Kol Tzedek, J-BaGeL and Birthright Israel NEXT are delighted to welcome Joy Ladin to speak about her relationship with Judaism in the context of her experience being transgender.  Joy is the first openly transgender employee of an Orthodox Jewish institution.  Upon receiving tenure in 2006 as David and Ruth Gottesman Chair in English at Stern College of Yeshiva University, Joy announced her intention transition from male to female.  After a leave of absence, she returned to work as a woman in the fall of 2008.

 

Joy is the author of three books of poetry from Sheepsmeadow Press and a forthcoming book of original psalms.  She has had poetry published in the journals Parnassus, North American Review and Exquisite Corpse and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2007. She is currently writing a memoir entitled Inside Out: Confessions of a Woman Caught in the Act of Becoming.

 

Since her recent transition, she has spoken at universities, synagogues, and at Limmud NY about transsexuality. She recently wrote for Moment magazine about her experiences visiting the Kotel in Jerusalem, first as a man and later as a woman.

 

Dinner will be served. This event is open to the public but an RSVP is required.

 

Interested in Shabbat services? Come early for A Learner's Shabbat with Kol Tzedek!

Photograph is by Hyman S & Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival licensed under Creative Commons.