Among Friends
A new Jewish group connects religious programming with support for the gay, lesbian communities.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
r
Staff Writer
il or supporters of the Jewish
Gay Network of Michigan
(JGN), the success of a talk
by Rabbi Steven Greenberg was sig-
nificant both because of the speaker's
inclusion as a gay Orthodox rabbi
and because the event marked the
group's official launch.
With a mission to serve gay, les-
bian, bi-affectional and transgender
Jews (GLBT) and their family and
friends, the JGN co-sponsored the
Nov. 7 talk at the Jewish
Community Center's 53rd Annual
Book Fair. Other co-sponsors were
Jewish Family Service, Affirmations
Lesbian and Gay Community
Center and the Triangle Foundation.
A quick start for a group whose
first organizational
meeting b took
b
place at the beginning of summer.
"After MJAC (Michigan Jewish
AIDS Coalition) dissolved at the end
of last year, there was a void in the
Jewish community for those strug-
gling with gender issues and people
coming out who wanted to talk as
well as their parents," said Linda Lee
of West Bloomfield, a former three-
time president of MJAC, who called
for the first meeting of JGN.
Without MJAC and its ECHO
component (Educating our
Community about Homosexuality
through Outreach), she said, "There
was no place in our Jewish commu-
nity for people to come with ques-
tions or with their need to connect
with others. JGN provides that."
What They Are
What JGN is not, Lee said, is an
office and a staff, but rather a
resource and program planning cen-
ter.
A Web site, expected to be ready
in January — with the help of
Shaindel Braunstein and her staff at
the Hermelin ORT Resource Center
in West Bloomfield — will be the
group's main source for information.
"It will offer links to services, to
organizations, programs and volun-
teers who could be a friendly voice
for someone local who is gay or les-
Dec. 5, at the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloomfield, and will
be facilitated by Rabbi Aaron
Bergman, director of Jewish Studies
at the Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit.
"In writing this book, Rabbi
Greenberg has expanded Jewish
knowledge, filled a scholarly void
and given voice to an invisible popu-
lation," said P.J. Cherrin of West
Bloomfield, who introduced the
rabbi at the book fair talk. "In Rabbi
Greenberg's book, he writes, 'Most
(Orthodox gay individuals) still suf-
fer in the closet, paralyzed by the
fear of rejection and emotionally
stunted by years of internalized self-
hatred.'"
Never involved in MJAC, Cherrin,
who is Orthodox, has been part of
the planning committee of JGN,
along with others, including Lee,
Greenapple and Edwina Davis of
West Bloomfield and Michelle
Passon of Commerce Township,
both formerly of MJAC.
"I didn't plan on being involved
like this, but the Pirkei Avot says
that when there are no leaders, be a
leader," Cherrin said. "My personal
motivation is really to help people
Rabbi Steven Greenberg speaks at the JCC Book Fair.
live as proud Jews. If you happen to
be gay, it doesn't mean you still
rather than two married people," Lee
bian, or their families," Lee said.
shouldn't be involved with mitzvot.
pointed out.
The Web site address will be:
You don't have to be straight to
Starting with an e-mail list of
www.jewishgaynetworkofmichi-
observe Shabbat, you know."
those once connected to MJAC, Lee
gan.org
Cherrin said, "A
said about 40 people are now
"It will be a touch point for any-
Jew should live in
involved in the group. "People
one seeking friendship, support and
shleimut (whole-
emerged — some who are gay, and
information about the Jewish, gay
ness). Being hon-
some who are not, some who had
and Jewish gay communities," said
nothing to do with MJAC, and some est about oneself
Beth Greenapple of Southfield,
is a step to being
who are gay but were reluctant to be
JGN's president.
proud
of oneself
involved with MJAC because of its
We will also be a source for those
— the very defi-
connection to AIDS — and are
looking to join a congregation," said
nition of self-
coming to JGN programs and meet-
Lee, acknowledging that some area
esteem. It's com-
ings," she said.
synagogues offer gay and lesbian
forting for any
Cherrin
couples individual memberships
minority to have
only. Others, including most Reform
peers, a network
What's Up Next?
and Reconstructionist congregations
of people just like them. People
Rabbi Greenberg's visit to Detroit
and some Conservative synagogues,
commit suicide because they're des-
sparked the planning of the JGN's
like Congregation Beth Shalom,
perate not to be gay."
next event: a text study and discus-
offer them family memberships."
Cherrin said he understands the
"When ECHO existed, we worked sion of his book, Wrestling With God
traditional viewpoint toward homo-
and Men: Homosexuality in the Jewish
the Jewish Community Center [of
sexuality.
Tradition, also a focus of his local
Metropolitan Detroit] to change its
"Orthodox rabbis are stewards of
talk.
membership policy to include two
mesorah (tradition), and they're
the
The event is scheduled for Sunday,
people living in the same household,
AMONG FRIENDS on page 19
12 / 3
2004
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