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Annual Report2024 Mensajería

SVARA4411 N. Ravenswood Ave.Suite 300Chicago, IL 60640www.svara.org

TABLE OFCONTENTSManifesting the Jewish FutureHello and WelcomeWhy We’re Here3579151921Empowering Queer and Trans PeopleExpanding the CanonElevating Queer Jewish PracticeBuilding Financial Capacity

Dear all,Creating space to celebrate and reflect feels more challenging as we navigate the ongoing rise of anti-trans violence,antisemitism, and overall uncertainty of this time. And yet, we continue to see joy and connection, vulnerability and authenticity,and hope and possibility in the bet midrash. This past year, our community has been reminded countless times that in ourtradition, we are always learning in times of upheaval. At SVARA, we know this kind of learning is what we need to meet themoment.We need each other. We need the tradition, and the tradition needs us. For thousands of years, Jewish learning and teachinghave catalyzed new ways of thinking and being. Ours has been an iterative journey where each generation expands on the last.There is so much to learn from the ways the Rabbis model discourse to sharpen their own perspectives to better the world.Over the course of 2024, a year of ups and downs, we have been awed time and again by the brilliance of our learningcommunity. Our fellows have nurtured their own SVARA-method batei midrash, our faculty held our return to in-person learning,our staff and board brought together a diverse group of thinkers and educators to paint a picture of the unrecognizable Jewishfuture. Despite the pain of this moment, SVARA remains a place full of joy and energy. We can’t wait to center that joy and energyas we forge forward with expansiveness. Thank you for being in this incredible world-building project with us!With so much SVARA love,Rabbi Benay Lappe (she/her)President and Rosh YeshivaAyana Morse (she/her)Executive Director

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WHY WE’RE HEREMission: SVARA’s mission is to empower queer and trans people toexpand Torah and tradition through the spiritual practice of Talmud study.Vision: SVARA envisions a future in which liberatory expressions ofJudaism equip individuals and communities to realize a just and healed world.Impact statement: We recognize the role that religious and spiritualtraditions play in shaping societies. At SVARA, we understand the Jewishtradition not as a static inheritance, but rather a flexible, adaptive legacycommitted to change. By studying the ways the Rabbis overturned andupgraded their laws to create a more just society for their time, ourstudents uncover pathways to make similar change in our own time.Through the act of learning, SVARA is strengthening individuals,communities, and the tradition to animate a more liberatory future. 5

“Our ancestors neverwanted us to take theirwords at face value —they wanted us to keep talking.”-svara learnerWe’re grateful to be nurturing a growing interest in the work happening at SVARA, which isincreasingly being recognized as a resource for healing and harnessing the power of our tradition.SVARA welcomed 1,650 people into the bet midrash through virtual and in-person offerings in 2024.Access to SVARA Torah—unique insights from our faculty, teachers, and learners—continues toexpand. In 2024, we had hundreds of thousands of engagements with our weekly blog, drop-inspaces, independent learning library, and multi-week SVARA-style Talmud study.10,094215,0608,341views of Hot Off the Shtender, SVARA’s weekly blogengagements with Mishnah Collective, SVARA’s daily drop-in spaceviews of Trans Halakha Project resources4,651643engagements with DIY Chevruta, SVARA’s independent learning libraryviews of source sheetsfor The Oral Talmud,a weekly broadcastwith Rosh YeshivaRabbi Benay Lappeand board memberDan Libensonlearners enrolled in Zman offerings1,9266

MANIFESTING THE JEWISH FUTUREThrough the launch of Manifesting the JewishFuture, our new strategic plan, SVARA isdoubling down on learning as a tool forgrounding and change. For over twenty years,we’ve seen the power of coming together inchevruta across generations and identities to findour own meanings in the tradition of the Rabbisand draw upon them in our own lives today. This exciting plan points our yeshiva towards newpathways meant to deepen learning andbroadcast the rich Torah being created in SVARAspaces beyond the bounds of our bet midrash. 7

Expanding the Jewish CanonEmpowering Queer and Trans People As Shapers of Tradition Elevating Queer Jewish PracticeBuilding Financial Capacity Four key focus areas provide clarity and direction to our new strategic plan:8

Learning at SVARA is a process of developing the skills tonavigate complexity and engage in discourse with careand connection. We believe that each person who joinsus is a teacher and a sage, and the tradition itselfbecomes more whole and just through the insights ofeveryone who engages with it. In 2024, thousands ofpeople joined us for accessible and queer-normativeofferings, both online and in-person. In the SVARA betmidrash, our learners unpack the wisdom of the traditionwhile pushing it ever forward.“The practice of studying Talmud is a practice of expanding our capacity to hold multiple truths with care.”-svara learnerEMPOWERING QUEERAND TRANS PEOPLE9

