Episode 47: For Us, By Us: The Trans Halakhah Project
Description
Halakhah is for Orthodox Jews. It means Jewish law: what you can do and can’t do. Right? Not according to Laynie Soloman, a passionate teacher of Jewish text and thought at SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva. Soloman says that Halakhah isn’t law, per se, since law – especially when it comes to queer and trans folks – can serve as an instrument of oppression. Rather, Soloman speaks of Halakhah as “Jewish practice and its surrounding discourse,” i.e. what Jews do. Soloman discusses SVARA’s Trans Halakhah Project, which seeks to empower trans Jews. Soloman talks with hosts Bryan Schwartzman about what the project means in a political climate hostile to trans people. “Celebrating our transness is a political act.” Recorded early in the Israel-Hamas War, Soloman describes how they have turned to ancient rabbinic sources to understand how Jews have dealt with catastrophe and violence in the past.
Theme song, “Ilu Finu” by Rabbi Miriam Margles. Her album This is the Day is available for purchase at CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/miriammarglesandthehadarensemb
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Laynie Soloman.
Links:
- Read Laynie Solomon's Evolve Essay, "Euphoric Halakhah: The Trans Halakhah Project"
- Read Rabbi Xava De Cordova's Evolve Essay, "Are Trans Women Obligated in Niddah? (Jewish Menstrual Law): Embracing Halakhah That Was Not Addressed to You"
- Watch Rabbi Xava De Cordova's Evolve Web Conversation, "Are Trans Women Obligated in Niddah Embracing Halakhah That Was Not Addressed to You"
- Register for an upcoming Evolve Web Conversation
- Follow Reconstructing Judaism on Instagram
- Follow Reconstructing Judaism on Facebook
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