
Happy Pride! Program Ideas for Queer Jews

1. A Text Study
Galadriel Goldberg-Vormès, Program Officer at the European Union of Jewish Students, created this awesome text study and discussion guide called LGBTQI…J! Gender in Jewish Texts – plus, it was created for Shavuot (which is June 9th this year) so the timing couldn’t be more perfect. It even includes a cheesecake recipe and lots of memes! You could do a series of programs based on this source guide alone.2. A Shabbat Experience
OneTable’s Pride Shabbat Guide has what you need to lead a pride-themed Shabbat dinner from start to finish. Don’t miss the super cute Pinterest board with tons of rainbow recipes and decorations. The RAC (Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism) also has great readings, sermons, poems, and more for your Pride Shabbat.3. A Movie Night
Curl up with a good LGBTQ Jewish movie. I’ve heard good things about: Aimée & Jaguar, Eyes Wide Open, The Times of Harvey Milk, Yossi, and Paper Dolls. I really liked Disobedience – it’s not cliche, and it doesn’t negatively depict of Orthodox Jews (which unfortunately is typical in Hollywood). Although it’s not a movie, Transparent (on Amazon Prime) is one of my favorite shows about a Jewish family with a transgender parent.
4. A Pride Parade

- Talk about it! What’s it like to be queer and Jewish in your community? How does your pride in your queer identity differ from your pride in your Jewish identity? How does that manifest in your life? How can you support each other? Talking about your individual journeys can make marching together even more meaningful.
- Volunteer! Tikkun Olam is a Jewish value, and Pride festivals require LOTS of volunteers for setup, cleanup, and more. Use MHWOW funds for brunch or snacks to keep your friends fueled for the day.
- Make signs! Show that the Jewish community you’re creating through MHWOW is accepting. Last year when I volunteered with my Temple at Pride, I had so many people from different faiths ask me about what being openly gay in the Jewish community is like. I had some fascinating conversations!
5. A Queer Crafternoon
