed money from Cantor Jason Kaufman's concert, the JCCNV was able to start a fund with all proceeds going towards a new playground for the preschool. If you would like to donate towards this very worthy project, simply send your donations to Beth El Hebrew Congregation and notate "Playground." If you donate on line, the playground fund is first on the list!
Lifelong Learning
Wednesdays during the school year @ 7:00 PM
See calendar for exact dates and subjects
ALIVE!
For more information about ALIVE! go to alive-inc.org.
Beth El House
For more information go to https://www.bethelhebrew.org/community/beth-el-house
Beth El House enables formerly homeless families to work toward self-sufficiency and confidence.
Summer service schedule begins Friday, June 23
6:30 PM
upcoming events
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INSTALLATION OF NEW BOARD
Friday, June 23 @ 6:30 PM
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Friday, June 23 @ 7:30 PM
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July 14, 28 and August 11 @ 6:30 PM
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There are activities, meetings, services and seminars at Beth El each week, ranging from service opportunities to Jewish learning and education, drawing members and guests from throughout the Washington, D.C. area.