Testimonials

Thinking of coming to our Summer Intensive but not sure it’s for you? Here’s some testimonials from last year’s yeshiva bokhers!

“It was the most open, unassuming, comfortable, welcoming space I've maybe ever been in. People felt like they could bring their whole selves and not have to apologise for who they are.”
“I loved the atmosphere of the space, the warmth and openness, the humour, the rigorous communal academia, the singing, how much I learnt and how I learnt it, the community that was created and how that was facilitated… it was truly one of the best weeks of my life and I’m so glad to have been a part of it.”
“Being around so many queer Jews felt life changing, it opened up faith to me in a way I never imagined.”
“My favourite part was probably the warmth of the space, and the true commitment it had to making everyone feel welcome, comfortable and accepted. It was truly, and I mean this fully, truly unlike any space I had ever been to - and this paid off in allowing a wide variety of people to voice their opinions, many of whom are often in positions where they cannot do this.”
“I feel like I've had a deeply spiritual experience. I feel a lot more connected and empowered in my Judaism but also feel spiritual rested from being around other lefty queer Jews. While it was mentally demanding, I do feel rested like it was a break from the rest of the world. I also never thought I'd love Talmud and now I can't wait to keep studying.”
“My connection to Hashem, Judaism and queer community has been deepened. The doorway to Talmud has been opened. I know this will all be a bigger part of my life from now on.”
“I think Queer Yeshiva gave the space for everyone to get what they needed: it wasn’t prescriptive, and I watched so many people go through, in different ways, their own version of what happened to me: a part of myself that was craving community and Jewishness and spirituality was healed. I feel a bit more whole.”
“Queer Yeshiva gave me a glimpse of what this kind of loving, daring community might be, and inspired me to be brave, real and excited. It has transformed my expectations of what's possible and my imaginings of myself.”
“This has affirmed for me how essential it is for me to have access to Jewish spaces (of learning, community, prayer, conversation), especially with other queer Jews. I plan to seek this out in a way I hadn’t felt able to beforehand. I have met people I hope to know for a long time! Queer Yeshiva has opened up and expanded a fraught and uncertain relationship to my own Judaism.”
“I was nervous about my Tamud knowledge level coming in, but found the introduction and learning method super clear and helpful, and my classmates so knowledgeable and generous too – I feel very proud I was able to engage and learn so much.”
“It meant a lot to be shown how to wrap tefillin by older Jewish men, as a trans man.”
“I feel this experience has just made me feel so much more positive about the world, the people in it, the future and our capacity to work through hard things.”
“Before this I didn’t feel like there was a subsection of the Jewish community that I wanted to be part of, or that I identified with strongly. But this group of people, and the dedication to activism as well as learning, and the communal joy all just speak to me so much and has allowed me to celebrate my Jewishness again.”
“I now feel a lot more confident in taking up space in my religious community as a Queer person - I deserve to be here!”
“This was the best-organised, most meaningful, most enlivening and most educational, multi-day event of any sort I have ever attended.”

Testimonials

Thinking of coming to our Summer Intensive but not sure it’s for you? Here’s some testimonials from last year’s yeshiva bokhers!

“It was the most open, unassuming, comfortable, welcoming space I've maybe ever been in. People felt like they could bring their whole selves and not have to apologise for who they are.”

“Being around so many queer Jews felt life changing, it opened up faith to me in a way I never imagined.”

“My connection to Hashem, Judaism and queer community has been deepened. The doorway to Talmud has been opened. I know this will all be a bigger part of my life from now on.”

“Queer Yeshiva gave me a glimpse of what this kind of loving, daring community might be, and inspired me to be brave, real and excited. It has transformed my expectations of what's possible and my imaginings of myself.”

“I was nervous about my Tamud knowledge level coming in, but found the introduction and learning method super clear and helpful, and my classmates so knowledgeable and generous too – I feel very proud I was able to engage and learn so much.”

“It meant a lot to be shown how to wrap tefillin by older Jewish men, as a trans man.”

“I feel this experience has just made me feel so much more positive about the world, the people in it, the future and our capacity to work through hard things.”

“I now feel a lot more confident in taking up space in my religious community as a Queer person - I deserve to be here!”

“This was the best-organised, most meaningful, most enlivening and most educational, multi-day event of any sort I have ever attended.”

100% of participants told us they would return for another Queer Yeshiva programme. We hope to see you this summer!