Shel Maala comes to Northampton - Havdallah and Study

Shel Maala, your favorite online queer Yeshiva, is coming DOWN FROM THE CLOUD in Northampton, to offer a weekend of ritual and rad juicy learning.

The weekend of November 15 & 16, Rosh Yeshivas Xava and Binya will be in your gay Jewish homeland to lead a Shabbes and Sunday of rad Jewish goodness, all in collaboration with B'yameinu and Pushcart Judaica:

- Saturday Evening Havdallah 5-6pm - Havdallah: Ritual, Song and a Lil' Torah!

^Potluck, so bring a lil something savory or sweet (and vegetarian) to share!

- Sunday Afternoon of Badass Talmud Learning 1-4pm

^Snacks provided! But eat a lil lunch beforehand <3

Both events are in Florence, MA - Register for address info

We cannot WAIT to spend the weekend luxuriating in Torah, Talmud and prayer with y’all

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Alefbet isn't required.

We’ll be studying an amazing piece of Talmud about earthly kings, heavenly kings, and our vascillating desires for them.

Here’s more on the text we’ll be studying:

Shel Maala, the radical online queer Yeshiva, is coming back to the Northampton after our amazing weekend last year, to teach a Sunday afternoon about Jewish desire for, and resistance to, earthly power. Starting with an evocative passage in the Book of Samuel, where the Jews ask for a king against God's wishes, co-teachers Binya and Xava will trace our yearning to be like "all the other nations” from Rabbinic commentators all the way to the Israeli Declaration of independence. Come unearth arguments together about the very nature of Jewish government, what makes a good/kosher ruler (if such a thing is possible), with implications for Zionism, the decolonial left, anarchy, and more, today.

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Accessibility notes:

Havdallah - Backyard, Wheelchair accessible, There will be fire and smoke, Veggie potluck

Sunday - Mask Required, NOT ADA :(, up several flights of stairs, Snacks for various dietary restrictions.

Full access info from the Sunday space: we are located on the third floor of an industrial building. there is a freight elevator located on the opposite side of the building, which is simple to use but can be intimidating for some. there is a short but steep staircase between the elevator and the temple, therefore it is not wheelchair accessible. there is a single bathroom directly across from the entrance, and additional bathrooms on floors above and below. there are plenty of windows for ventilation. by november the heat is on and you can use windows to modulate temperature.

Both - Scent free

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Learning will be a mix of full group and xevruta (pair) study. You will be matched with a xevruta (study partner) after registration, based on the answers you provide!

There will be lots of yummy food and discussion. If you haven’t been in a physical Talmud learning space before, come and get excited!

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JUST Sunday Learning is $36, pay what you can.

Havdallah is free, but recommend a donation of $5-10

Full sliding scale will be shown at checkout.

(Shel Maala membership discounts apply for Xasids.)

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If you have any questions please email: shelmaalayeshiva@gmail.com