[ANON POST] Reception of trans boy at a Reform synagogue

[kutsuwamushi]

What sort of response would a trans boy (who until now everyone thought was a girl) who was transitioning and starting to present as male get at a fairly large Reform synagogue in a major US city? Setting is modern day. There are several gay and lesbian couples in the congregation, and most people are OK with that, but obviously just because people

Comments

[spikesjojo]

Wouldn't be an issue - Jews do not take the bible as literal, and there is no original sin, no personal salvation. Therefore - Tikkun Olam - means celebrating differences and healing the earth. Born and raised Jewish - have a daughter who was gender dysmorphic until she was 27. Besides, there are enough medical personnel in the Jewish community to explain that this is how God created the young man. There is no sin involved, and no reason to object.

[spikesjojo]

If I may add - the Jewish religion consider homosexuality a sin at the same level as not washing your hands before a meal or eating seafood. Those are not issues of import. The heart and the actions are what matter.

[thistle_chaser]

The more I hear about the Jewish religion, the more I like it. What reasonable rules!

If I had to pick a religion, I'd be Jewish for sure.

Edit: I really should read all the comments before commenting myself. :P I'm glad your experience was good though!

[spikesjojo]

Well, it works for me - though I am pretty secular. Given that I grew up in the 60's, I have been pleased and amazed at how accepting the Reform community is now (having a child who was trans). But I will say we are a disputatious people. The old saying is that 3 Jews on a desert island will start 4 synagogues and 5 newspapers. ;)

[thistle_chaser]

The old saying is that 3 Jews on a desert island will start 4 synagogues and 5 newspapers. ;)

Ha! Gave me a laugh at work. :D

[spikesjojo]

I always love that one - it says so much in so few words.

Here is another one. All Jewish holidays are the same - they tried to kill us - we survived - let's eat.

[thistle_chaser]

Ha! :D

Edit: After that first reaction, I realized it really shouldn't be funny, but it is.

[spikesjojo]

I think it's funny too. ;)

[antongarou]

As an atheist Israeli Jew with numerous Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox relatives, this is definitely not my experience. This can very well be true for Reform, and maybe Conservative Judaism - I have no experience of either. In Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox(Charedi/Chasidi) Judaism, homosexuality and transgenderism(I'm not sure if this is the correct term) are generally much less tolerated. I'm not sure how widespread this is with the Orthodox community, but at least in the Ultra-Orthodox community it is a sin that has a good chance of resulting in Karet(i.e the family considering you dead to them).

[fjm]

And in Orthodoxy there is the extra issue of not being supposed to mutilate oneself: no piercings, no tattoos. I am lapsed Orthodox and it took me a while to realise that my visceral reaction to *Jewish* (but not gentile) trans friends, could be traced to this.

[transemacabre]

Anecdote: Last year, I waitressed at a kosher restaurant in a very, very Jewish community. There was a family I saw semi-regularly who were *hardcore* Orthodox; I think the mom and dad were like 16 years older than their eldest kid. Anyway, you know the expression about "feeling someone watching you"? I know how it feels, because their eldest daughter would stare at me so intently the entire time they were in my restaurant that it freaked my shit out a bit. She stared at me with what can only be described as longing