Author Archives: Jake Goodman

Jake Goodman

About Jake Goodman

is an LGTBQ activist, Jewish educator and performer. He holds an MA in Jewish Education with a specialization in Infomal and Communal Education from the Davidson School at JTS and a BFA in Acting from Emerson College. Jake has worked increasingly to advocate toward full equality for LGBT people. Jake is a founding member of Queer Rising, a grassroots organization that demands queer rights through direct action, is on a committee to confront homeless queer youth with the Ali Forney Center, and is currently working on a book. Jake is also a proud company member of Storahtelling, previously serving as Associate Director, and serves as senior faculty for the 14th Street Y's LABA fellowship. He has served as educator in various capacities at seminaries, synagogues, JCCs, camps and pre-schools around the country. In the theater world, Jake has performed across the country and internationally at The Berkshire Theater Festival, Actors Theater of Louisville, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Alma in Tel-Aviv.

YHVH’s Heart-On: A (Mildly Cynical) Parable

Jake Goodman
February 16, 2012

Once upon a time, it happened (or it didn’t) that a god named YHVH (sp?) ran for President.  The terrain was tough: the electorate was apathetic, voter-turn out was expected to be dismal (hardly surprising given all the voter restrictions) and the field was already packed with establishment favorites (Ra, Isis, Osiris and Horus) who More »

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Clowns & Looney Tunes

Jake Goodman
January 5, 2012

NOTE:  After having written this blog, it is clear that at least part of my thinking was inspired by “Kaddish for an Unborn Child,” by Imre Kertész.  It is one of the most brilliant books I’ve ever read;  I cannot recommend it highly enough. Like so many other Americans, I have been paying attention to More »

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Dating with a Sucky Brand

Jake Goodman
December 19, 2011

My Branding Problem:  Overview A date is an interview, a testing of waters, an attempt to envision what a shared life with a particular other individual might look and feel like.  Once the basic standard of attraction has been met, the real question we all seem to ask ourselves is, “Can I stomach sharing my More »

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For the Love of Humanity: Philanthropy & Privilege

Jake Goodman
October 3, 2011

Philanthropy literally means love of humanity.  To my understanding, philanthropists draw from personal resources to financially enable selected organizations, movements, initiatives, programs and people to engage in work that transforms some part of their (i.e., the philanthropists’) ethical ideal into tangible reality.  I imagine that philanthropists’ love of humanity must be tied to a commitment More »

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Child Sacrifice: Playing Sarah

Jake Goodman
September 22, 2011

BY: JAKE GOODMAN

I understand the Akedah, the story of the binding of Isaac, in the context of a people beginning to break away from an age-old tradition of child sacrifice. To gain a sense of control over the chaos of life, people sought to appease the gods through child sacrifice. Somehow, a shift occurred. People decided that they were no longer willing to sacrifice their children to the gods and re-framed the narrative. Today, we still practice child sacrifice when we reject our queer family members. More »

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