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New Reform Judaism Resources For The Transgender Community

Special interview with Rabbi Richard F. Address by the Valley Gay Press and PA Diversity Network's
writer and board member Adrian Shanker

(For Rabbi Address's full bio click here.)

Rabbi Address recently edited the expanded and updated version of Kulanu, a 500 page manual on GLBT inclusion in Reform Judaism. This new expansion, for the first time, includes resources for the trans community - including a blessing for a gender reassignment surgery and coming out blessings for the trans community. The URJ is the first denomination to publish transgender specific resources for inclusion in congregations. For more info on Kulanu, or to purchase a copy, please visit: http://urj.org/pr/2007/kulanu_revised/index.cfm

        Rabbi Richard F. Address serves as the director of the Union for Reform Judaism’s (URJ)Department of Jewish Family Concerns. Rabbi Address joined the URJ staff in 1978 after pulpit work in California. Rabbi Address was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1972 and received his honorary Doctor of Divinity from HUC-JIR in 1997. In May of 1998 he received a Certificate in Pastoral Counseling from the Post Graduate Center for Mental Health in New York and in May 1999 he received his Doctor of Ministry from Hebrew Union College.  Rabbi Address teaches classes on Jewish family issues at Hebrew Union College in New York. He recently edited the expanded and updated version of Kulanu, a 500 page manual on GLBT inclusion in Reform Judaism. For more info on Kulanu, please visit: http://urj.org/pr/2007/kulanu_revised/index.cfm

1. Thank you so much for your leadership in the Jewish Community on GLBT inclusion. What first got you involved in this issue?

My involvement with these issues really emerges out of two areas. One, as the regional director of the PA Council of the Union (1978-2000) I worked a lot with Bet Ahavah, the GLBT outreach congregation in Philly and got them into the URJ many years ago. My department (which began in 1997) had as one of its "portfolios" the GLBT issues related to congregational programming. Many of my most active members of the department still come from this group and have helped keep us in touch with issues. Likewise, the Reform movement has had this on its agenda since, maybe the 70's, or late 60's. (See section on resolutions at back of KULANU).

2. How has the URJ influenced the rest of the Jewish Community on GLBT issues?

I have NO idea how we have influenced congregations. We have no "measuring" instrument. Has the material we produced found their way into congregations? Yes. Are we continuing to get requests for our material and to come to congregations around the various projects we have created? Yes. So, I guess, we have or are having impact.

3. Kulanu, the URJ manual on GLBT inclusion, now includes resources for the trans community, including a blessing for gender reassignment surgeries -- how did the URJ come to decide to expand Kulanu?

We decided to include the trans-gendered material because this  issue is alive. We knew that the world had changed since the first edition (10+ years ago--before the department was created) and we knew that to be honest, we had to reflect the changes in the last decade. Thus, it was kind of natural to include this material.

4. The trans resources in Kulanu is truly groundbreaking. Do you see this as a gateway to other Jewish denominations working with the trans community?

Groundbreaking...hmm...well, we see it as part of our responsibility to reflect what is happening in our families. Every one of our projects (aging, disabilities, mental health, bio-ethics, self destructive behaviors etc all reflect what is taking place within families now) tries to approach these issues from a basis of text and a certain theological position that seeks to embrace relationships.

5. The URJ and its lobbying arm, the Religious Action Center, has long been an advocate of legal equality for GLBT issues - What makes Kulanu stand out -- In other words, it is one thing to advocate for legislative action -- but another to look internally at our own congregations -- Where is the URJ now and where is it going for the queer community?

The RAC does handle all legislative issues. Our mandate is to deal with developing and implementing programs. We work closely with the RAC in many of our projects. I have no idea what other "official" statements will be made. The movement has been so far ahead of all others on this issue (political, economic etc)....maybe the GLBT community can be helpful in spreading the word as to the last 30+ years of official statements. Likewise, we have an entire section of Hebrew Union College (HUC) to sexual identity issues. Dr Joel Kushner (co-editor of KULANU) is a GREAT resource for the entire community. More and more congregations are becoming inclusive and accepting. Many of the key lay leaders of the URJ, that are gay or lesbian, have come up through the ranks of congregation leadership. There are out rabbis in key positions of leadership all over the movement. Is all perfect? No. But, there is a huge ambiance of inclusion and acceptance in ways totally different than years ago.

6. This past year the Conservative Jewish movement voted to support marriage equality -- making 3 of the 4 largest Jewish movement’s advocates of marriage equality. In the past, many GLBT Jews have become unaffiliated or they joined GLBT specific congregations -- how can clergy in the URJ and elsewhere make their congregations queer - inclusive -- and is there still a need for GLBT congregations?

I remember that when we worked with Beth Ahavah in Philadelphia, there was a perception that there was a need for GLBT specific shuls. I honestly think that, in many parts of the country - that is changing. More of our congregations are inclusive. There is room for all kinds of synagogues and I am a believer in spreading the word of Reform and having as many choices as possible. As for clergy and inclusiveness.....well...in every congregation it all comes down to the rabbi. Certainly at HUC this not an issue, and that sense of openness carries out after Ordination and is helpingto change the field. It all comes down again to relationships and seeing people as people. There is still not this total openness on all parts of lay people in all parts of the country. But, you can make that statement about a lot of things, as I am learning.


Adrian Shanker is a junior at Muhlenberg College and a board member of the Pennsylvania Diversity Network.