Exploring Judaism LGBTQ+ Writers Fellowship 2026

Exploring Judaism Writers Fellowship Cohort 2: 2026

Exploring Judaism, the digital home of Conservative/Masorti Judaism, and our Movement’s Center for Human Dignity & Public Policy are partnering to launch

a paid, four-month, cohort-based LGBTQ+ Writers Fellowship for Conservative/traditional egalitarian LGBTQ+ writers (18+) to cultivate their professional voice, expand their writing portfolio and network, and share Torah with a broad audience.

Who are the instructors?

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover

Exploring Judaism
Executive Editor

Emily Jaeger

Director, Center for Human Dignity & Public Policy Conservative/Masorti Movement

Kimberly McElhatten

Open Roads
Writing and Coaching

Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal

CEO, Rabbinical Assembly and USCJ

Develop your voice. Publish meaningful Torah. Build lasting community and professional networks.

Earn a $1,000 stipend upon completion of responsibilities
Learn internet writing from experienced editors and digital media experts
Participate in writing workshops & one-on-one mentorship with editorial coaches
Receive hands-on guidance in crafting the perfect pitch
Study with leading voices in LGBTQ+ Torah, including Dr. Noam Sienna, the author of A Rainbow Thread
Build community with fellow LGBTQ+ Jewish writers and thinkers
Craft a strong writing portfolio — and an ongoing relationship with Exploring Judaism

Join us to create the Jewish internet you want to see!

Applications open now through February 15.

See the work done in previous fellowships below!

Details:

March–June | Two meetings per month
5 published pieces | 3 during the fellowship, 2 over the following summer, 1 in hevruta
$1,000 stipend

Questions? Reach out to our managing editor Shoshana.

Read Previous Fellows' Posts:

Balancing Torah Study and Worldly Engagement Can it work

You can find a harmonious existence where Torah study enriches your engagement with the world and the world inspires your spiritual growth.

How do I Prepare for Shabbat Without Stressing Out?

We can prepare and still find ourselves scrambling before Shabbat. With a reframe, we can treat it as a rich part of our Shabbat experience.

How to Light Shabbat Candles: A Beginner’s Guide

Lighting Shabbat candles is one of our most beautiful traditions. Go grab your candles, here's how to light Shabbat candles step by step.

How to Manage Distractions During the Amidah

Getting distracted during the Amidah and prayer is normal. But what do I do about it? There are a number of approaches that might work.

Mordecai, Purim, and queerness come to invite all of us, queer or not, to work towards and reap the rewards of a free world.

Educational Milestones are Jewish Moments

Celebrating educational milestones as Jewish moments, we pass on a legacy, linking their achievements to generations past and future.

Action and Responsibility: The Lessons of Noah

Our test is not just about personal survival or individual righteousness — it's about collective action and shared responsibility.

Our tradition mandates we pray three times a day, but why? There are 2 theories. But, we might ask: What does it mean to pray?

Wake up with Gratitude to Cultivate Happiness

Engaging in gratitude every morning for being alive is a religious habit that can contribute to a healthier and happy life.

What to Do and What to Expect at a Shiva

The purpose of the shiva is to comfort the bereaved individual or family, there are a few basic steps for when you attend one.

I was just offered an Aliyah to the Torah: What do I do?

What do I do when I'm offered an aliyah to the Torah? What is it? This special honor gives us a front row seat at ...

It is custom to have two challot at the Shabbat meal. Where does this tradition come from? Here are a few answers to that question.

Prayer is one of the most common and misunderstood parts of Jewish life. Here are five myths about Jewish prayer.

Simply, something appropriate for a religious service. But, getting to know the community will help you understand what feels right.

Honoring and Involving Friends and Family in Your Jewish Wedding

Here are some recommendations on how (and when) to involve and include your loved ones in your Jewish wedding.

Why and How We Should Play Games on Shabbat

It isn't just about playing games. They are the threads that weave a family's Shabbat tapestry, creating precious memories.

Our world holds a range of challenges for us. At the heart of how we meet those challenges is the call to brotherhood.

Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart and the Nature of Free Will

Free will gives us a lot of responsibility. But the sages teach we're still able to make mistakes and the teshuvah to repair them.

