Debra Kolodny

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Debra Kolodny is a bisexual rights activist and congregational rabbi. They served in the past as Executive Director of Nehirim.[1][2]

Background[edit]

Kondny[3] came out as bisexual in 1984[4] and has continued to be open about their orientation in the context of rabbinic ministry.[5]

They edited the first anthology by bisexual people of faith, Blessed Bi Spirit (2000), to which they contributed "Hear, I Pray You, This Dream Which I Have Dreamed", about Jewish identity and bisexuality.[2][6]

Kolodny was the National Coordinator of BiNet USA for five years and facilitator of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's National Religious Leadership Roundtable from 1998 until 2004.[7][8] Kolodny was also interviewed by several major news outlets for stories on bisexuality, such as the Philadelphia Inquirer[citation needed] and the Toronto Globe and Mail.[7]

Kolodny joined Pnai Or, Portland's Jewish Renewal congregation, as its rabbi in September 2011[citation needed]. Before moving to Portland, they served for 9 years as the executive director of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. Kolodny also served the northern Virginia community of Shoreshim for four years, was a lay leader at Fabrangen in Washington, D.C., for 13 years and was the founder and spiritual leader of the Pnai HaSadeh learning minyan for five years. In March 2013 Kolodny began to split their time between P'nai Or and Nehirim, a national community of LGBT Jews, families, and allies, where Kolodny serves as Executive Director.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "P'nai Or hires new rabbi". The Jewish Review. Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  2. ^ a b Keller, Rosemary Skinner; Ruether, Rosemary Radford; Cantlon, Marie (2006). Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America: Women and religion ... - Google Books. ISBN 0253346851. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  3. ^ "About".
  4. ^ "Nehirim Puts On First Ever Retreat for LGBT Rabbis, Cantors & Students in San Francisco". Shalom Life. Archived from the original on 2014-12-25.
  5. ^ "Pastoral / Religious - Reverends, Rabbis, Priestesses, Pastoral Counselors..." Bisexuality-Aware Professionals Directory. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  6. ^ Blessed bi spirit : bisexual people of faith. Kolodny, Debra R. New York: Continuum. 2000. ISBN 0826412319. OCLC 43050030.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ^ a b "Debra Kolodny • Profile • LGBT-RAN". Lgbtran.org. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  8. ^ "BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER ACTIVISTS CALL FOR UNITY AND INCLUSION AS NEW CLINTON TERM KICKS OFF". Qrd.org. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  9. ^ "Meet Our Staff". Nehirim. Archived from the original on 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2013-10-14.