This summer, we were thrilled to offer an iteration of our beloved QueerTalmud Camps in the form of Talmud Day Camps. Held in five locationsacross the country in August 2024, our aim was to bring SVARA learningto the places where large clusters of learners and fellows live. As wecame together in-person for the first time since 2019, we werecommitted to developing COVID-19 safety practices that would enablethose most vulnerable to join us. We’re grateful to our whole communityfor holding this deliberate and life-affirming container of care.We were dazzled by the 280 learners, fellows, teachers, and staff (39% ofwhom were new to SVARA!) who joined us in Berkeley, Boston, Brooklyn,Chicago, and Philadelphia.“I really appreciated the rigorousness of the COVID-19 protocols.I felt safe and also grateful for the wisdom that our learning and culture is better when disabled people are present.”-day camp learnertalmud day camps10

Learning at SVARA is a joyful, rigorous practice that brings people together across a wide range ofbackgrounds, locations, and perspectives. Zman learning at SVARA is a particularly meaningful spaceto build connection because of the many layers of support built in. Zman learning allows folks of allbackgrounds and abilities to learn with the same people week after week and have regular touchpoints with teachers and fairies, SVARA’s brilliant teaching assistants. In this way, Zman learners notonly see themselves reflected in the tradition, but also come to understand that each of us is criticalto the Jewish future that we all need.“[SVARA’s] approach to text and tradition has shaped my Judaism and my life indeep ways. It has given me ownership over parts of the tradition that root me inmy integrity as I do my own work in the world as a Jew.”-svara learnerzman learning11

In 2024, we continued our practice of sharing SVARA’s pedagogy throughtraining small groups of rabbis and educators on how to integrate ourunique methodology within their teaching practice. Our current PedagogyChaburah fellows have been drawing on their experiences in SVARA’s betmidrash to raise high-level questions about community, belonging,accountability, and pedagogy. Creating brave space among people withdiverse identities and educational backgrounds is not a given, and it hasbeen heartening to see how each group deepens together.-pedagogy chabura-nik“I got to experience firsthand how wonderful aninclusive and welcoming bet midrash can be, and itinspired me to work more in building those spaces.”teacher training12

what’s ahead for our yeshivaThroughout 2024, we have been engaged in aprocess of reflection and exploration with ourstaff, faculty, teachers, and learners. We areusing all that we have learned over the pasttwenty years, along with the visionaryguidance of our new strategic plan, to pushthe work of our yeshiva forward. What hasemerged is a cohesive curricular frameworkfor folks who are ready to join the project ofshaping an expansive Jewish future. We’rebuilding towards opportunities for deep, full-time learning (both online and in-person) andcan’t wait to share more in the months ahead.13

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EXPANDING THE JEWISH CANONAs a yeshiva dedicated to centering the voices andexperiences of queer and trans people, we have alwaysbeen interested in understanding how the wisdom andinsights that surface in the bet midrash can reach beyondour walls. Over the past several years, we have begunsharing out reflections, teachings, and learnings through awide range of publications, creating access to the magic ofSVARA Torah for thousands of folks across the globe. In 2024 we saw over 200,000 engagements with SVARAcontent. We are truly blown away by just how often ideasand insights from our bet midrash are influencing theconversations about Judaism happening beyond SVARA. “It is so Jewish to be in contradiction, to continually question and spiral back to the same texts with new ideas, over and over.”-svara learner15

Since March of 2020, SVARA-niks have been gatheringeach day for a 30-minute deep dive into learning throughMishnah Collective. Moving through one masechet(tractate of Talmud) at a time, learners in this space havenurtured a practice that has endured pandemics, climatedisaster, political upheaval, and war. Since it waslaunched, the reverberations of Mishnah Collective’simpact have exceeded our wildest dreams.In the past year, we’ve had a steady 50% open rate onthe daily summaries shared out by our teachers and2,130 engagements with our newly released guide toMasechet Yoma. We also published a Berachot PocketGuide which offers a SVARA twist on many of theblessings one might call on each day.mishnah collective16

