Month: April 2025

Chaya Feldstein (@[email protected]) (Babka Social)
Orthodox queer Jews exist. We daven, we learn, we light Shabbos candles. We exist between the mechitzas, in the ezrat nashim, in the margins and the middle. Not all queer Jews are Reform. Some of us are shomer negiah, wear mitpachat, and cry over Rashi. Some of us are frum and faggots, and that’s not a contradiction—it’s a covenant. We are not half-Jews. We are not visitors in your community. We are your siblings. Your teachers. Your neighbors. And we are just as worthy of love and belonging as the straightest guy in a black hat. Don’t forget us. We’re still here. And we’re not going anywhere.

@[email protected] Thank you for writing this. I often feel closeted in both gay Jewish (Reform) and Orthodox Jewish settings, because the world tells me I have to give up on tradition and mitzvos for being gay. If Judaism has taught me anything, it’s this: Don’t give up. Be welcoming to everyone. Every day is another chance to keep moving forward. Your post reminded me of these timeless lessons.

Chaya Feldstein (@[email protected]) (Babka Social)
Orthodox queer Jews exist. We daven, we learn, we light Shabbos candles. We exist between the mechitzas, in the ezrat nashim, in the margins and the middle. Not all queer Jews are Reform. Some of us are shomer negiah, wear mitpachat, and cry over Rashi. Some of us are frum and faggots, and that’s not a contradiction—it’s a covenant. We are not half-Jews. We are not visitors in your community. We are your siblings. Your teachers. Your neighbors. And we are just as worthy of love and belonging as the straightest guy in a black hat. Don’t forget us. We’re still here. And we’re not going anywhere.