LGBTQ

I pretended to be a bear for Rosh Hashanah

October 14, 2020 by Davinica Nemtzow

I’ve always described myself as “nerd adjacent”. My Netflix list is almost entirely made up of documentaries, the highlight of my 21st birthday was that I could go to the Franklin Institute after hours, and my ideal date is spending a full day learning obscure animal facts at the aquarium. However, I’ve never felt inclined to dip my toe into roleplaying games like D&D and Live Action Role Playing (LARPing) even though my partner’s main hobby is playing D&D and my roommate is literally a professional LARPer. That is, until this Rosh Hashanah.

During our most recent Shabbat (Gay)me Night, the LGBTQIA+ tribe virtually came together to play Honey Heist, a one-page roleplaying game in which you have two stats: CRIMINAL and BEAR. Now, you might be asking, “What made this (Gay)me Night different from all other (Gay)me Nights?”. While Honey Heist is a game available to everyone, this particular iteration was designed just for Tribe 12 by my roommate, the professional nerd. Our Game Master (GM) introduced the evening with the prompt “Rosh Hashanah is just a week away, and in a turn of luck Honeycon 2020 has just begun! Held at a large wilderness retreat; fans and purveyors of honey from all over will gather for a weekend of tastings and more; you’ve even heard a rumor that someone will be selling rare Black Orchid honey. Your crew is ready, the convention is open; if all goes to plan you’ll be having a sweeter Rosh Hashanah than ever before!

While we worked together to figure out puzzles and hatch schemes to steal the honey—including an elaborate ruse in which my bear, who was dressed in a B&W striped shirt and a beret, seduced the lead singer of the featured band by trying to pass off bear sounds as French—the game was filled with many delightfully Jewish easter eggs. The camp map was actually just URJ Eisner Camp in the Berkshires, the main stage had a shofar blowing, you could get samples of round challahs in the vendor hall, and we were given clues like “The note just says shana tovah”.

However, our treasure trove of stolen honey wasn’t the sweetest part of this game. For a few hours, I could truly enjoy the new year with friends without having to contort my celebration to fit all of the safety regulations of the pandemic and the grief of losing RBG. I tried something new, I released the expectations of what Rosh Hashanah “needed to be”, and I spent time laughing with my queer Jewish community. Somehow, playing a Jewish pickpocket bear named Misha checked all of my boxes for entering 5781.

This was an incredibly fun game for well-seasoned gamers and newbies alike and I’m looking forward to incorporating it into my Rosh Hashanah celebrations for years to come. If you’re interested in our monthly LGBTQIA+ (Gay)me Nights, come play Codenames with us on October 16. I promise you, this isn’t your bubbe’s Mahjong night at the JCC, it’s likely a lot more tame and a lot more friendly.

Remembering Stonewall to Protest Racial Injustice

June 17, 2020 by Ross Weisman

51 years feels like an eternity.

In 1969, astronauts landed on the moon and the earliest version of the Internet popped up. For queer folks and allies during June, we also remember the Stonewall Riots, the linchpin of the modern-day LGBTQ Rights movement arguably began.

Before the Stonewall Riots, actions coded as queer were criminal offenses; if your clothes or demeanor were seen as too different from the typical Christian heterosexual person, you would be arrested. Being outed as queer could get you fired. By the end of the 1960s, several covert gay/lesbian clubs popped up around the country. The police routinely raided and arrested patrons of underground gay bars, and LGBTQ people had had enough.

On the night of June 28th, 1969, undercover cops tried to raid the Stonewall Inn, but those in the bar – especially trans people of color – refused to go. More police came, and a riot broke out. Some say bricks were thrown, others say drink glasses and rocks, but this was the breaking point. A mob of queer people shouted “gay power” and sang, causing the world to wake up and look towards this small bar in the middle of New York’s Greenwich Village.

That was an extremely shortened version of the full story (I’m reading Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets by Gayle E. Pitman). It was a time of unrest, where the public wasn’t on the side of queer people, and things had to get loud and uncomfortable for change to come.

As a gay man, I’m in awe of what previous generations had to go through to be accepted and heard. And 51 years later, the world is waking up again, this time to police brutality and racial injustice.

No one has the luxury to remain silent anymore. It is our responsibility to stand up and support these protests calling for fair treatment and institutional change.

