Description
Same-sex love, while surely hidden and formally decried, finds surprising expression in Jewish poetry, prose and case law. The material is full of pathos, gender bending, humor and intrigue and reveals a sliver of life, despite the well known prohibition, that has been all but erased from historical memory. We will meet ten queer characters of Jewish history, some famous others infamous whose stories will help us to make sense of the issue for our own moment.
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Rabbi Steve Greenberg is an Orthodox rabbi, ordained at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. Early in his career he served as a senior educator for the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL), a think tank and training institute where he worked as an educator, curriculum writer, lecturer and consultant on wide variety of cutting edge projects on the ethics, environment, social justice and communal leadership. Steve is the first openly gay Orthodox rabbi and a founder of the Jerusalem Open House, the Holy City’s GLBT community center. In 2001 Steve appeared in the documentary, Trembling Before G-d, and joined with the film maker to create a worldwide outreach project conducting over 500 post-screening community dialogues all over the world. In 2004 he finished a decade long project, a book entitled, Wrestling with God and Men: Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition, which explores biblical, rabbinic, medieval and contemporary Jewish responses to same-sex relationships. (University of Wisconsin Press) for which he won the Koret Jewish Book Award for Philosophy and Thought. Rabbi Greenberg is presently the Director of Education at Eshel, a support, education and advocacy organization for LGBT+ Orthodox Jews and their families. He lives with his partner, Steven Goldstein, and their daughter, Amalia, in Boston.
FAQs
- Who are these classes for?
Our classes are for everyone—whether you’re brand new to the topic or have been engaging with it for years, we encourage participation from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experience levels. Unless otherwise noted, no prior knowledge or experience is needed. Not sure if a class is for you? Email us at Learning@Lehr.haus!
- Why are there tickets at different prices?
Our tickets utilize a Pay-What-You-Can model so attendees can pay a range of prices based on what they are able to pay to allow for greater accessibility. Please select the price point that feels right for you.
- Can I eat during class?
While we do not serve food in the study, you are welcome to order and enjoy drinks during class and join us for a meal before or after class. We highly recommend making a reservation if you know you'll be dining with us. Visit www.lehr.haus/reservation to check availability and book a table.
- Getting to Lehrhaus?
Street parking is readily available on Washington Street or Beacon Street (Map). The meters all take quarters or can be paid through the ParkBoston or ParkMobile apps. The closest T stops are Union Square (Green Line D & E, 0.8 mile walk, or #109 bus) and Harvard Square (Red Line, 0.8 mile walk, or the #109 bus). There is a bus stop just out front, on Washington (#83 and #109).
Learn More with Lehrhaus
We've now introduced a new way to learn at Lehrhaus, our Learning+ membership. It's designed to make learning a regular part of your routine.
Lehrhaus Learning+ members join a community built around big ideas, great conversations, and delicious meals. For $36/month, you get:
Two free class tickets every month
Unlimited 1:1 learning sessions with our educators
Member-only social events
Pre-sale access to special events
$25 Tavern gift card
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity















