What It Means to Be Queer and Jewish Right Now | Boston Jewish Now #16

This Pride Month episode is a conversation between two queer Jewish professionals working inside JCRC, each bringing a different generational lens to what it means to be queer, Jewish, visible, and civically engaged in this moment.   Rachel Schlesinger, JCRC's Marketing Coordinator, and Jeremy Burton, JCRC's CEO, are living different chapters of the same larger story. Jeremy brings decades of experience as an out Jewish communal leader who has seen the evolution of LGBTQ belonging in Jewish spaces. Rachel brings the perspective of a younger Jewish professional navigating a post-October 7 world, where being out can sometimes feel easier than being visibly Jewish or Zionist in some progressive and LGBTQ spaces.   Together, they talk about Pride, authenticity, Jewish belonging, antisemitism, Israel, civil rights, and the responsibility of communal institutions to make room for people to show up fully. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:41 Coming Out and Identity 03:02 Navigating Being an Out Jewish Professional 07:33 Moments of Tension in Queer Spaces 11:40 History of Civic Leaders Committing to Both the LGBTQ and Israeli Community 13:25 A Different Time for Zionism and Being Queer 15:20 The Larger Challenge of Group Think on Israel/Palestine 17:19 Have Things Changed for Queer Jewish Safety? 20:46 Creating LGBTQ+ Jewish Spaces 26:32 Why A Young Professional Chose to Work in a Jewish Space 30:27 Coming Out is a Never Ending Journey 37:24 What Can Our Civic Leaders Do to Make Both The LGBTQ+ and Jewish Community Feel Safe? --- Boston Jewish Now A podcast about the issues shaping Jewish life in Greater Boston. Boston Jewish Now helps Boston’s Jewish community make sense of the issues, events, and public conversations shaping Jewish life here. Each episode breaks down what is happening in the news, local government, and community in our region — and, when relevant, the national or global dynamics that affect Jewish life here at home. The podcast is designed for engaged members of Boston’s Jewish community who want to better understand the landscape around them, follow the issues shaping our community’s place in Massachusetts, and understand what deserves their attention. JCRC of Greater Boston JCRC has created a legacy of building community relations in support of Jewish and communal interests. We are at the forefront of shaping a world where our Jewish voice matters, our community thrives, and future generations find strength in our enduring legacy. Learn more at https://www.jcrcboston.org Follow Us   / bostonjcrc     / bostonjcrc     / bostonjcrc     / jcrcboston