About Nehirim
Our Mission
Nehirim is a national community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Jews, families, and allies, committed to a more just and inclusive world. Our retreats, student programs, and community events transform lives. And our advocacy work promotes equality and diversity based on the teachings of the Jewish tradition.
Our History
Nehirim began in 2004, as a small retreat convened by its founder, writer and activist Jay Michaelson. Since then, thanks to Nehirim’s network of volunteers, staff, and supporters, we have brought thousands of GLBT Jews, partners, and allies on retreat, and have transformed thousands more lives. We run about fifteen retreats and twenty local programs every year.
Nehirim is an independent national organization, not affiliated with any movement or ideology. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization organized under the laws of the State of New York.
Our Core Values
Participant Community. Although national in scope, Nehirim retains our grassroots orientation, inspired by communities such as Burning Man, the Radical Faeries, and Womyn’s Communities. Our retreats and other programs are made possible by the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, as well as our very small professional staff. We are first and foremost a community — and community is what we offer to all our participants. There is no “they” at Nehirim.
Diversity and Inclusion. We are a very diverse group. We are secular, religious, cultural, agnostic, frum, and post-denominational; we are youth, students, elders, families, singles, and 30-50somethings; we are trans, lesbian, bi, gay, queer, questioning, genderqueer, and straight allies; we are spiritual, cynical, alternative, normal, urban, rural, of all classes and economic backgrounds, diverse in ethnicity and national origin.
Celebration. And yet if there is one belief that unites us, it is that being queer and Jewish is a gift, not a predicament! LGBT Jews have unique perspectives on God, community, love, Torah, and Israel — and we have a remarkable, hidden history of generations of scholars, mystics, and poets. Nehirim is about celebrating our gifts, building our community, and inspiring queer Jews of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of observance to claim their heritage.
Advocacy. In addition to our retreats and other community programs, Nehirim is actively engaged with social justice, in particular struggles for LGBT equality and inclusion. We have marched in Washington, helped at shelters in New York, and sponsored over 100 events around the country related to Jay Michaelson’s book God vs. Gay? The Religious Case for Equality and Joy Ladin’s Through the Door of Life.
What Does “Nehirim” Mean?
“Nehirim” means lights. More specifically, ‘Nehirin’ is an Aramaic word found in the Talmud and the Zohar which refers to the radiant colors of the rainbow and the sky, like the brilliant lights of the sunset. The word thus represents not only the spectrum of queer sexual identities, as does the popular rainbow symbol, but the spiritual essences of those constituent parts as well. Moreover, as the term “nehirim” is not well known, yet is found in Jewish tradition, it is itself a symbol for how queer Jews can claim lesser-known aspects of the Jewish tradition as they articulate their own identities today.