KULANU IS A PLACE FOR ALL OF US!

Are you Jewish and identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer?  Are you looking for a place to call your spiritual home?  Congregation B’nai Israel has a wonderful place for you.  Kulanu, which means "ALL OF US", is the GLBTQ outreach group within this wonderfully open and accepting congregation. 

Kulanu offers a place to meet other people, like you, who either want to connect or re-connect with their Jewishness or just want to socialize with other GLBTQ people in a Jewish setting.  This is a group which continues to evolve so you can be a part of a group that is open to ideas and projects for the members to do and share together.  The possibilities are endless and you can make a difference.

Shabbat dinners, discussions, social and cultural trips, spiritual journeying, volunteering with the temple for Habitat for Humanity, advocacy issues – we have done all of this together over the past few years, and plan to continue a monthly program of activities in the coming year. 

This is an opportunity to get involved and take advantage of a host of opportunities that are available with the support of the clergy and Congregation.  It’s also a chance to be positive role models for the younger gays and lesbians who are children of some of the congregants.  Many Kulanu members are also actively involved in the full range of congregational opportunities – adult learning, teaching in Religious School, temple committees, and regular Shabbat and Festival communal worship.

The group currently consists of GLBTQ Jews of all ages and levels of spirituality.  Non-Jewish partners and spouses are welcome too, and often join us for our gatherings.  Some people are just exploring the Jewish faith and using this group as a way to journey safely with people whom they feel comfortable.  Some have children and some don’t.  We recognize that everyone has their own story and we look forward to hearing yours.
Please feel free to contactVal Bogner, 203-521-0182 (cell), or Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz, 203-336-1858 or Lisa Knicos if you’re interested in finding out more about us and would like to be added to our confidential mailing list.  We look forward to meeting you.

KULANU CALENDAR

The Kulanu calendar is evolving from month to month.  There is either a Shabbat dinner gathering, study/discussion group or cultural event every month from October to June.  Please be in touch with Val Bogner, 203-521-0182 (cell), or Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz, 203-336-1858 or Lisa Knicos to be added to our confidential mailing list. 

Kulanu invites you to B’nai Israel’s
first gay-straight alliance gathering
Thursday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m.

Helping to build connections among all members of our community, Kulanu, the GLBT outreach group of B’nai Israel, is reaching out to provide a supportive network for anyone with GLBT members of family or friends, and an opportunity to work with straight allies on issues.  The first part of the evening will be a ‘getting-to-know-you’ conversation, enabling Kulanu members and those with family or friends who are GLBT to share experiences in a confidential and supportive environment.  In the second part of the evening we will hear from the Religious Organizer from Love Makes a Family, informing us about new projects to strengthen the voice of people of faith to help build upon and protect the recently gained equality for GLBT people in Connecticut.

This event is being held at a home in Fairfield.

RSVP to Rabbi Gurevitz to attend, or for more information.

Kulanu Celebrates 5 Years!

B’nai Israel’s outreach group for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Jews is celebrating five years this fall!  Since the group’s inception in 2003 we have reached out to GLBT Jews from B’nai Israel and statewide. We have grown to more than three dozen members and are currently the only temple in Southwestern Connecticut that has an active GBLT group. We have been able to serve a need for those who would have gone to New York City, or remain unaffiliated. Our gatherings include spiritual/worship, study, cultural and social events. The group provides members with a sacred space to discuss how we relate to our Judaism from a GLBT perspective.
 
It was over five years ago that Rabbi Prosnit conceived the idea of a GLBT group at the temple and it was under the guidance of Rabbi Greene that the group officially formed. We now have Rabbi Gurevitz to thank for her thoughtfulness and wisdom which have enabled Kulanu to flourish. Through Kulanu, B’nai Israel has become well respected in the GLBT, religious, and political arenas as a welcoming congregation, one that has put words into action. We are grateful to all of our clergy and temple staff who have been a part of the process of helping GLBT Jews integrate into the temple, especially the past 5 years.

There will be a gathering for members of Kulanu to honor and celebrate this special anniversary on September 7, from 4-6 p.m. (location TBD). If you are interested in this event, or know someone who is, or would like more information about Kulanu, please contact Rabbi Gurevitz (rgurevitz@congregationbnaiisrael.org, or call the temple office).
               
We are looking forward to another great year and hope to have more “open” events (open to all congregants), as in past years. Watch this page throughout the year for updates .
               
Thanks to all who have made Kulanu such a special group!
 
Lisa Knicos
Val Bogner

LOCAL COMMUNITY & RESOURCE CENTERS

• The Triangle Community Center, Norwalk
• The New Haven GLBT Community Center
• Love Makes a Family
  Love Makes a Family (LMF) is a statewide non-profit advocacy organization working for equal marriage rights for same-sex couples in Connecticut.

JEWISH GLBT STUDY RESOURCES

• Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity.  This website includes a wonderful online resource center with text studies, sermons, articles and rituals of interest to GLBT Jews.   It includes one of the best transgender resources available for Jews. You can also sign up for their weekly ‘Torah Queeries’ commentary on the weekly Torah portion. http://www.jewishmosaic.org/
  
• World Congress of GLBT Jews. http://www.glbtjews.org/
  
• Jeff Herman Virtual Resource Center.  An online resource center provided by the Reform Movement’s Hebrew Union College that contains study materials, rituals, Q&As etc.  You need to register to access the center, but it is a free resource. http://elearning.huc.edu/jhvrc/
  
• Jewish Queer Youth.  A support and information site for Jews who are GLBTQ and aged 17-30.  It was established by Jews who are or were Orthodox. http://www.jqyouth.org/