Growing up Black, Jewish, and queer, tethered to the very being of me. I carried the belief of being utterly alone in my experiences into every space I entered. I constantly felt that who I was was simply “too much” for anybody to understand, let alone care enough to make my experiences, especially in Jewish spaces, less painful.

But I wish I had known then what I know now.

While I, woven uniquely together b’tzelem elohim, in God’s image, am indeed one of a kind, there are and always have been others like me. I just had yet to find and hear their stories.

The pain of feeling alone in my experiences kindled a deep-seated, lifelong passion for creating resources and spaces filled with feelings of belonging and psychological safety for historically marginalized folks. This eventually led me to my current role/dream job as the Jews of Color Program Manager at Keshet, where I have the honor of working directly with LGBTQ+ Jews of Color across the country. And I started this role with one central thought:

“I wonder what other LGBTQ+ Jews of Color’s experiences have been…”

So, in my first few weeks at Keshet, I sought out answers to this query. Within this search, I discovered the groundbreaking study “Beyond the Count” by the Jews of Color Initiative, which beautifully explores the diverse experiences and challenges of Jews of Color nationwide. As I delved deeper into the shared and different experiences of Jews of Color across the nation, I exhaled, feeling a sense of validation reading their stories. From there, a hunger to know more began to grow…

However, in my continuous hunt to learn more, I noticed a significant gap. There were no findings that specifically addressed navigating Jewish spaces at the intersection of being a Person of Color, Jewish, and LGBTQ+. Upon realizing this, another idea emerged. As Keshet’s JOC Program Manager, entrusted with creating resources and spaces that uplift, amplify, and celebrate the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ Jews of Color, I saw an opportunity to elevate these stories.

And now, I’m proud to announce that Keshet is conducting a pulse survey on the experiences of LBGTQ+ Jews of Color in Jewish spaces. We aim to document respondents’ lived experiences and inspire transformative action within Jewish communities to foster more inclusive and deeply connected feelings of belonging for LGBTQ+ Jews of Color.

I invite you to participate by completing the survey if you identify as an LGBTQ+ Jew and a Person of Color and/or by spreading the word within your network. Together, you can help us uplift and support LGBTQ+ Jews of Color across the United States!

Dozens of LGBTQ+ Jews of Color have already courageously shared their experiences in Jewish spaces in the survey, and I am left with one central thought:

“I’m not alone.”

LGBTQ+ Jews of Color: Your story matters—Click here to share yours!

Love,
Sage Cassell-Rosenberg