Young Jewish LGBTQ professionals unite

Becca Alexander and Jonathan Branfman were taking a walk one day over the summer, talking about how great it would be if there were an organization for young LGBTQ Jews.

“These are both minority identities, and it can be extra challenging to find a space where both are treated as normal at the same time,” said Branfman, a 29-yearold doctoral student at Ohio State University who met Alexander in his graduate program. “There are many places in Columbus where gay people are welcome, but straight is the default.”

Then, the two realized they could create an organization, and a space, just for Jewish lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer young professionals.

“There are lots of gay spaces where people are probably fine with you being Jewish, but where you might still have to explain what Shabbat is or why you’re not eating pork,” Branfman said “It can be very energizing to be in a space where your whole self is already understood and treated as normal, and you don’t have to worry about doing the work of explaining yourself or worry.”

That’s how Keshet Columbus, an organization for young LGBTQ Jews in Columbus, was created. Keshet is Hebrew for rainbow, but the group isn’t affiliated with any other organization using the Keshet name.

Alexander, a 27-year-old victim advocate in the city prosecutor’s office, and Branfman started by hosting a Shabbat potluck in June that drew about 15 people who had seen the group’s posts on social media and its newsletters for area synagogues.

“I was overwhelmed by the response,” Alexander said. “There seemed to be a lot of energy around having this space.”

The group now meets monthly for Shabbat dinners in an art studio on the North Side called It Looks Like It’s Open, and Alexander hopes to host more events and potentially partner with other groups soon. The next potluck will be Nov. 16.

About 2 percent of LGBT Americans identify as Jewish, according to a 2017 study by the Public Religion Research Institute.

The group is open to Jews of all levels of observation, and its activities aren’t associated with any specific branch of Judaism, Alexander said.

Eliana Dobres, 22, of the University District, saw a Facebook post about the group’s first potluck in June and thought it sounded perfect for her.

“I’m involved in the Jewish community and LGBT community, but it would be nice to be in a space that combines both,” Dobres said. “It was nice; I didn’t feel like the odd one out in being Jewish or LGBT. I had at least two things in common with everyone.”

Alexander has already felt the impact of bringing people together through Keshet.

“Even knowing there’s these people out in Columbus,” she said of other LGBTQ Jews. “It already feels like it’s bringing these communities together in a way that feels like Columbus is safe for me.”