Kol ha’Kavod, which literally translates from Hebrew as “all the respect/glory.” Kol ha’Kavod is an idiomatic expression that is used in a complimentary way to mean “thumbs up,” or “great job.” The purpose of the Kol ha’Kavod column is to express appreciation for innovative programming, outreach efforts, and positive steps taken by individuals or institutions within the Jewish community to welcome and better serve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Jews and their families.

Kol ha’Kavod to the following individuals and organizations in the San Francisco/Bay area for their recent leadership efforts on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Jews:

Winter 2008
Interfaith Connection at JCCSF
Kol Ha’Kavod to the Interfaith Connection at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco for including some wonderfully diverse images of queer and multicultural interfaith couples in the new program catalog and on the website.
Thank you to Interfaith Connection Director Helena McMahon and to the JCC for truly representing the full diversity of the Bay area Jewish community.

Summer 2007
Jewish Vocational Services
Kol Ha’Kavod to Jewish Vocational Services for its new Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative, a collaborative program with the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, the Transgender Law Center and SF TEAM (Transgender Empowerment, Advocacy and Mentoring).
With grants, from the San Francisco Human Services Agency and the Walter & Elise Haas Foundation, the goal of this groundbreaking program is to reduce chronic unemployment and underemployment within the transgender community. Sean Krainert and Natalie Stern will be providing leadership at JVS for TEEI with support and guidance from Emylene Aspilla.
For more information about the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative, please visit: www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=6382.

Congregations Kol Shofar, Netivot Shalom & Beth Shalom
Kol Ha’Kavod to three of the Bay area Conservative Congregations, Kol Shofar, Netivot Shalom, and Beth Shalom, for their ad in the Sunday San Francisco Chronicle on May 20, 2007 publicly affirming their welcome for Jewish LGBT individuals and families. To see the ad Click Here

Spring 2007
Jare’ Akchin & the Teen Educators Network of the Bureau of Jewish Education & Rabbi Benay Lappe of Svara
For their recent program, Queer Eye for Halachah. And a special Kol Ha’Kavod to teen educators Sasha Goldberg and Kendra Lubalin for kicking off the event with a discussion about halacha.
The Teen Educators network is a peer-to-peer network that meets bi-monthly to provide seminars, discussion, and networking opportunities for educators of teens.
For more information about the BJE Teen Educators Network, please visit: www.bjesf.org
For more information about Rabbi Benay Lappe and queer Talmud study, please visit: www.svara.org

Winter 2006
Congregation B’nai Emunah
For hosting a panel discussion in October 2006 about LGBT issues in the Conservative Movement, and for its leadership and advocacy on behalf of full inclusion for LGBT Jews. www.uscj.org/ncalif/sanfranbe

Congregation Beth Sholom
For co-sponsoring a panel discussion (with B’nai Emunah) in October 2006 about LGBT issues in the Conservative Movement, and for its leadership and advocacy on behalf of full inclusion for LGBT Jews, including the Keshet Havurah. www.bethsholomsf.org/CBS/pages

Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco
For supporting LGBT visibility in the Jewish community by featuring brochures in its main waiting area for Keshet, the Camp Tawonga weekend family program for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Jewish families. www.jfcs.org