Tzelem, a community LGBTQ+ group for high school and middle school students, are hosting a program on Saturday, December 17, from 7:00–8:30 pm at Temple.

Tzelem is a group for transgender, nonbinary, gender fluid, or gender questioning and Tzelem+ for LGBTQ+ Jewish youth —with a mission to create safe spaces for teens of all genders and sexualities to talk about the issues in their lives as teens.

Tzelem seeks to enrich teens’ lives with the same core outcomes as all Moving Traditions Teen Groups:

• Develop a strong self-concept and the social-emotional skills to navigate through life.
• Recognize and resist sexism personally and in their communities.
• Experience Judaism and the Jewish community as personally relevant and meaningful.

We also recognize transgender oppression is related to – but not synonymous with – sexism and therefore address that as well in Tzelem.

Each month the Tzelem groups focus on topics such as healthy relationships, stress, belonging, and identity; sessions also include opportunities to meet other teens and Jewish trans adult mentors and discuss transition and gender expression issues. The teens explore the issues through games, art, discussion, and by drawing on Jewish teachings.

Any WHC middle or high school student who would like to participate in this program, and is not currently enrolled in Tzelem, should email Ira Miller at imiller@whctemple.org