Jewrotica, “a relationship and sex ed resource for the Jewish community,” has released its annual “Sexiest Rabbis” list, and two of the 10 honorees are lesbian moms.
Clearly, the authors of Jewrotica are defining “sexy” to mean more than just physical attractiveness. Rabbi Jill Hammer, Ph.D., made the list for being “an embodiment of sensuality and stimulation. Her written words and teachings stimulate the mind, body and soul, engaging one on a journey to the sacred feminine.” Hammer is also the Director of Spiritual Education at the Academy for Jewish Religion, a pluralistic rabbinical and cantorial seminary in Yonkers, New York. She and her wife Shoshana Jedwab live in Manhattan and have one daughter.
Rabbi Benay Lappe, a single mom, is founder and Rosh Yeshiva of SVARA, “a traditionally radical yeshiva dedicated to the serious study of Talmud and committed to the Queer experience.” Jewrotica notes that “A former student describes her as a ‘total bad-ass.'”
Jewrotica says their list is meant to be “exceedingly respectful” but also “fun and playful.” I mention it here because I think it’s always good to remind ourselves of our wide range of human possibilities. We can be lesbians, and parents, and people of faith, and sexy, or combinations thereof.
Other queer folks on the list (but not, to the best of my knowledge, parents) is Rabbi David Dunn Bauer, Director for Social Action Programming at Congregation Beth Simchat Torah of New York City, the largest LGBT congregation in the world (whose head rabbi, Sharon Kleinbaum, is also a lesbian mom).
I was also pleased to see that several of the not-obviously LGBT rabbis on the list (and in Jewrotica’s longer People’s Choice section) mention their commitment to LGBT inclusion and equality.
Mazel tov to all!
[Updated to include Rabbi Lappe, who I didn’t initially realize was a parent.]
Rabbi Lappe is a single mom!
Thanks for the info! I’ll update the post!