Nehirim

Nehirim was founded in 2004 by Jay Michaelson. He served as Executive Director until 2010, when Michael Hopkins succeeded him.{{cite news |last=Ginsberg |first=Johanna R. |title=Helping to integrate gay, Jewish identities |url=https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/helping-to-integrate-gay-jewish-identities/#.U0c17WcU_IV |access-date=June 12, 2020 |newspaper=New Jersey Jewish News |date=November 3, 2010}} Rabbi Debra Kolodny assumed the role in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.nehirim.org/staff/ |title=Meet Our Staff |access-date=June 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011033841/http://www.nehirim.org/staff/ |archive-date=October 11, 2014 |url-status=dead}} Nehirim's Board of Directors included Corey Friedlander, Rabbi Joel Alter, Rabbi Julia Watts Belser, Rabbi David Dunn Bauer, Dr. Joel Kushner, and Dr. Alyssa Finn.{{cite web |url=http://www.nehirim.org/directors/ |title=Board of Directors |access-date=June 12, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401123914/http://www.nehirim.org/directors/ |archive-date=April 1, 2015}}

Nehirim means "lights" in Hebrew.{{cite web |url=https://www.jweekly.com/2009/04/23/retreat-a-guiding-light-for-lgbt-and-queer-jews/ |title=Retreat a Guiding Light for LGBT and queer Jews |publisher=JWeekly.com |date=April 23, 2009 |first=Stacey |last=Palevsky |access-date=June 12, 2020}} The name comes from the Hebrew word Zohar, referring to the lights of heaven and rainbow colors seen at sunset.{{cite web |url=http://jvoices.com/2007/02/20/sacred-sexuality-an-interview-with-jay-michaelson/ |title=Sacred Sexuality: An Interview With Jay Michaelson |first=Cole |last=Krawitz |publisher=JVoices.com |date=February 20, 2007 |access-date=June 12, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515223805/http://jvoices.com/2007/02/20/sacred-sexuality-an-interview-with-jay-michaelson/ |archive-date=May 15, 2019}} Its goal was to create and foster a more just and inclusive world based on the values of the Jewish tradition. Nehirim's primary programs were intensive weekend retreats and service programming promoting LGBT inclusion and equality.{{cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nehirim-retreat-gay-jews_n_4922241 |title=Nehirim Retreat Brings Gay Jews Together To Celebrate Faith And Sexuality |publisher=Huffington Post |date=March 8, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2020}} It was also a member of the Coalition for Liberty & Justice organized by Catholics for Choice and the National Council of Jewish Women{{cite web|url=https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/press-releases/more-than-40-coalition-for-liberty-justice-member-organizations-urge-supreme-court-to-reject-challenges-to-contraceptive-coverage/ |title=More than 40 Coalition for Liberty & Justice Member Organizations Urge Supreme Court to Reject Challenges to Contraceptive Coverage |publisher=Catholics for Choice |access-date=June 12, 2020}} and the National Religious Leadership Roundtable as part of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.{{cite web |url=http://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/pr_080709 |title=Pro-LGBT Jewish leaders respond to Tel Aviv attack |publisher=National Gay and Lesbian Task Force |access-date=June 12, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809161348/http://thetaskforce.org/press/releases/pr_080709 |archive-date=August 9, 2009}}

