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. 

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/