Queer Judaism

Orit Avishai

Published by New York University Press 2023

Queer Judaism

LGBT Activism and the Remaking of Jewish Orthodoxy in Israel

Orit Avishai

https://doi.org/10.18574/nyu/9781479810048.001.0001

Overview
Contents

About this book

Offers a compelling look at how Orthodox Jewish LGBT persons in Israel became more accepted in their communities.

Until fairly recently, Orthodox people in Israel could not imagine embracing their LGBT sexual or gender identity and staying within the Orthodox fold. But within the span of about a decade and a half, Orthodox LGBT people have forged social circles and communities and become much more visible. This has been a remarkable shift in a relatively short time span. Queer Judaism offers the compelling story of how Jewish LGBT persons in Israel created an effective social movement.

Drawing on more than 120 interviews, Orit Avishai illustrates how LGBT Jews accomplished this radical change. She makes the case that it has taken multiple approaches to achieve recognition within the community, ranging from political activism to more personal interactions with religious leaders and community members, to simply creating spaces to go about their everyday lives. Orthodox LGBT Jews have drawn from their lived experiences as well as Jewish traditions, symbols, and mythologies to build this movement, motivated to embrace their sexual identity not in spite of, but rather because of, their commitment to Jewish scripture, tradition, and way of life. Unique and timely, Queer Judaism challenges popular conceptions of how LGBT people interact and identify with conservative communities of faith.

Author information

AvishaiOrit:

Orit Avishai is a Professor of Sociology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Fordham University.Orit Avishai is a Professor of Sociology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Fordham University.

Reviews

Dawne Moon, author of God, Sex, and Politics: Homosexuality and Everyday Theologies:
An engaging book about people whose proud, public existence became possible over a very short time. Pushing beyond old notions of reconciling conflicting identities, Avishai illustrates how actors gently seized a political and cultural moment and organized to articulate the meaning their lives derived from existing at the intersection of orthodox religion and `unorthodox’ sexuality. Ultimately, Queer Judaism is a story of how queerness can foster life and growth in institutions, culture, and individuals—and its limits.

Anthony Petro, author of After the Wrath of God: AIDS, Sexuality, and American Religion:
Queer Judaism refuses simple narratives that pit queer lives against religion. Instead, it beautifully examines how LGBT activists in Israel work within Orthodox Judaism to give their lives and identities meaning, even as they struggle within this tradition to make space for themselves. Avishai’s brilliant, moving ethnography sets a new standard for scholarship in religion and sexuality. It’s a must read.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Glossary Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Preface “We Exist” Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Introduction: Kippa Battles Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1 Making a Social Movement: From Anonymous Chatrooms to the Synagogue and Streets Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	27
2 Unlivable Lives: Shattered Pictures and the Desire to Be “Normal” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	68
3 Orthodox Queer Worldmaking: Everyday Theologies of Life, Sex, and God Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	104
4 Educating Our Rabbis: From a Theology of Transgression to a Theology of Tolerance (and Beyond) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	129
5 Telling Stories, Making Space: Politics of Authenticity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	166
6 The Battle for Judaism’s Straight Soul: Queer Antics, Religious Restraint, and Respectability Politics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	194
Conclusion: Queering Orthodoxy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	221
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	245
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	247
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	275
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	289
About the Author Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	301

Language: English
Publisher: New York University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Keywords: Orthodox Judaism; Religious LGBT activism; Queer religion; Politics of authenticity; Politics of belonging; Identity conflict; Israel; Homonationalism; Religious queer worldmaking; Complicit activism

eBook

Published: February 6, 2023
ISBN: 9781479810048