Mycroft Masada is a nonbinary trans and queer Jewish leader with 30 years of experience who moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland (Montgomery County near Washington DC) from their lifelong home of Boston in 2014. A TransEpiscopal Steering Committee member and former Congregation Am Tikva board member, Mycroft is particularly called to pursue LGBTQ+ and fat justice, and is an advocate, organizer, consultant, educator, trainer, writer and artist. They are married to Julia McCrossin, the mas(s)culine fatshion blogger, and with her they co-parent a dogter. Their central online home is MasadArts.blogspot.com.


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Monday, May 9, 2011

Keshet's Massachusetts programming in May

Keshet is a national grassroots organization that works for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Jews in Jewish life. Led and supported by LGBT Jews and straight allies, Keshet offers resources, trainings, and technical assistance to create inclusive Jewish communities nationwide.

I wanted to raise up three pieces of their programming this month in Massachusetts (they have offices in Boston, Denver and San Francisco) that are particularly transfaith. Here's their May Massachusetts enewsletter:

May 11: Interfaith Gathering
Do you attend shul on Friday and church on Sunday? Chant or meditate? Are you and your partner from different faith traditions? Bring your whole self for a relaxed conversation about our spiritual/social journeys and how we weave together our Jewishness with other traditions. Keshet member Laura Evonne Steinman, who was raised Unitarian, with Jewish and Catholic roots, will guide the conversation.

Cosponsor: Arlington Street Church

Time: 7:45pm
Where: Arlington Street Church, 351 Boylston St., Boston
RSVP: by 5/9 to events@keshetonline.org or call 617-524-9227

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May 12: Dr. Joy Ladin: “Judaism, Gender, and Boundaries”
It’s hard to think of an aspect of human identity deeper and broader than gender. At the same time, having an identity–including a gender identity–means having boundaries, since identifying who one is requires identifying who one is not, and boundaries are the lines we draw between the two. What does Judaism say about all this? Don’t miss this chance to learn with award-winning poet Dr. Joy Ladin, English professor at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women and the first out trans professor at a religious university.

Cosponsor: Nehar Shalom

Time: 7:30pm
Where: Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue, 43 Lochstead Ave., Jamaica Plain
Cost: suggested donation: $5
RSVP: by 5/10 to events@keshetonline.org or call 617-524-9227

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May 25: Trans & Queer Beit Midrash: Transformative Transgender Ritual
In Judaism, ritual practices are crafted and performed to raise our awareness of special, holy time and help us celebrate our lives. However, many rituals are gendered “male” or “female,” which can marginalize and alienate transgender people. This workshop is designed to help us experience the healing and transformative power of innovative Jewish ritual, and to begin to craft personal, Jewish rituals that reflect our spirituality, transitions, and lives. We will explore rituals such as tallit, tefilllin, mikveh, and Jewish naming, as well as innovative rituals that reflect transgender experience. Facilitated by Hebrew College rabbinical students Margot Meitner and Suzie Schwartz.

Supported in part by a grant by CJP’s Innovation Grants Committee.

Time: 6pm
Where: Mayyim Hayyim, 1838 Washington St., Newton
RSVP: 5/23 to events@keshetonline.org or call 617-524-9227