Listen & Be Heard - Sunday, February 11, 2024 @ 1-4PM at Or Shalom Synagogue

Join your fellow Jewish queers, transfolk and enbys in an intentional space for sharing and listening to each other's perspectives on the Palestine/Israel conflict, including recent events in Gaza. Each person will be invited to share their experiences and views on a topic that can be difficult to discuss, and together we will open our hearts and listen to each other with presence and chasadim, loving kindness.

All perspectives are welcome. The goal of this gathering is to listen to each other instead of debate, and build our capacity as a community to create an intentional, supportive, safe, and healing space for our diverse voices to be heard. The session will be led by Alycia Fridkin, an experienced facilitator on equity issues and a member of the Vancouver queer Jewish community, and co-facilitated by Jewish therapist, Anat Kelerstein, who will be providing extra support to the group. We look forward to seeing you there.

Registration is free and required in advance. Light vegetarian food and refreshments will be provided. Click here to register.

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A message from your host and co-host:

We believe in the importance of safe spaces for people to process the emotional complexities, heartbreak, and fears associated with the Israel-Palestine conflict. We believe it is important for each of us to feel heard and to listen to others. Throughout the session, we will be encouraging participants to speak from the heart and share their personal experiences of what it has been like navigating this time. We will be providing useful tools and guidance for this along the way and extra support as needed.

We hope that by hearing from each other with open hearts, we can reduce some of the suffering and isolation that many in our community are experiencing, and increase our capacity to move forward in a compassionate and caring way. We encourage all participants to hold these intentions in mind during the event. We appreciate your willingness to find connection in the midst of disconnection. To maximize comfort, please wear comfortable clothing, bring a tush pillow, perhaps even a pair of slippers and a cozy blanket.

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This is the first event in our JQT Mental Health Support Series, which was developed in partnership with JFS Vancouver, following the Twice Blessed 2.0: The Jewish LGBTQ2SIA+ Initiative’s community needs assessment, which identified a critical service gap: Call to Action #6 - Develop and provide funding for LGBTQ2SIA+ friendly Jewish mental health support.

This gathering also addresses: Call to Action #12 - Be open to those who have a spectrum of opinion on Israel/Palestine.

For the most up-to-date details on this series, please visit: https://www.jqtvancouver.ca/jqt-mental-health

Donation - If you are in a position to make a financial contribution towards the JQT Mental Health Support Series, visit the JFS Vancouver donation page and select the "JQT Mental Health" as your designated program. Your tax receipt will be sent to the provided email address.

Covid policy - JQT strictly follows the recommendations of Vancouver Coastal Health and makes decisions accordingly. Mask wearing is optional, but encouraged in group settings and to protect those in our circles who are immunocompromised.

Accessibility info - Programming will take place in the sanctuary of Or Shalom Synagogue, located at 10th Ave and Fraser St. There are stairs to the main entrance off of 10th Ave. There is wheelchair accessibility around the outside of the building off of Fraser. If you need assistance, please email info@jqtvancouver.ca well in advance! There is an all genders washroom upstairs and an accessible washroom downstairs, which can be accessed via stairs inside the building or outside off of 10th Ave.

MEET YOUR HOST & CO-HOST

Alycia Fridkin is an equity and anti-racism consultant who supports individuals and organizations to address inequities in health care and other sectors. She has facilitated engagement sessions and workshops on systemic racism, whiteness and white fragility, meaningful involvement, and stigmatized topics such as substance use and decriminalization. Her training includes a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Masters in Health Science, and she is currently completing a certification program in Transformational Coaching. Issues related to Jewish people and equity such as the Palestine/Israel conflict are important to her, and she is interested in initiatives that strive to make communities safer and fairer. Alycia is a queer Jewish White settler living in Vancouver, BC on the unceded homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples.

Anat Kelerstein is a registered social worker and clinical counselor in Vancouver, on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Anat has worked in a variety of mental health and substance use settings supporting people who struggle with mental illness, substance use, trauma, and various forms of oppression. She is passionate about providing anti-oppressive and trauma-informed care. Since October 7th, Anat has felt compelled to use her skills as a therapist to provide support to those who have been affected by the Israel-Palestine conflict. She is looking forward to continuing that work through JQT and helping to build compassionate spaces for Jewish Queer and Trans people to feel heard, find connection and support. You can find more information about Anat on her website: www.anatkelerstein.com