Reuben Zellman is an American teacher, author, rabbi, and musician. He became the first openly transgender person accepted to the Reform Jewish seminary Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2003.[2][3][4]
Reuben Zellman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1978 or 1979 (age 44–45)[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion San Francisco State University |
| Occupation(s) | Rabbi Musician |
| Employer(s) | San Francisco State University San Francisco Community Music Center |
Education edit
Zellman received his B.A. in Linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley. He received his master's degree in Hebrew literature from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles.[5][6] He was ordained as a rabbi by the seminary in 2010.[7][8][9] He received a master's in choral conducting from San Francisco State University.[5][6]
Career edit
From 2010 to 2018, Zellman served as the assistant rabbi and music director at Congregation Beth El in Berkeley, California.[9][10][11] He is a lecturer in the music department of San Francisco State University, where he directs the Treble Singers, formerly known as the Women's Chorus.[1][5][6] Zellman also directs the New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus, a chorus for transgender, intersex, and genderqueer singers, at the Community Music Center in San Francisco.[1][6][12][13] He sings as a countertenor in the Choir of Men and Boys at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco.[6]
Zellman writes and teaches about transgender issues and Judaism.[5][14] He has been involved with transgender activism since 1999, the year he transitioned.[2][14]
Personal life edit
Zellman was born and raised in California, and has lived mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1996.[6] Zellman is intersex and identifies as neither male nor female.[15] In 1999 he adopted he/his pronouns and a masculine gender expression, as he experienced harassment and felt it was "very dangerous" to have a non-binary presentation at that time.[15]
See also edit
- Elliot Kukla, first openly transgender person ordained by Reform Judaism (2006)
References edit
- ^ a b c Madison, Alex (August 1, 2018). "Music center launches genderqueer chorus". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ a b Berkofsky, Joe (2003-03-11). "HUC admits transgendered pupil". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
- ^ "Reform Devises Sex-Change Blessings –". Forward.com. 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ^ Lewis, Justin Jaron (2009). Imagining Holiness: Classic Hasidic Tales in Modern Times. McGill-Queen's Press. ISBN 9780773535190. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ^ a b c d "Reuben Zellman". School of Music. San Francisco State University. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Reuben Zellman". San Francisco Community Music Center. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ Spence, Rebecca (2008-12-31). "Transgender Jews Now Out of Closet, Seeking Communal Recognition –". Forward.com. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ^ "The Reform Movement on LGBT Issues". Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
- ^ a b "Rabbi Zellman Farewell Shabbat". Congregation Beth El. Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ "Who We Are". TransTorah. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ^ "The early shift, Bimah-bound, A transformative experience | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California". J. Jweekly.com. 2010-06-03. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ^ "New Voices choir invites transgender singers". San Francisco Examiner. July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ Freymann, Jeffrey (November 19, 2018). "New Voices Bay Area Makes its Debut". KDFC. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
- ^ a b "About the IJSO › Staff". Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ^ a b Gender Spectrum (August 1, 2018). "Interview with Rabbi Rueben [sic] Zellman". Retrieved October 7, 2018 – via YouTube.