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Transgender Jews

Yona Speidel, the television writer and producer formerly known as Our Lady J. (Courtesy of Yona Speidel via JTA)
July 3, 2026, 4:36 pm
The warmth of community, the heat of hostility: Yona Speidel’s Jewish journey
Prominent transgender Emmy-nominated television writer and producer formerly known as Our Lady J speaks about finding her place in Judaism, even as antisemitism followed her in
By Grace Gilson
Carrie Soloway (Screenshot via Instagram via JTA)
December 3, 2025, 10:50 pm
Carrie Soloway, inspiration for trans Jewish protagonist of ‘Transparent,’ dies at 88
Born in London in 1937, Soloway lived most of her life in Chicago and came out to her children in 2012, becoming a ‘reluctant icon’ to the trans community
By Andrew Lapin
A fictional Jewish community center recreated on the set of "A Transparent Musical." (Jacob Gurvis via JTA)
July 12, 2023, 1:16 pm
‘Transparent’ musical to launch on Broadway next year
Onstage adaption of hit TV series about Jewish parent coming out as a transgender woman is set against fictional Jewish community center background
By jacob gurvis
From left to right: Jimmy Ray Bennett, Adina Verson and Samora la Perdida at rehearsal for 'A Transparent Musical.' (Reza Allah-Bakhshi/Capture Imaging via JTA)
May 23, 2023, 1:38 am
An on-stage ‘Transparent’ musical looks to transcend the Amazon show’s rocky ending
Cast is mostly transgender or nonbinary performers reflecting plot about Jewish family with transitioning parent in adaptation by creators of original series
By Shira Li Bartov
Scholars at Svara, a queer yeshiva based in Chicago, have served the Jewish LGBTQ community for two decades and are now creating the first written set of Jewish law by and for trans Jews. (Jess Benjamin/via JTA)
March 27, 2023, 5:33 am
Queer yeshiva publishes first set of Jewish legal opinions by and for trans Jews
Among the topics addressed are family purity and when to use a ritual bath, and how a trans man converting to Judaism should be ‘circumcised’
By Jackie Hajdenberg
Yael Rashlin (R) a transgender woman, poses for a photo with her partner Hadar and and their children Yarden and Hillel, at their home in the town of Tzur Hadassah in central Israel, on December 1, 2022. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
February 23, 2023, 1:35 pm
Israel’s transgender Jews struggle in Orthodox circles
New hardline government is raising disquiet among LGBTQ people, with subject of transgenderism already taboo for much of the religious community
By Delphine Matthieussent
Jewish leaders from across Missouri came to Jefferson City to testify and lobby against various bills that would restrict the rights of trans people. (Courtesy of Daniel Bogard via JTA)
February 10, 2023, 2:09 am
Missouri Jewish leaders advocate for trans rights at state legislature
Activists protest laws that would limit options for transgender children and censor discussion in schools, citing biblical adage that all humans are created in God’s image
By Jackie Hajdenberg
Rachel Schwartz stands in front of a piece of graffiti that plays on the commandment to wear tzitzit, written in the Hebrew feminine. (Courtesy of Rachel Schwartz/JTA)
January 8, 2023, 3:47 pm
Embracing their place on ‘the fringes,’ queer artists reimagine Jewish ritual garb
Now with garments on sale online, the Tzitzit Project is an art initiative founded to create tzitzit and prayer shawls for a variety of bodies, genders and religious denominations
By Jackie Hajdenberg
Illustrative: A poster advertises an LGBTQ event at Yeshiva University, December 15, 2020. (Courtesy of Yeshiva University student organizers)
September 21, 2022, 2:24 pm
Daily Briefing Sept 21: Yeshiva U v. YU Pride Alliance; update on Poland reparations
Luke Tress reports from NY on secular studies in Jewish day schools; Diaspora correspondent Judah Ari Gross with an unusual TV debate
By ToI Staff
Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine in uniform as an admiral, in Washington DC on the day of her swearing-in, October 29, 2021. (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health via JTA)
July 6, 2022, 12:40 pm
Biden’s Jewish transgender deputy health secretary decries ‘bullying,’ lauds Israel
Speaking at an Israeli embassy Pride event, Rachel Levine denounces attacks on trans people and the insertion of politics into what should be a private medical matter
By Ron Kampeas
K.M. DiColandrea, who goes by DiCo, reads from the Torah at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn. (Courtesy of DiColandrea/ via JTA)
May 13, 2022, 3:43 am
$1.2 million raised for ex-rabbinical student’s nonprofit after Humans of NY story
K.M. DiColandrea’s story of weathering a family illness, coming out as trans and converting to Judaism strikes a chord, and readers donate to his grassroots student debate league
By PHILISSA CRAMER
Abby Chava Stein, an American transgender activist, relaxes on the Resort Deck of Celebrity Apex. (Photographed by Annie Leibovitz for Celebrity Cruises' All Inclusive Photo Project/via JTA)
April 5, 2022, 9:41 pm
Ex-Hasidic trans activist gets dream photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz
Jewish author/rabbi Abby Stein tapped by Celebrity Cruises for campaign illustrating diversity of people who love to travel
By Jackie Hajdenberg
The Goldenblatt family gathers with Rabbi Jen, played by Hari Nef, on the finale of HBO's "Sex and the City" reboot. (Screen capture via JTA)
February 4, 2022, 12:41 am
A ‘they mitzvah’ challenges Jewish traditions on HBO’s ‘And Just Like That’ finale
‘Sex and the City’ reboot features gender-neutral coming-of-age ritual, with rainbow kippahs and transgender rabbi, in line with how many communities have reframed the rite
By PHILISSA CRAMER
'God knows that if I as a teenager had access to this, it would have been inordinately helpful and beneficial to me in my journey. I may have even come out 20 years ago, or 30 years ago,' Rosen said. (Courtesy Rosen and Branfman/ via JTA)
January 29, 2022, 4:30 am
Ex-Hasid comes out as trans while translating kids’ book on sexuality into Yiddish
Lili Rosen consulted and acted in productions such as ‘Unorthodox.’ She says that if she’d had access to a guide like ‘You Be You,’ she may have transitioned decades ago
By Shira Hanau
Dr. Rachel Levine is sworn in as an admiral in the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps on October 19, 2021. (Screen capture/YouTube)
October 20, 2021, 7:10 pm
Jewish doctor becomes most senior transgender person in US uniformed services
Rachel Levine sworn in as admiral in US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, making her also the first known four-star transgender officer in military’s history
By Ron Kampeas
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