Join us for a lively discussion about an often-overlooked segment of the Jewish world: LGBTQ+ Mizrahi and Sephardic Jews. This session will provide an opportunity to begin exploring the diversity of Sephardic and Mizrahi histories and cultures. We will also discover the challenges that queer Jews from Sephardic and Mizrahi backgrounds have faced in finding spaces that fully embrace their multilayered identities. We will then zoom in on the creation and growth of the Sephardic Mizrahi Q Network, whose founding Executive Director will discuss how the grassroots movement has provided a vibrant, supportive, and much-needed community for individuals at the intersection of LGBTQ+ and Sephardic-Mizrahi Jewish life. All are welcome to attend.

Born in Uzbekistan, raised in Seattle, and currently based in New York City, Ruben Shimonov is a Jewish educator, community builder, and social entrepreneur focusing on Jewish diversity and pluralism. He previously served as Director of Community Engagement & Education at Queens College Hillel. Currently, Ruben is the Founding Executive Director of the Sephardic Mizrahi Q Network—a grassroots movement building a supportive and vibrant community for the LGBTQ+ Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews. The organization works to create a dynamic and much-needed communal platform for the intersection of LGBTQ+ and Sephardic-Mizrahi life—a platform that uplifts and celebrates the full, multilayered identities of queer Mizrahi and Sephardic Jews. He also serves as Vice-President of Education & Community Engagement on the Young Leadership Board of the American Sephardi Federation and as Director of Educational Experiences & Programming for the Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee. In 2018, Ruben was listed among The Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36” young Jewish community leaders and changemakers. Ruben has lectured extensively on the histories and cultures of various Sephardic and Mizrahi communities. Among his speaking engagements, Ruben has been invited to present at Limmud Seattle, Limmud NY and Limmud Festival in the U.K. He is also an alumnus of the COJECO Blueprint and Nahum Goldmann Fellowships for his work in Jewish social innovation.

Co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Durham-Chapel Hill, Judea Reform Congregation, Beth El Synagogue and Jewish Life at Duke.

RSVP here: https://jccfed.wufoo.com/forms/sephardic-mizrahi-lgbtq/