In June 2023, New Voices published a series of micro-stories about “Queer Jewish Joy”. As hostility toward trans and queer people persists across the country, we can derive strength from the moments that remind us how beautiful it is to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community. As we continue to fight for justice, stories of queer love, laughter, friendship, celebration, spirituality, and chosen family are as important as ever.
Last Friday, my synagogue held their first pride Shabbat. And yet I feared that I could never reconcile that the hand that holds her’s also lights my candles. The joy in pressing my face against her cheek to stifle laughter, somehow contradicting the joy I find in the seats of my synagogue. But this week, I reached for her next to me and I found her, fingers intertwining to the sound of Shalom Aleichem. In Judaism we believe that people are angels, hands closing over divinity so close you can burn your fingers. I think to myself, maybe I’ve never been this close before. I thank g-d for that. I thank g-d for her. And she thanks g-d beside me. There was no holiness in the chasm made of knives, forks, and my mother’s fear as we sat across from each other at my families Seder table. And yet there was nothing but holiness here, in the silence, in the light of g-d, next to her.
