Gramoo's candlesticks
I love it when I cross off items on the “Life To Do List” without even trying. This occurs when life just happens to coincide with what I’d like to be doing with my time and energy. Is there a better way for life to unfurl, really?
This past Friday night, I was the host of this month’s “JQ Leadership Shabbat.” JQ International (www.jqish.org) is an organization that brings together the Queer Jewish community and it’s allies. Full of young, professional, and enthusiastic Jewish leaders, this group has become a home away from home for me. It’s really the only place where I comfortably combine two existing communities.
Once a month, the “movers and shakers” of the organization get together and have a special Shabbat dinner. Pot-luck style, guests bring home-made (or well-disguised store bought food) dishes. We gather together over wine, candlelight, and great company to shmooze and talk about ways that we can make an impact.
The Shabbat Guests in my living room
The discussion at this Shabbat dinner was how we can provide opportunities for support to the growing number of straight allies who wish to work with the Jewish Queer community. We are lucky enough to have a list of organizations and people who are interested in supporting us, but don’t know how. The discussion over kosher meatballs and roasted asparagus was a brainstorm of answers to the question “How can we help you?”
The major ideas that we zeroed in on were:
1. Train rabbis and other faith leaders about our issues in order to diversify their understanding of our community
2. Provide safe-school training to educators in order to provide a supportive and accepting environment for queer youth
3. Encourage the continued research of our community so that more is known, resources can be better distributed, and funding can acquired
Beyond the amazing conversation, it was so nice to have an event like this take place in my home. The immediate benefits were that I scrubbed my apartment like it’s never been cleaned before. My roommate even commented, “We should have these events more often!” when seeing me on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor.
I also felt very connected to my Gramoo (may she rest in peace). It was upon her table that we sat. It was her hand-made candle holders (pictured) which provided the base for our Sabbath light. It was her heritage and religion which placed me amongst such an amazingly talented group.
The whole experience was a true blessing. And I “accidentally” get to cross off another item from the list: #41- Host a Shabbat Dinner Potluck. Not a bad night!
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Janelle K. Eagle is infamous for always having her hands tied up in multiple projects simultaneously. She's directed a lot of theater, worked on some films, and raised lots of money for non-profits. She travels all the time and loves to share her videos, photography and writing via this blog. 
