Letter from Rabbi Mangold

Shalom Temple Emanu-El,

As we continue building our relationship, I would like to share with you that from time to time, I will be communicating  my perspective with you on various current events and challenges that arise in our community and in our world. 

I acknowledge that our congregation is made up of individuals with their own ideas, experiences, and beliefs. I also acknowledge that there are members of our community who believe strongly that political conversations do not belong at our temple or in a rabbi’s message or sermon. 

While I believe temple is a sanctuary where we can celebrate our diverse values, I also believe temple is a sacred space that propels us toward our moral obligations to protect the vulnerable, to uplift the holiness of every individual, and to fight against injustice. When the health and dignity of our temple members as well as the broader community is at stake, our tradition calls on us to raise our voices. We must not be silent.    

I write to you in response to a recent policy enacted at the federal level Executive Order 14166, titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” 

Limiting the recognition of gender to a strict binary: male and female, defined solely by biological sex assigned at birth, this policy jeopardizes the dignity and rights of millions of Americans who are transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or any other gender outside of the enforced binary. 

Under this policy, transgender and nonbinary individuals will face barriers to accessing healthcare, legal documentation, and protections against discrimination in employment, housing, and education. 

How dangerous are the consequences of erasing people’s identities, denying their life experiences, targeting them for being their authentic selves. Not only does this policy deeply impact members of our community as well as our own friends and family members, it goes against many of our Jewish beliefs and values. For millennia, Judaism has recognized multiple genders. In our creation narrative, Torah teaches that God created the first human being as male and female, non-binary. Rabbinic sages described at least six genders as part of the human condition created by the Divine. The Mishna and Talmud discuss categories beyond male and female. 

One of the core beliefs of Jewish tradition is that every individual is made B’tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image. Every individual should be treated with dignity, honor, and respect. Our Jewish values inspire us to protect and cherish the LGBTQ+ community by raising our voices against discrimination. No matter where we stand politically, we must find the courage to raise our voices for the sake of justice, as we affirm the holiness of every human being.

I pray that our lovingkindness, compassion, and genuine concern for all of humanity will help us navigate this challenging time. I pray that we will be inspired to engage in courageous conversations, as we raise our voices and do the holy work of tikkun olam, repairing the brokenness around us. 

As always, I am here to support you. Whatever your perspective on these significant issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for a phone call or a meeting to discuss this topic or to ask for any help or support. 

L’shalom,

Rabbi Jenn Mangold