After months of planning our Shelter of Peace Clergy Briefing on LGBT Homeless Youth, we are onto the ‘next steps’ phase in the Koleinu LGBT Rights Action Team meetings. But not without a nice long discussion about our success. You can tell from the following thoughts shared by Koleinu members who were there at CBST on November 8th, what a resounding success it was.
“The faces on the attendees expressed interest and eagerness to hear more.”
“People not only showed up, but they stayed and continued to mingle and have more personal discussions after the close.”
“You could tell from the questions ...
What should a good rabbi know? Some would say she should write great sermons. Others might say he should be able to aptly navigate Jewish law. Others might say they should really know how to tap into the Divine.
Of course, every rabbi needs a little bit of each, and more. When I decided to become a rabbi, I wanted to learn everything I could. I wanted to be that perfect, knowledgeable, authoritative, creative, compassionate rabbi. But what I really wanted most of all was to be someone who could be truly present at the most intense parts of people's lives. ...
It’s true. They are. And CBST is making them happen. On November 17th , CBST hosted its second session in the LGBTQ Pastoral Care Series for current and future Jewish clergy—this time at Hebrew Union College. Rabbi Nancy Wiener, of the HUC faculty, taught about Preparing LBGTQ Couples for Marriage to a group of 17 current and future clergy from the Reform, Conservative, and Renewal movements.
Rabbi Wiener discussed the unique challenges and opportunities that LGBTQ couples face and raised some important questions, like figuring out how to mourn the image of a wedding they may have had growing up. ...
This Wednesday, 10 future/current clergy came to CBST learn with Rabbi Kleinbaum in our first session of Topics in LGBTQ Pastoral Care. Largely from the Conservative movement, and one from the Orthodox movement, the group discussed the nature of pastoral care, where it happens, when it happens, how it happens, etc. One perspective Rabbi Kleinbaum shared was the importance of expanding our understanding of what pastoral care actually is. For many people who do pastoral care, it involves active listening, text study, ritual, etc. While this is entirely accurate and essential, the scope of pastoral care is much broader. It ...
CBST is transforming Judaism. This may not be news for most people in the congregation who have already prayed with our innovative liturgy, participated in our adult or children’s educational programs, or heard any of our rabbis speak.
What may be news to folks is that we’re taking the show (shul ?) on the road—we’re training Jewish leaders to be better equipped to work with LGBTQ communities. In March, we had a conference for rabbinical and cantorial students from HUC, JTS, Hebrew College, AJR, and even AJU in Los Angeles.
On October 20th , CBST is launching a monthly series on Topics ...