In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as a mental disorder. Just this week, Merriam-Webster is amending their definition of racism to better reflect the systemic issues faced by people of color. The tides are turning, and Jews/LGBTQ people know the feeling of the world against them and the need to speak up.

In the 1960s, Rabbi Abraham Heschel stood with MLK and other Civil Rights leaders. He famously said, “When I marched in Selma, my feet were praying.” Jews remember our past, so it’s troubling to see history repeating.

To the queer folks reading this, happy Pride Month. Let us remember the riot 51 years ago that changed the world forever, and support the ones going on now.

History will remember.

Written by yours truly,

Ross Weisman, Engagement Associate at Tribe 12

Interested in have virtual coffee with Ross? Set up a time like right now!

Celebrate Life, Love, and Lenny!

August 16, 2018 by Ellie Levy

Ellie Levy is a member of the Young Friends of National Museum of American Jewish History board, which provides an opportunity to connect and network with other young professionals during social gatherings, educational programs, and holidays. NMAJH holds an exceptionally special place in Ellie’s heart, because NMAJH is where her husband proposed!

Did you know before the musical West Side Story, there was East Side Story? The original plot focused on the conflict between an Irish Catholic family and Jewish family living in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, during the Easter-Passover season. The conflict was to be centered around anti-Semitism, of the Catholic “Jets” towards the Jewish “Emeralds.”

Leonard Bernstein composed the music for the Tony Award winning production. He was a major figure in orchestral conducting and acquired superstar status for his eclectic pieces, which fused elements of jazz and theatre, bridging the gap between classical and popular music.

Bernstein is noted to be one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history. He trained at Philadelphia’s very own Curtis Institute of Music and had a career on the international stage. Lenny even conducted an open air concert for the troops of Bersheeba in the middle of the desert during the Arab-Israel war. He also deeply struggled with his sexuality. As a gay man, he chose to marry a woman to dispel rumors about his private life and help secure major conducting appointments.

The Young Friends of the National Museum of American Jewish History will be hosting a centennial birthday party for Leonard Bernstein on August 25th (the date of his actual 100th birthday)! A Midsummer’s Eve: Celebrating Life, Love, and Lenny! will be a glamorous evening filled with dancing, schmoozing, an open bar, and desserts. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the special exhibit Leonard Bernstein: Power of Music illustrating his life, Jewish identity, and social activism. Through immersive films and interactive media you begin to understand how the talented musician received world-wide acclaim. In addition, to his strong desire to further social change and equality.

Come join the birthday party and have some cake! You can get your tickets here.

This is just one of many cool events hosted by some of our organizational partners. Learn more about our partners and find more upcoming events at gobejewish.com!

Passover Events Around Town

March 20, 2018 by Rachel Waxman

Passover is almost upon us! This one happens to be my favorite Jewish holiday… Partially because I have always loved watching The Prince of Egypt and drinking copious amounts of wine. But I’ve also been known to dork out over the Exodus and all the magical pieces of the Passover story. More recently, thanks to some of the things I’ve learned from At The Well, I’ve been loving Miriam’s story, learning more about her leadership style, and thinking a lot about what it means to break out of slavery and into freedom this month.

Me and one of my sisters at last year’s Passover photobooth. My mom is a pro when it comes to pleasing the millennials!

The first night of Passover is Friday, March 30th! I’ll be hearing the story of Passover as told by mother, who wrote her own Haggadah and narrates her own original Passover play every year – costumes, mics, props and all.

As you may be able to tell, I come from a line of Jews who always find the freedom to be creative within the world of our ancient traditions. And in the vein of freedom, creativity, and tradition, here is our list of must-see Passover event options in and around Philly:

1. JEVS Career Services 13th Annual Women’s Seder

Celebrate hope at this Seder! You’ll hear from various women in the JEVS network about how benefitting from JEVS parallels the promise of the Passover Seder experience. Insiders Tip: this event is happening at Green Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill, which is just off the 27 bus.

2. First Person Arts & NMAJH host 6th Annual Freedom Seder Revisited

What does freedom mean to you? Gather around the Passover table and hear from storytellers and performers from the Philly community. This interpretive Seder will create space to explore the meaning of freedom in America today. Plus you’ll have access to NMAJH’s newest exhibit, Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music.

