C.E. Harrison (he/him/his) is the Communications Manager at Keshet and a former writer/editor for the Union for Reform Judaism; he is an alumnus of the 2018 JewV’Nation Fellowship’s Jews of Color Leadership Cohort. C.E. also contributes to USA TODAY and is a Professional Certified Marketer® (PCM®) and Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) with dual certification from the American Marketing Association and Digital Marketing Institute. C.E. lives with his partner and four pets in metro Detroit, where he serves on Temple Beth El’s Board of Trustees and is actively involved with his local Jewish Federation.
This summer, just in time for Pride Month, ReformJudaism.org is proudly releasing season two of Wholly Jewish, which will focus on members of the Jewish LGBTQ+ community.
So many of us who identify as LGBTQ+ grew up with little to no queer/trans representation in the media we consumed. While there is still a long way to go in normalizing LGBTQ+ identities in children’s media, kids can now see themselves and their families represented in many ways, including in the books they read.
As fulfilling as it was to engage in Shavuot programs, a lot weighs on me. With COVID-19 continuing to ravage Black communities and racist violence all over the news, I almost feel like it’s Yom Kippur instead – the time when Jews are supposed to be most aware of their own mortality.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted how Jewish communities across North America engage with one another, and so many folks have taken on this unique challenge in incredible ways.
Statistics paint a troubling picture that shows just how necessary improving access and quality of mental health is to minority communities now. These issues demand our attention, concern, and action.