Queer Judaism

"Queer Judaism refuses simple narratives that pit queer lives against religion. Instead, it beautifully examines how LGBT activists in Israel work within Orthodox Judaism to give their lives and identities meaning, even as they struggle within this tradition to make space for themselves. Avishai’s brilliant, moving ethnography sets a new standard for scholarship in religion and sexuality. It’s a must read." ~Anthony Petro, author of After the Wrath of God: AIDS, Sexuality, and American Religion

"An engaging book about people whose proud, public existence became possible over a very short time. Pushing beyond old notions of reconciling conflicting identities, Avishai illustrates how actors gently seized a political and cultural moment and organized to articulate the meaning their lives derived from existing at the intersection of orthodox religion and `unorthodox’ sexuality. Ultimately, Queer Judaism is a story of how queerness can foster life and growth in institutions, culture, and individuals—and its limits." ~Dawne Moon, author of God, Sex, and Politics: Homosexuality and Everyday Theologies

"Drawing on interviews with dozens of gay religious Israeli Jews and activists, experiences at Orthodox LGBTQ events and time researching and reading message boards, Avishai traces the history of gay activism in Israel’s religious worlds and the rapid transformation in attitudes and advocacy." ~Amy Spiro, The Times of Israel

"Queer Judaism includes excerpts from numerous interviews that show the heartbreak of those who have not been accepted by their families and/or community. However, these are the same people who are creating a new version of Orthodoxy simply by living their lives and expecting acceptance. Their use of Jewish texts has also helped them become more actively engaged in Judaism. Queer Judaism will inspire and challenge readers as it shows the active development of religious change in Israel." ~The Reporter