Joy Ladin on the Torah and Transgender Jews
November 1, 2012
by Sharon Groves, Director, Religion and Faith Program, HRChttp://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/joy-ladin-on-the-torah-and-transgender-jews/A while back I had the distinct privilege of hearing Joy Ladin talk about the power the Torah held for her as a transgender Jew. Joy Ladin is a trusted advisory member for HRC's soon to be released Jewish Organization Equality Index (JOEI) and a good friend to HRC's Religion and Faith program as well.
With the piece, "
Reading Between the Angels: How Torah Speaks to Transgender Jews," I have gotten a glimpse of how pivotal the Torah has been as a foundation, a sacred space, for her gentle yet unwaveringly truthful spirit. We learn in this piece how for her, like many transgender Jews, the Torah has served as a source of liberation when nothing else seemed too. This is in sharp contrast to how Scripture has, sadly, so often been used by its followers as a tool of entrapment and repression.
At this time when we are all in the throes of a painfully close election and working to get out from under a frightening hurricane, I thought a reflective piece about why the Torah matters to those most marginalized in our communities might offer a grounding message of hope we all might need right now.
Download "Reading Between the Angels: How Torah Speaks to Transgender Jews" by Joy Ladin. (8 PAGES, PDF)
