Queer Torah: Creating a Ritual for Self-Forgiveness

Each session of this ongoing series explores the intersection of Judaism and queer identity. Putting these two identities in conversation creates tremendous potential for finding meaning and a deeper understanding of each identity. Everyone, regardless of whether or not they hold a queer and/or trans identity, is welcome.

It’s the Days of Awe, the holy period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a time when we are called to repair what may have broken this past year. This interactive class invites participants to examine their relationship with their self, to take responsibility for tensions in that relationship, and to forgive moments from last year when they didn’t live into the fullest of their identities. In this creative workshop, participants will explore ways to heal their relationship with the self through the practice of Jewish ritual. Participants will be guided through the process of creating their own unique rituals for repair and self-forgiveness. Each person will take home an individualized, self-directed ritual ceremony to perform, if they choose, in this new year.

Eli Lurie Sobel brings their love of words and storytelling to their work as an educator to people of all ages. He has taught at numerous institutions on the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity and culture with Jewish identity and practice. Eli lives outside Boston and greatly enjoys their role as the Greater Boston Education & Training Manager at Keshet, where our mission is for LGBTQ+ equality in Jewish life.brings their love of words and storytelling to their work as an educator to people of all ages. He has taught at numerous institutions on the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity and culture with Jewish identity and practice. Eli lives outside Boston and greatly enjoys their role as the Greater Boston Education & Training Manager at Keshet, where our mission is for LGBTQ+ equality in Jewish life.