Nehirim

Nehirim

Formation	2004; 21 years ago (2004)
Founder	Jay Michaelson
Founded at	New York City
Dissolved	2015; 10 years ago (2015)
Purpose	LGBT rights

Nehirim was a national community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) Jews, families, students and allies that was founded in 2004.[1] The organization ceased operations at the end of 2015.[2]

History

Nehirim was founded in 2004 by Jay Michaelson. He served as Executive Director until 2010, when Michael Hopkins succeeded him.[3] Rabbi Debra Kolodny assumed the role in 2013.[4] Nehirim's Board of Directors included Corey Friedlander, Rabbi Joel Alter, Rabbi Julia Watts Belser, Rabbi David Dunn Bauer, Dr. Joel Kushner, and Dr. Alyssa Finn.[5]

Nehirim means "lights" in Hebrew.[6][3] The name comes from the Hebrew word Zohar, referring to the lights of heaven and rainbow colors seen at sunset.[7] Its goal was to create and foster a more just and inclusive world based on the values of the Jewish tradition. Nehirim's primary programs were intensive weekend retreats and service programming promoting LGBT inclusion and equality.[8] It was also a member of the Coalition for Liberty & Justice organized by Catholics for Choice and the National Council of Jewish Women[9] and the National Religious Leadership Roundtable as part of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.[10]

Retreats

Nehirim retreats offered a means for LGBT Jews and their families to connect, learn, and grow together.[11] Retreats have included East Coast gatherings at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut,[8][12] a transgender gathering at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California,[13][14] student retreats at Boston University,[15][16] West Coast gatherings at the Walker Creek Ranch in Petaluma, California,[17] men's summer camps at the Easton Mountain Retreat Center in upstate New York,[18][19] queer Jewish weekends in New York City at the Jewish Community Center of Manhattan,[20] and women's retreats at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center.[21]

Nehirim's first retreat for LGBT rabbis, rabbinic pastors, cantors, and students was held in 2014 in San Francisco.[22][23]

References

1. Monteagudo, Jesse (March 3, 2012). "New Options for LGBT Jews". The Bilerico Project. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
2. Benaim, Rachel Delia (May 20, 2015). "Jewish LGBT Group Nehirim Will Shut Down". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
3. Ginsberg, Johanna R. (November 3, 2010). "Helping to integrate gay, Jewish identities". New Jersey Jewish News. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
4. "Meet Our Staff". Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
5. "Board of Directors". Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
6. Palevsky, Stacey (April 23, 2009). "Retreat a Guiding Light for LGBT and queer Jews". JWeekly.com. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
7. Krawitz, Cole (February 20, 2007). "Sacred Sexuality: An Interview With Jay Michaelson". JVoices.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
8. "Nehirim Retreat Brings Gay Jews Together To Celebrate Faith And Sexuality". Huffington Post. March 8, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
9. "More than 40 Coalition for Liberty & Justice Member Organizations Urge Supreme Court to Reject Challenges to Contraceptive Coverage". Catholics for Choice. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
10. "Pro-LGBT Jewish leaders respond to Tel Aviv attack". National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Archived from the original on August 9, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
11. "Nehirim". A Wider Bridge. 19 May 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
12. Michaelson, Jay. "The Gifts of Difference". Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
13. Tigay, Chanan (November 14, 2012). "Transgender Jews Seek Place at Table". Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
14. Lum, Rebecca Rosen (October 19, 2012). "Gathering of the transgender tribe set for Berkeley". JWeekly.com. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
15. Binstein, Liz (February 25, 2014). "Nehirim: The Experience of a Lifetime". Rutgers Hillel. Archived from the original on 2014-03-01. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
16. Thai, Ian (March 1, 2013). "Student Retreat Will Celebrate Local LGBTQ Community" (PDF). The Jewish Advocate. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
17. Palevsky, Stacey (April 23, 2009). "Retreat a guiding light for LGBT and queer Jews". JWeekly.com. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
18. Gerson, Merissa Nathan (November 7, 2013). "So, a Rabbi Walks Into a Bar. It's Not the Beginning of a Joke, but of a Spiritual Journey". Tablet. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
19. "Camp Nehirim". Easton Mountain. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
20. "Nehirim Queer Shabbaton 2013 for LGBT Jews, Friends, and Allies". Gay Cities. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
21. Koenig, Leah (July 9, 2013). "Pride Interview: Alyssa Finn and Nehirim". Repair The World. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
22. Marceau, Caitlin (December 10, 2014). "Nehirim Puts On First Ever Retreat for LGBT Rabbis, Cantors & Students in San Francisco". Shalom Life. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
23. Himmelstein, Dimah (December 19, 2014). "At San Francisco retreat, LGBT clergy survey progress from closets to bimah". Retrieved June 12, 2020.