Nehirim retreats offered a means for LGBT Jews and their families to connect, learn, and grow together.{{cite web |url=https://awiderbridge.org/nehirim/ |title=Nehirim |date=19 May 2014 |publisher=A Wider Bridge |access-date=June 12, 2020}} Retreats have included East Coast gatherings at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut,{{cite web |url=http://isabellafreedman.org/email/biweeklies/20100216/email.html |first=Jay |last=Michaelson |title=The Gifts of Difference |publisher=Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center |access-date=June 12, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094851/http://isabellafreedman.org/email/biweeklies/20100216/email.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016}} a transgender gathering at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California,{{cite web |url=https://forward.com/news/165708/transgender-jews-seek-place-at-table/?p=all#ixzz2yVUXz0fI |title=Transgender Jews Seek Place at Table |publisher=Jewish Daily Forward |date=November 14, 2012 |first=Chanan |last=Tigay |access-date=June 12, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.jweekly.com/2012/10/19/gathering-of-the-transgender-tribe-set-for-berkeley/ |title=Gathering of the transgender tribe set for Berkeley |publisher=JWeekly.com |first=Rebecca Rosen |last=Lum |date=October 19, 2012 |access-date=June 12, 2020}} student retreats at Boston University,{{cite web |url=http://www.rutgershillel.org/nehirim-the-experience-of-a-lifetime-by-liz-binstein-17 |title=Nehirim: The Experience of a Lifetime |first=Liz |last=Binstein |date=February 25, 2014 |publisher=Rutgers Hillel |access-date=June 12, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301070958/http://www.rutgershillel.org/nehirim-the-experience-of-a-lifetime-by-liz-binstein-17/ |archive-date=2014-03-01}}{{cite web |url=https://www.keshetonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Jewish-Advocate-Jewish-Retreat-for-LGBTQ-Children.pdf |first=Ian |last=Thai |date=March 1, 2013 |title=Student Retreat Will Celebrate Local LGBTQ Community|publisher=The Jewish Advocate |access-date=June 12, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923001709/https://www.keshetonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Jewish-Advocate-Jewish-Retreat-for-LGBTQ-Children.pdf |archive-date=September 23, 2016}} West Coast gatherings at the Walker Creek Ranch in Petaluma, California,{{cite web |url=https://www.jweekly.com/2009/04/23/retreat-a-guiding-light-for-lgbt-and-queer-jews/ |title=Retreat a guiding light for LGBT and queer Jews |publisher=JWeekly.com |date=April 23, 2009 |first=Stacey |last=Palevsky |access-date=June 12, 2020}} men's summer camps at the Easton Mountain Retreat Center in upstate New York,{{cite web |url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/rabbi-david-dunn-bauer |title=So, a Rabbi Walks Into a Bar. It's Not the Beginning of a Joke, but of a Spiritual Journey. |publisher=Tablet |date=November 7, 2013 |first=Merissa Nathan |last=Gerson |access-date=June 12, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://eastonmountain2.wildapricot.org/programs?eventId=723472&EventViewMode=EventDetails |url-status=dead |title=Camp Nehirim |publisher=Easton Mountain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521183434/https://eastonmountain2.wildapricot.org/programs?eventId=723472&EventViewMode=EventDetails |archive-date=May 21, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2020}} queer Jewish weekends in New York City at the Jewish Community Center of Manhattan,{{cite web |url=https://newyork.gaycities.com/events/258875-nehirim-queer-shabbaton-for-lgbt-jews-friends-and |title=Nehirim Queer Shabbaton 2013 for LGBT Jews, Friends, and Allies |publisher=Gay Cities |access-date=June 12, 2020}} and women's retreats at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center.{{cite web |url=https://werepair.org/pride-interview-alyssa-finn-and-nehirim/ |title=Pride Interview: Alyssa Finn and Nehirim |first=Leah |last=Koenig |date=July 9, 2013 |publisher=Repair The World |access-date=June 12, 2020}}

Nehirim's first retreat for LGBT rabbis, rabbinic pastors, cantors, and students was held in 2014 in San Francisco.{{cite web |url=http://www.shalomlife.com/news/27391/nehirim-puts-on-first-ever-retreat-for-lgbt-rabbis-cantors-students-in-san-francisco/ |title=Nehirim Puts On First Ever Retreat for LGBT Rabbis, Cantors & Students in San Francisco |work=Shalom Life |access-date=June 12, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225143214/http://www.shalomlife.com/news/27391/nehirim-puts-on-first-ever-retreat-for-lgbt-rabbis-cantors-students-in-san-francisco/ |date=December 10, 2014 |first=Caitlin |last=Marceau |archive-date=December 25, 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://www.jweekly.com/2014/12/19/at-san-francisco-retreat-lgbt-clergy-survey-progress-from-closets-to-bimah/ |title=At San Francisco retreat, LGBT clergy survey progress from closets to bimah |first=Dimah |last=Himmelstein |access-date=June 12, 2020 |date=December 19, 2014}}

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{{LGBTQ topics and Judaism}}

Category:Organizations established in 2004

Category:Defunct LGBTQ organizations based in New York City

Category:LGBTQ Jewish organizations

Category:2004 in LGBTQ history

Category:2004 establishments in New York City

Category:Jewish organizations based in New York City

Category:2015 disestablishments in New York (state)

Category:Organizations disestablished in 2015

Category:Defunct Jewish organizations based in the United States