ahavat olam
jay michaelson's writing on judaism, gender, and sexuality



Jay Michaelson writes and speaks frequently on the subject of Judaism and sexual orientation. He has appeared on NPR, at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and on numerous panels around the country. Drawing on his own story, as well as his background in halacha, Bible, and Jewish mysticism, Jay's classes, writings, and public appearances generally combine searing personal honesty with textual erudition and argument. He is presently a member of several spiritual and advocacy groups in the GLBT community, including Pride in the Pulpit, the Gay Spirit Culture Project, the extended community of Easton Mountain, and Nehirim: A Spiritual Initiative for GLBT Jews, which he directs. Jay is a frequent speaker at the New York GLBT Center's "Out and Faithful" series, and has led spiritual practice for GLBT groups at Wesleyan University, the JCC of Manhattan, the Garrison Institute, Ken Page's Spirituality and Intimacy Retreats, the Queer Shabbaton Amsterdam, and many other institutions and programs.

Below are some of Jay's writings on the subject of sexuality and religion, together with links to resources elsewhere on the web.
 

Nehirim: A Spiritual Initiative for GLBT Jews:  Founded and directed by Jay Michaelson, Nehirim is devoted to creating spiritual programming and community for GLBT Jews. At our annual retreats, monthly theology salons, and special events such as Spring 2004's "Queer Spiritual Valentines: Poetry from the GLBT Mystical Tradition," Nehirim creates unique spiritual programming devoted to an authentic queer Jewish spirituality.

The Nehirim Resources Index: Links to a wide variety of online Jewish, GLBT, and general Queer Spiritual resources. Also includes a recommended reading list.

How can you be gay and Jewish? : Starting from square one: How to be both out and proud, and religiously Jewish.

Ahavat olam: Speech given at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America on Conservative Judaism and sexual orientation.  "The speech focuses on my own suffering in the closet, and argues that the Jewish God could not possibly create gay people only to subject them to the repression of the closet." 

Brit Hitvada'ut: A Coming Out Ritual: Written for the Human Rights Campaign, this ritual for coming out draws on the story of Joseph, the symbolism of the mikva, and the hidden heritage of GLBT people.

In Jerusalem, Fundamentalism on the March (Forward, Nov. 17, 2006): Op-ed on the ultra-Orthodox protests of the Jerusalem Pride parade.

A response to the Roth tshuvah: Long, legal response to the leading opinion in the conservative movement that forbids homosexual activity.

Shatnez and Civilization: The Queer Path of the Boundary Crosser: Article in Tikkun magazine; not yet available online.

A Less Innocent Love: On Parshat Va'etchanan (Mosaic Torah Queeries, August 2006): On Parshat Va'Etchanan and the unique modalities of love for GLBT Jews.

It's the Purity, Stupid: Reading Leviticus in Context (Jewish Mosaic Weekly Torah COmmentary, April 28, 2006): Why "God hates fags" just like God hates shrimp.

The Verse(Blithe House Quarterly, Spring, 2006): Short story imagining what would happen if Leviticus 18:22 were magically erased.

Da'at: Essay on the homoerotics of learning, teaching, and knowledge, published in August, 2004, in Mentsh: On Being Queer and Jewish.

Hasidism and Homoeroticism : What homoeroticism in the Hasidic community does and doesn't tell us about toleration and repression.

Wrestling with Steve Greenberg : A dialogue between Jay Michaelson and Rabbi Steve Greenberg, noted gay Orthodox rabbi, together with a discussion of his book, Wrestling with God and Men.

Thirteen principles of queering Jewish theology: Work in progress addressing what questions a queer Jewish theology should ask, based on Maimonides' thirteen principles of the faith.

Book Review, Achieving the Ordinary (JBooks.com, August 2006): Review of Lev Raphael's memoirs about growing up gay and Jewish.

Disabuse Community of Intolerance (Forward, November 11, 2005) On the recent rabbinic sex scandals, and the perils of closeted rabbis.

Sacred Sexuality: Promises and Perils : Sacred sexuality lies at the heart of many mystical traditions, and is central to the emerging gay spirituality that is slowly finding its voice today. What are some of its potentials, and potential pitfalls? (From White Crane, fall 2004. Partial excerpt available online.)

A Watershed Year for Gays of Faith : Article in the Forward newspaper about changes in gay religious and political life in 2003.







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