The Eight Steps to Learn to Lead a Prayer Service

Interested in leading services for your community? This guide will help you, step by step, take on this amazing communal role.

Finding Meaning in Communal Prayer Without Hebrew Fluency

Being in community, singing with heart, by listening to the prayers, or by intending to connect with G-d are ways to lift up our experience.

The Shema is the twice-daily renewal of our vows, to focus on what matters in the world: love, relationship, community and the Holy.

Food in the Talmud A Window Into a Distant Past

Food is a way to discover layers of knowledge, connect to an ancient memory, and an invitation to revisit the lives of our distant ancestors.

Rest is the Best: Why Resting on Shabbat Matters

Shabbat isn’t about restrictions,it’s about freedom. A chance to step away from the noise and reconnect with yourself, loved ones, and G-d.

Ketubah might be the most important contract of all. The document that guards the most important treasure in the world - our marriage.

Moving House A Recurring Event of Jewish Life

No matter if we're moving two blocks away or crossing an ocean, with only our mezuzah reminds us who we are and how to continue ...

Help! I’m Bored During the Torah Service!

Take charge of your Jewish learning and the Torah service can become an opportunity to know and think Jewishly more today than yesterday.

What’s the deal with electricity on Shabbat?

Why is electricity such a complicated issue when it comes to Shabbat? What are the considerations? How can I learn more about it?

What to expect when going to a B-Mitzvah?

A B-Mitzvah is the Jewish celebration and ritual of coming of age, and it is celebrated at about the age of 13. Here's what you ...

Confronting the Myth of Consent in Circumcision: Five Perspectives

We are charged with passing the Torah to the next generation and teaching them to value it. Circumcision is a powerful symbol of that.

If Jews Like It, They Put a Ring On It On When Jews Get Engaged

Getting engaged, like other lifecycle events in Judaism, offers us a chance to opt-in to this wonderful and rewarding project we call Judaism

How to Get the Get (A Jewish Divorce) and Why It Matters

The Get or “decree of divorce,” plays a fundamental role in the Jewish life cycle of a couple whose marriage has come to an end ...

This portion reveals the intricate layers of psychological conflicts, while revealing the love, loyalty, and trust that exist amongst us.

Am I Poor of Deeds? Yom Kippur Sermon 5785

In a challenging year, the statement in the prayer Hineni haunts me: "Here am I, poor of deeds." But is this true? Am I poor ...

Balancing Work and Faith: The Dilemma of Modern Jewish Life

Through thoughtful choices, self-reflection, and a commitment to growth, we can balance our professional obligations and spiritual practices.

The Jewish Housewarming: Celebrating Your Hanukat HaBayit

Remember that your home is not just a place to live but a sanctuary for your soul, a hub for community, and a legacy for ...

The Price of Exhaustion: Lessons from Jacob and Esau

In a world that celebrates exhaustion, we can look to Jacob and Esau for a deeper lesson: we have to value what truly matters.

Not only does God cry, but so does Moses in the basket when he's found by Batya, Pharaoh's daughter. Why does this moment matter?

Does God Punish us Looking Deeper at Deuteronomy's Theology

Unpacking Deuteronomy's Theology: How could such a loving God allow us to suffer? Does God want us to suffer? Is it a punishment?

An Eruv is a shared public space that belongs to everyone, representing the ideal of unity: no divisions, and a world that is one big ...

A delicate balance is required in dealing with difficult people, and the rabbis provide us a framework to explore this very question.

Transforming Friday dinner into Shabbat dinner

In times where family and friends are more rare than ever, Shabbat dinner is a precious cradle of memories and community is a gift.

The Deeper Meaning of Havdalah Make it Personal

Through its symbolism, Havdalah teaches us that the boundary between sacred and the ordinary are not truly separate, but can also be fun!

Exploring Judaism Writers Fellowship Cohort 2: 2026

Who are the instructors?

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover

Emily Jaeger

Kimberly McElhatten

Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal

Develop your voice. Publish meaningful Torah. Build lasting community and professional networks.

Join us to create the Jewish internet you want to see!

Details:

Read Previous Fellows' Posts:

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