“SVARA is trainingtraditional radicals. I got the message fromyou, Rabbi Benay, thatthere isn’t a problemwith God or a problemwith the Torah or with the tradition. It’s people and theirinterpretation of it allthat’s problematic.”We were honored to host our first conversation series, The Unrecognizable JewishFuture, which kicked off with a Community CRASH Talk by SVARA Rosh Yeshiva RabbiBenay Lappe. Over 100 folks attended and 200 more registered to receive the recording.We were inspired by the many ways folks arrived holding their own unique perspectives,fully committed to witnessing one another across opinions and political difference.There was rich, common ground in recognizing how CRASH theory can guide us indifficult moments, both personally and communally. During her remarks, Benay shared:- shahanna mckinney-baldon, conversation series panelistWe were blessed to have SVARA board member Marques Hollie host these three conversations between speakers who have trulychanged the past, present, and future of Judaism: Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD, Joy Ladin, Shahanna McKinney-Baldon, Rabbi BenayLappe, Dr. Koach Baruch Frazier, Rabbi Mónica Gomery, Rabbi Elliot Kukla, noa ilana, Rabbi Xava de Cordova, Emet Monts,and Chava Shapiro. The series was a resounding example of why SVARA’s focus on creating a welcoming, supportive space is critical,especially during moments that can feel divisive within our larger Jewish community. “Wherever we fall, we’re in a profound CRASH moment…My hope is that this framework can help us navigate through and understand the forces acting on us, as we’re trying to find our way."conversation series17

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Part of the magic of learning at SVARA is the model ofempowerment that develops through our method—a practice of breaking down the meaning of each and everyword and putting it back together again. By engaging in thejourney to make the tradition one’s own, a path opens up tocontinue shaping, playing, and reimagining. At SVARA, wecelebrate each person’s unique insights and seek outopportunities to lift up the new practices, expressions,writings, and projects that grow from the seeds in our bet midrash.ELEVATING QUEERJEWISH PRACTICE19

Yeshivat Gadol v’Kadosh, led by SVARA Fellows Emet and Natalie Boskin, hosted a YomKippur retreat in the wilderness of Golden Hill State Park. The intention behind the retreatwas to experiment with incorporating SVARA-style Talmud study into the observance of theHigh Holy Days in a space for folks who might be feeling disconnected from traditionalsynagogue settings in this moment. Their thoughtfulness in creating the space and settingintentions was impactful, with one participant sharing, “Emet and Natalie were astounding intheir ability to hold everything—from the small details like a packing list to creating apowerful emotional and spiritual container for the weekend.” SVARA Fellows like Annie Sommer Kaufman are developing their own teaching andleadership skills by bringing SVARA-style Talmud study to their communities. This pastyear, Annie offered a stunning sea-centered journey through Bava Batra with herChicago-based yeshiva, The Lace Midrash. Annie also teamed up with our comrades atPushcart Judaica to offer a textile workshop.SVARA Fellows Binya Kóatz and Rabbi Xava de Cordova continue leading innovation andlife-giving learning spaces at Shel Maala, a growing digital-first queer yeshiva. This past year,Binya and Xava brought the magic of Shel Maala to several in-person gatherings in the U.S.and abroad to nurture their rapidly growing learning community.SVARA Fellow Alex Bailey Dillon taught an in-person SVARA-style offering called "Rosh PinahSpring 2024: Who Gets to Decide?" using a text from Masechet Sanhedrin.20

BUILDING FINANCIAL CAPACITYWe’re so grateful for the 380 individuals and foundations who committed$1,976,300 to support the expansion of Torah and tradition in 2024, including:Aviv Foundation | Beker Foundation | The Covenant Foundation |Crown Family Philanthropies | Disability Visibility Project | Carylon, Julius and MarcieHemmelstein Foundation | Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund |Jews of Color Initiative | Jewish Liberation Fund | Jim Joseph Foundation | LippmanKanfer Foundation for Living Torah | Project Accelerate | R&R: Rest of Our Lives |Rise Up | Sins Invalid | Tikkun Olam Foundation | Walter and Elise Haas FundIf you would like to learn more about how you can support SVARA’s ongoingsustainability, please contact Elli Krandel, Development Director at ellik@svara.org.We couldn’t do what we do without the generous and sustained support ofour partners and donors. Throughout 2024, these folks have helped ouryeshiva reach its goals and expand our impact beyond measure.21

2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORSAngel Alvarez-Mapp (he/him) TreasurerB Gonzalez-Lesser (they/them)Dan Libenson (he/him)Joanna Ware (she/her)Leykn Schmatz (they/them)Marques Hollie (he/they)Sam Grosby (she/her) ChairSandy Sussman (she/her) SecretaryWe are endlessly grateful for all of the folks who bringtheir brilliance and labor to our yeshiva, including ourBoard of Directors, our faculty, fairies, and staff, as wellas the countless contracters we work with. Theunwavering dedication of our captioners, techs, ASL interpreters, Mishnah Collective teachers, andcommittee members help make SVARA the dreamy andfuture-building place it has always been. Thanks, y’all!TEAM SVARA22