Transkeit ~ The Book Launch
I’m thrilled to announce the publication of the book, Liberating Gender for Jews and Allies: The Wisdom of Transkeit (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2022). https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-8441-9
The co-editors are Rabbi Jane Rachel Litman and Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw. They work at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion at at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. Rabbi Jane Rachel Litman is the Coordinator of the CLGS Jewish Roundtable, and Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw ia rhw Coordinator of the CLGS Transgender Roundtable.
In November 2016, I presented on supporting trans Jews and our psychological health at this amazing conference in Northern California called TransKeit: Affirming Gender Diversity for Jews and Allies.
After the conference, there was talk of publishing our conference presentations. I was thrilled! After working with one of the fantastic two editors, Rabbi Jane Rachel Litman, my piece was included in this wonderful book, Liberating Gender for Jews and Allies: The Wisdom of Transkeit (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2022).
And it’s out.
The book I mean. I’ve been out for years! :) The book was published, let loose into the world a week or so ago and I can’t quite believe it!
Please check out the book and if you are an individual and not an institution, you are welcome to email me for a discount code. You must buy the book directly from the publisher. https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-8441-9
The other authors are people I’ve long admired who have something to say about gender and Judaism. I feel so lucky to be one of the contributing authors. It’s been a dream of mine since I can remember to write and have that work be published.
This is a dream come true.
There’s an upcoming event that is happening in mid-September 2022 that I’d love to invite you to. It’s called,
Out of the Closet and Into the Libraries:
Book Launch for Liberating Gender for Jews and Allies: The Wisdom of Transkeit
It is on Sunday, September 18th 2022 at 6pm. I’ll be reading from my chapter, “Trans Jewish Cultural Competency in Psychotherapy.” Other wonderful contributing authors who will be presenting include
Rabbi Fern Feldman: “Gender Fluidity, the Cherubim, and the Divine Presence”
Rabbi Susan Goldberg: “Transparent Rabbi: An Evolving”
Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw: “A Conversation with Kate Bornstein”
Zebulon Hurst: “In/Difference: Snapshots of Belonging”
Rabbi Irwin Keller: “A Postcard from the Effeminati”
Rabbi Rona Matlow: “Gender and Tanakh: Exploring Rabbinic Interpretations of Gender and Sex in the Hebrew Bible”
Martin Rawlings-Fein: “Choosing to be Chosen: A Film Showing the Striking Similarities between Conversion and Transition”
If you are interested in attending, please register at https://bit.ly/CLGS-Transkeit
I remember when I was told that studying trans Jews was a laughable dissertation topic. I got so much negative feedback from wanting to study, and later work with trans Jews. It is absolutely an honor to be a part of this tome and an honor to be able to be a psychologist who gets to work with trans Jews. I hope to see you at the Book Launch or if not, that you pick up this book from the publisher and let them know that trans Jewish mental health and wellbeing and gender exploration from Jewish perspectives are important topics to many.As always, I love teaching on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of trans Jews and am available for consultation, teaching, and providing therapeutic services (to those who live in California, USA). To set up a 15 minute consultation appointment and see how we can best work together, please contact me through my webpage at www.wavespsych.com/doctorabi I look forward to connecting with you.
In excitement, solidarity, and general whoo-hooo-ness (that’s a word, right?),
Dr. Abigail FR Weissman (they/she)
Founder, Psychologist, Supervisor
Waves, A Psychological Corporation