Homosexuality, Transsexuality, Psychoanalysis and Traditional Judaism Psychoanalysis in a New Key Book Series

Homosexuality, Transsexuality, Psychoanalysis and Traditional Judaism explores the often incommensurable and irreconcilable beliefs and understandings of sexuality and gender in the Orthodox Jewish community from psychoanalytic, rabbinic, feminist, and queer perspectives. The book explores how seemingly irreconcilable differences might be resolved.

The book is divided into two separate but related sections. The first highlights the divide between the psychoanalytic, academic, and traditional Orthodox Jewish perspectives on sexual identity and orientation, and the acute psychic and social challenges faced by gay and lesbian members of the Orthodox Jewish world. The contributors ask us to engage with them in a dialogue that allows for authentic conversation.

The second section focuses on gender identity, especially as experienced by the Orthodox transgender members of the community. It also highlights the divide between theories that see gender as fluid and traditional Judaism that sees gender as strictly binary. The contributors write about their views and experiences from both sides of the divide. They ask us to engage in true authentic dialogue about these complex and crucial emotional and religious challenges.

Homosexuality, Transsexuality, Psychoanalysis and Traditional Judaism will be of great interest to psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists as well as members and leaders of Jewish communities working with LGBTQ issues.

Acknowledgments Overview by Alan Slomowitz, Ph.D. Preface by Alison Feit, Ph.D. Author BiographiesSection I: Sexual Identity, Psychoanalysis and Traditional Judaism Preface to Section I: Moving the Conversation Along by Jack Drescher, M.D. Introduction to Section I: Sexual Identity, Psychoanalysis, and Traditional Judaism by Alan Slomowitz, Ph.D. 1 Does God Make Referrals? Orthodox Judaism and Homosexuality Alan Slomowitz, Ph.D. and Alison Feit, Ph.D. 2 Collateral Damage in the Battle to Change Sexual Orientation Mark J. Blechner, Ph.D. 3 Discussion of "Does God Make Referrals?": Orthodox Judaism and Homosexuality" Ronnie Lesser, Ph.D. 4 The Challenges Faced by LGBTQ Orthodox Jews: An Orthodox Response Rabbi Mark Dratch, LMSW 5 Pastoral Counseling and LGBTQ Orthodox Jews Michelle Friedman, M.D. 6 Gay Jewish Men in the Orthodox Jewish Community: Striving for Selfhood Jeremy Novich, Psy.D. 7 The Parents Are Our Future: Orthodox Communities' Openness to their LGBT Members Miryam Kabakov, LMSW 8 Envisioning an Orthodox Gay Wedding: A Jewish Ritual of Same-Sex Union and an Inquiry into the Meanings of Marriage Rabbi Steven Greenberg 9 "Women Known for These Acts": A Review of the Jewish Laws of Lesbians Elaine Chapnik, J.D. Section II: Gender Identity, Psychoanalysis, and Traditional Judaism Introduction to Section II by Alan Slomowitz, Ph.D. 10 The Dynamic Development of Gender Variability Anne Fausto-Sterling, Ph.D. 11 Negotiating Gendered Religious Practices Among Transgender Jews with an Orthodox Jewish Background: Summary of Findings Oriol Poveda, Ph.D. 12 Genocide, Transsexuality, the Limits of Coherence, and the Radiance of the Universe Benjamin M. Baader, Ph.D. 13 Border Crossings: Commentary on Dr. Ben Baader's Paper Seth Aronson, Psy.D. 14 Knowing the Soul of the Stranger Joy Ladin, Ph.D. 15 Rabbinic and Halakhic Discourse on Sex-Change Surgery and Gender Definition Hillel Gray, Ph.D. 16 Orthodox Judaism and its Transgender Members Rabbi Hayim Shaffner, LCSW Index

Alan Slomowitz, Ph.D., is a supervisor of psychotherapy and on the faculty at the William Alanson White Institute. He is on the Editorial Board of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, and an internet editor of the Contemporary Psychoanalysis in Action blog. He edited Interpersonal Psychoanalysis and the Enigma of Consciousness (2018) by Edgar Levenson and the new Routledge release of Levenson’s book The Purloined Self (2016). He is in private practice in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy in New York City, USA.

Alison Feit, Ph.D., teaches at Stony Brook University, St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute, and at the China American Psychoanalytic Alliance. She is an associate editor of the journal Contemporary Psychoanalysis and a member of the Artist Group, the Sexual Abuse Service, and the Trauma Service at the William Alanson White Institute in New York. She maintains a private practice in Manhattan, New York City, USA.