Trans and Nonbinary Pride Shabbat, 2025
Honoring the trans & nonbinary teachers whose Torah has shaped CBST, past and present
Over the last several decades, CBST has been lucky to have amazing trans and nonbinary community members, Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical interns, and other teachers of Torah who have shaped the community and enriched our learning. As we began Pride month, we brought teachings and compositions from several of those teachers, past and present.
Below are short bios for all of those whose words or music were part of the services, as well as links to drashot, talks, and writings that we excerpted.
We are living simultaneously in a golden age for trans and nonbinary Torah, and a time in which the bigoted efforts to devalue trans lives and wisdom are increasing daily. So we say, loudly, trans and nonbinary lives are infinitely precious. The wisdom of those who transcend the gender binary has always been part of Jewish tradition, whether it’s been obvious or not. And this community will always step up to protect our trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, nonconforming family.
Joy Ladin
Joy Ladin (she/her) is a poet and theologian who most recently taught English in Stern College at Yeshiva University. Joy was a Scholar-in-Residence at CBST in 2009 and has spoken and taught at CBST several times over the years.
Read Joy’s article, How to Read the Torah from a Trans Perspective (Even If You Aren’t Transgender)
At services, we shared a clip from “Poetry at CBST: Joy Ladin in Conversation with Ariel Zitny” from February, 2021. Watch here:
Erin Ehren
Erin Ehren (she/themme) (born 1996) is a Jewish musician and sculptor. She holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design; a Master of Sacred Music degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary; and is currently pursuing an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Sculpture and Extended Media. When not composing music or fabricating sculpture, she enjoys finding Gd in the girlier everyday: like brushing one’s hair, eating raw vegetables, and taking long walks while trans.
We sang Erin’s setting of L’cha Dodi, which she shared with us in June of 2023. Watch here:
Rabbi Leiah Moser
Rabbi Leiah Moser (she/her) is the rabbi of Temple Concord in Binghamton, New York, has been CBST’s guest speaker for Trans Day of Visibility, and has led the Emet: Trans & Nonbinary Team monthly group since 2023.
We read from Rabbi Moser’s 2025 essay On Being a “Trans Rabbi.”
S. Bear Bergman
S. Bear Bergman (he/him) is a writer and storyteller who has performed and taught at CBST for our Trans Jews are Here convenings in 2019 and 2021.
We shared a clip from Bear’s conversation with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, “Two Dads Talking about Gender,” which was presented in March of 2021 at CBST. Watch it here:
David Harrison
David Harrison (he/him) is a longtime CBST member. He is an actor, playwright, producer, and long-term CBST member. His eclectic career includes being a professional psychic, hypnotherapist, healer and dominatrix. He has primarily created and toured original work over the years – most recently with his ongoing stage and web series alter-ego, 60s rock star Reggie Wingnutz.
We read David’s piece that is published in CBST’s Siddur B’chol L’vav’cha (p.68):
We look at other people thinking everything must work for them because they have the right kind of body, or they have a lover, but we don’t know what goes on inside, or what it is to look at the world through their eyes, or experience through their skin. They may not have the same body issues as we do, but they may have others. Everyone has something about them that they feel isn’t “perfect” —if only my nose were bigger and more masculine, or if I were taller, or if I were in a different gendered body altogether. While some of us may feel the need to change our physical form to match our insides, ultimately it’s a journey of loving and embracing ourselves. And this seems to be a core part of what it means to be human.
Rabbi Reuben Zellman, read by Rafaela Anschel
Rabbi Reuben Zellman (he/him) is the co-director of New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus—a mixed-voice choral ensemble for singers who self-identify as transgender, intersex, or gender-queer (TIGQ), and leads the Welcome Home project at Sha’ar Zahav in San Francisco. Reuben was a teacher at CBST in 2004-05, and a Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern from 2005-2006.
Rafaela read Rabbi Zellman’s piece that is published in CBST’s Siddur B’chol L’vav’cha (p.93):
I know a vast sea berween shore and shore
dividing mortar from the vine;
the slave sings her freedom on her far bank
legions of Pharach drowned within.
But another sea I also know
dividing
men from women
self from home
or self from self
creation from ineffability —
One side, perhaps, not entirely narrow
the other, not fully yours
or not promised.
Amidst the drowned multitudes this sea has her inhabitants,
gazing green and salt
to dry and assured land surrounding
a flashing brow uplifted.
Who ordains impassable?
One may cross;
equally
stretch out an arm.
The journey toward self reveals it, this
to the redeemed long known:
None may hinder
the way that God has parted.
Rabbi Ariel and Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev
Rabbi Ariel Tovlev (he/they) is the rabbi of Kehila Chadasha in Maryland, and was a rabbinical student at CBST from 2021-2023
Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev (they/them) is the cantor of Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and was a cantorial student at CBST from 2021-2023
We sang Shelter of Peace, with music by Cantor Ze’evi Simcha Tovlev and text by Rabbi Ariel Tovlev. Watch here:
Rabbi Elliot Kukla
Rabbi Elliot Rose Kukla (he/him) is a chaplain, author, artist, and activist. He has taught at CBST several times, including a class called “Toward a Jewish Liberation Theology for Men, Women, and Everybody Else” in 2007.
We read Rabbi Kukla’s A Prayer of Healing for Mental Illness
May the One who blessed our ancestors bless all who live with mental illness, our care-givers, families, and friends. May we walk in the footsteps of Jacob, King Saul, Miriam, Hannah, and Naomi who struggled with dark moods, hopelessness, isolation, and terrors, but survived and led our people. Just as our father, Jacob, spent the night wrestling with an angel and prevailed, may all who live with mental illness be granted the endurance to wrestle with pain and prevail night upon night. Grace us with the faith to know that though, like Jacob, we may be wounded, shaped and renamed by this struggle, still we will live on to continue an ever unfolding, unpredictable path toward healing. May we not be alone on this path but accompanied by our families, friends, care-givers, ancestors, and the Divine presence. Surround us with loving-kindness, grace, and companionship and spread over us a sukkat shalom, a shelter of peace and wholeness. And let us say: Amen.
Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari
Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari (he/him) is the senior rabbi of Kol Tzedek in Philadelphia and was a CRRI from 2010-2012.
We shared video from Rabbi Fornari’s Yom Kippur sermon “With Every Bone in My Body,” from September, 2023.
Kyle Lukoff’s My Little Golden Book About Pride!, read by Ariel Kates
Kyle Lukoff (he/him) is the first author of children’s literature to win both the Newbery and Stonewall awards for his books with queer and trans characters. He was CBST’s Trans Pride Shabbat speaker in 2022.
Get Kyle’s My Little Golden Book About Pride here. Watch Ariel’s reading here:
Batya Levine
Batya Levine (they/them) (born 1991) is a communal song leader, musician, shaliach tzibur, and cultural organizer who uses song to cultivate healing and resilience. A co-founder and co-director of Let My People Sing!, Batya offers original music, ritual, and workshops across diverse communities. Their work draws on Ashkenazi longing, queer heart-medicine, and deep emunah (faith/trust), supporting those who feel disconnected from Jewish life. Rooted in their Modern Orthodox upbringing, Batya builds a joyful, liberatory Judaism that embraces our full selves.
We sang Batya’s Oseh Shalom. Watch here: