Are LGBTQ Jews welcome in Orthodox communities? This is how they are building spaces of their own
LGBTQ+ Jews have struggled to be accepted within their Orthodox communities. Many, like Daniel Gammerman, have faced challenges finding support and acceptance within their Orthodox communities. Raised with little understanding of what being gay or queer meant, they found it difficult to ask their rabbis if there was still a place for them in the community.
Gammerman, a 47-year-old from Miami, made the heart-wrenching decision to never return to an Orthodox synagogue, viewing it as an act of self-love. He shared how the community’s lack of acknowledgment and negative attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals made him feel unwelcome and forced him to hide his true identity for years.
Born in Brazil to Eastern European Jewish grandparents, Gammerman moved to the U.S. after high school and attended a Jewish Orthodox university. He got married at 21 and had four children. However, after years of suppressing his feelings, he eventually came out as gay, leading to a rift within his Orthodox community.
Embracing his true identity became easier for Gammerman after connecting with Steven Greenberg, an openly gay rabbi who founded Eshel, an organization supporting LGBTQ+ Orthodox Jews. Eshel aims to help individuals like Gammerman navigate their identities within their religious communities and find acceptance.
Ely Winkler, a 37-year-old LGBTQ+ Orthodox Jew from Brooklyn, and Abrielle Fuerst, a 32-year-old from Texas who now lives in Philadelphia, are among those who have found support through Eshel. They each have unique stories of grappling with their identities within Orthodox settings and the journey towards self-acceptance.
Eshel’s initiative, “Welcoming Shuls,” has enlisted over 200 rabbis who are committed to making their synagogues inclusive for LGBTQ+ individuals. While some rabbis face backlash for openly supporting LGBTQ+ members, Eshel continues to guide and counsel those who wish to maintain their faith while embracing their identities.
Gammerman, who has struggled to find acceptance in Orthodox synagogues since coming out, reflects on rebuilding his life and finding a way to connect with his religion on his own terms. Despite the challenges he has faced within his community, he remains steadfast in his belief that self-acceptance and love are paramount.
As LGBTQ+ Jews navigate their identities within Orthodox communities, organisations such as Eshel provide a beacon of hope and support for those seeking acceptance and understanding in their religious spaces. The journey towards inclusivity and acceptance continues for LGBTQ+ individuals within Orthodox Judaism, as they strive to reconcile their faith with their authentic selves.