Queer Torah study group at a Portland synagogue (USA) helps LGBTQ people find their place in Judaism

In Portland, Oregon (USA), a queer Torah study group at the progressive Congregation Shir Tikvah is working to show LGBTQ people that they have always been a part of Jewish history. The initiative aims to re-examine biblical texts and create an inclusive space for those who have often faced rejection in religious environments.

As Rabbi Emerita Ariel Stone, who helped start the group, notes, Jewish tradition inherently embraces a multiplicity of interpretations. According to LGBTQ Nation , Stone emphasized: “If you look back at Jewish teachings about the Torah, it says that there are 70 different ways to understand any piece of Torah, any word, any command, any story… You’re queering your perspective of it simply by studying it the way you’re meant to study it.”

Angel Ya’el Murauskas, a lay leader at the congregation, explained that the goal isn’t to prove that specific biblical characters are queer, but to examine the text more openly and challenge long-held stereotypes. As examples, the group discusses the story of human creation in Genesis and its gender aspects, as well as the relationship between Ruth and Naomi, which Murauskas calls “one of the most beautiful expressions of love between two women in the entire Bible.”

According to the organizers, for many LGBTQ people, this kind of study of sacred texts becomes a healing experience. Group members hear for the first time that they are not outsiders in this religion and that they can find people like themselves in these books.

While Congregation Shir Tikvah holds progressive views, attitudes towards LGBTQ people in more orthodox branches of Judaism remain complex. Queer representatives of orthodox communities continue to fight for the right to be full members of their congregations. Some orthodox rabbis argue that the rejection is linked to a literal adherence to religious law rather than bias, but critics note that violators of other rules—such as the ban on driving on Shabbat or observing kosher dietary laws—are treated much more tolerantly. Nevertheless, changes are happening there too: in 2025, an all-male orthodox seminary in New York ordained its first openly gay rabbi.

Congregation Shir Tikvah is an independent progressive synagogue in Portland, founded in 2002. It is known for its inclusive approach, active participation in social justice issues, and defense of marginalized groups’ rights. Ariel Stone, who served as the spiritual leader of the community for a long time, is one of the leading figures of progressive Judaism in the region.