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UID:7904@tbegreatneck.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260612T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260613T130000
DTSTAMP:20260601T174838Z
URL:https://www.tbegreatneck.org/events/scholar-in-residence-weekend/
SUMMARY:Pride Shabbat/Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Dr. Gwynn Kessler
DESCRIPTION:Adopt Beautiful Artwork by John Hirsch\nJohn Hirsch and Herbert
  Leiman\, z"l\, were long time TBE members and leaders\, and pioneers in t
 he LGBTQ+ rights movement in the Jewish and greater communities. Their mar
 riage on January 1\, 2012 was the first same-sex couple wedding to be held
  at TBE.&nbsp\;Learn more about John and Herb here: https://reformjudaism.
 org/blog/25-years-pride-my-journey-gay-reform-jew\n\n\n\nIn their memory\,
  John’s brother\, Bruce has generously donated some of John’s work and
  invites members to adopt a piece of art. Donations to Keshet: the Jewish 
 LGBTQ+ advocacy organization are invited\, but not required: https://www.k
 eshetonline.org/donate/\n\nThe artwork will be in the library and availabl
 e on Friday night and Saturday morning\, during our Pride Shabbat weekend.
 \n\n----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ----------------------------------------\n\nA program of the Miriam &amp\;
  Moses Center for Pluralistic Adult Jewish Learning\n\nDr. Gwynn Kessler i
 s associate professor of Religion at Swarthmore College in Philadelphia. H
 er research focuses on rabbinic interpretation of Scripture—or midrash
 —and more specifically on rabbinic theology and rabbinic constructions o
 f gender and identity. Her book Conceiving Israel: The Fetus in Rabbinic N
 arratives explores rabbinic traditions regarding the fetus for the purpose
  of examining rabbinic constructions of gender\, ethnicity\, and theology.
 \n\nFRIDAY\, JUNE 12 PRIDE SHABBAT\n\n6:30 p.m. Erev Shabbat service in th
 e Rudin Chapel featuring Stephanie &amp\; the Shabbatones\, with guest spe
 aker Dr. Gwynn Kessler discussing "Grasshoppers and Angels: The Past and F
 uture of LGBTQ Jews"\n\nDr. Kessler will examine Jewish text and rituals c
 oncerning LGBTQ engagement throughout the past 50 years and look toward th
 e future of our ongoing contributions and challenges.\n\nFeaturing piano\,
  drums\, saxophone\, and bass guitar\, along with our cantorial soloist’
 s powerful voice\, Stephanie &amp\; the Shabbatones will bring energy\, jo
 y\, and an exciting blend of Jewish and secular music to elevate our praye
 r experience.\n\nSATURDAY\, JUNE 13\n\n9:15 a.m. Torah Study with Dr. Kess
 ler\n"Reading Midrash As/Like an LGBTQ Person"\n\nThe ancient rabbis depic
 t the first human\, Adam\, and the first ancestors of Israel\, Abraham and
  Sarah\, as gender nonconforming. Joseph wears high heels and eye makeup\,
  Mordechai breastfeeds Esther\, Dinah is conceived as male but born female
 \, and Moses is portrayed as both God’s wife and husband. Dr. Kessler wi
 ll lead participants in exploring midrashic traditions about biblical figu
 res that provide connections between classical rabbinic sources and LGBTQ 
 identities.\n\nThis program is sponsored by Lea &amp\; Sandy Caplan\n\n10:
 30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service\n\n11:30 a.m. Lunch &amp\; Learn with Dr. 
 Kessler \n"Beyond Male and Female: Rabbinic Constructions of Gender"\n\nAl
 though the Tanakh depicts sex/gender as binary\, confined to the categorie
 s of man/male and woman/female\, early rabbinic sources already found thes
 e classifications too limited to depict the variety of gendered embodiment
 s. Attendees will evaluate rabbinic traditions regarding the nonbinary des
 ignations of “tumtum" and "androginos” and learn how they developed ov
 er time.\n\nAll are welcome at this free event\, but registration is reque
 sted to ensure we have enough refreshments for all attendees.\nClick here 
 to register.\n\nThis program is sponsored by Lea &amp\; Sandy Caplan
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.tbegreatneck.org/wp-content/uploads/
 2026/01/web-gwynn-kessler-version-2-1.jpg
CATEGORIES:Adult Learning,Community,Homepage,Lifelong
 Learning,Services,Shabbat & Holidays,Special Events,Worship &
 Spirituality
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DTSTART:20260308T030000
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