3. Grad Network’s Annual First Night of Passover Seder

Always a crowd favorite! For those who can’t be with their family & friends back home for Passover, join the grad students and young professionals of Philly this first night Seder! The evening including a traditional (yet slightly abbreviated) Seder, kosher dinner, and of course plenty of wine. L’chaim!

4. Chabad Young Philly’s First & Second Night Seder

Both of these dinners are totally free for young professionals: no cost, zilch shekels, FREEdom for all!

5. Rodeph Shalom’s Congregational Second Seder

Join in on this family-friendly, intergenerational Seder led by the clergy at Rodeph Shalom. Pro tip: this event is BYOB!

6. LGBTQ Passover Seder

Another crowd favorite! Come over to Kol Tzedek on April 1st for an inclusive, LGBTQA, family-friendly Seder. For more info as the event details come together, contact Rachel A at Tribe 12.

You may have noticed we have some killer resources over on our digital hub, gobejewish.com. Maybe you’ve seen our job board or our directory of all Jewish orgs in Philly who work with 20s / 30s… Of all the awesome features on gobejewish.com, our favorite is definitely the community events calendar. The gobejewish calendar aggregates all Jewish events for Philly’s 20s / 30s IN ONE PLACE.

It’s looking like an awesome Passover lineup this year… and these are just the highlights! Check gobejewish.com for the full Passover events listing.

What’s Your #TribeVibe ?

November 13, 2017 by Rachel Abramowitz

Looking for a home in Philly’s Jewish community? Our name, Tribe 12, is an homage to the twelve unique tribes who inhabited the land of ancient Israel, and by the same token we created Tribe 12 Tribes — volunteer-run communities bonded by a common interest or identity.

At Tribe 12 we truly believe there is a Jewish community for everyone. No matter the interest or affinity group, Tribe 12 Tribes provide a ton of different outlets for getting involved — and if we don’t have the community you’re seeking, we’ll help you build it!

Take Lauren, an active member of our new Women’s Tribe. She said that she’s “been seeking a community where members can learn, exchange ideas, and support each other in a relaxing setting.” She was excited to find that at our events: “that’s exactly what I get from my Tribe!”

Right now, Tribe 12 has about a half dozen active Tribes, including an A Capella Group, Fantasy Football, Kickball, 30-Somethings, and a Women’s Tribe. These Tribes are constantly changing so there are always new events and groups popping up! Looking forward, we have volunteers ready to expand our Tribes collection to include a health-focused subgroup for our Women’s Tribe, a new 20-somethings Tribe, and a new Theater Tribe. We hope to get to 12 soon! #TribeGoals

Dave adds a sticker to the football draft board at a sports bar — Dave running the draft board at one our Fantasy Football drafts this year

Tribe 12 Tribes host events throughout the year – sometimes on a regular basis (monthly, for example) and sometimes with a bit more random scheduling. Be sure to check our community calendar, gobejewish.com, for all upcoming events, including Tribe events. Plus, you can browse our Tribes, sign up, or contact individual Tribes on our Tribes page.

Our LGBTQ Tribe is currently our biggest and most active Tribe, with a bunch of different affinity groups popping up inside it! Right now, this includes a social community, a trans-rights community, and an education & volunteering community. Info about these communities and our LGBTQ Tribe in general can be found at tribe12.org/lgbtq. In fact, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s newsletter recently ran a feature on our LGBTQ Tribe!

Two young men leaning over a table with a rainbow flag on it. One is chatting and the other is adding his email to a list. — Ryan welcomes new LGBTQ Tribe members at Tribe 12’s table at Outfest earlier this month

Start Your Own Tribe!

Don’t see the perfect fit? The volunteers who run our Tribes are all graduates of the Tribe 12 Fellowship, an elite cohort of passion-driven people launching socially responsible business and projects. Through their four months in our Fellowship, some Fellows build businesses, non-profits, art installations, innovative projects… and sometimes they start Tribes!

Take Maryana and Igor, Tribe 12 regulars who didn’t feel like the happy hour scene was for them when they had a baby. They created the New Parent Tribe, a place to share Jewish experiences with other young parents.

Applications for the Tribe 12 Fellowship are open NOW through November 19th! Consider applying for the chance to build something you’re passionate about. You can learn more at tribe12.org/apply-today, and Tribe 12 staffers Rachel and Adam are always down for coffee or an after-work drink to discuss!