Shivyon

TBB is proud to be in partnership with Keshet to make our synagogue more actively and intentionally inclusive of LGBTQ+ people through Shivyon: Keshet's Equality Project, a year-long, cohort-based project of training, consultation, and learning.

TBB's Shivyon Team

As seen at the March 26, 2025 Opening Day of Learning (l-r in below photo):

• Jodi Nemser-Abrahams (she/her), Families Committee Chair
• Gabi Toth (she/her)
• Erica Smiley (she/her)
• Laurie Wolfe (she/elle/ella)
• Brian Wilson (he/they), TBB Board Member
• Ember Sawady (she/her), TBB Board Member

You can get in touch with Shivyon by email at shivyon@templebnaibrith.org.

Announcing TBB's participation in Keshet's
Shivyon LGBTQ+ Equality Project

March 25, 2025

We are thrilled to announce that TBB is about to embark on a year-long project with Keshet to make the synagogue more actively and intentionally inclusive of LGBTQ+ people. This work is needed now more than ever; it's our responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure that TBB is a space where LGBTQ+ people are affirmed, seen, valued, and feel unconditional belonging and safety.   

Through Keshet’s Shivyon Project, we will develop an Action Plan for LGBTQ+ inclusion at TBB and then receive coaching to support us as we implement this plan over the coming year. We have already completed an Institutional Self-Assessment to evaluate what our baseline is currently. This Wednesday, March 26, we will be sending our Shivyon team of six TBB community members to the Opening Day of Learning as the project officially kicks off.

TBB’s Shivyon team includes people of different identities, ages, and length of time at TBB. We proudly announce the team members (alphabetical by first name):

Brian Wilson (he/they), TBB Board Member
Ember Sawady (she/her)
Erica Smiley (she/her)
Gabi Toth (she/her)
Jodi Nemser-Abrahams (she/her)
Laurie Wolfe (she/elle/ella)

To learn more about the project, read about the four phases of Shivyon.

If you're not familiar with Keshet, it is a truly amazing organization that has done outstanding and transformative work in the Jewish community. Keshet is the one behind our Safe Zone stickers and our LGBTQ+ Jewish Heroes posters at the synagogue!

Sincerely,
Mark Niedergang, TBB President
Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz, Religious Leader