iCAJE: THE GREAT CONNECTOR
Posted on 01/12/2024 @ 05:00 AM
Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
One of CAJE’s greatest strengths lies in our ability to connect. CAJE brings people together strategically, facilitating connections that lead to successful outcomes.
Being a great connector is about creating a ripple effect of positive and impactful relationships.
By bringing the right people together with intention and authenticity, CAJE contributes to successful outcomes, fosters innovation, and strengthens communities and networks.
Yesterday, Thursday, January 11th, was the opening of the 2024 Miami Jewish Film Festival (MJFF), the largest Jewish film festival in the world.
The MJFF celebrates the best of Jewish and Israeli cinema showcasing 94 feature films and 26 shorts from 25 countries, including 10 world premieres, 10 international premieres, 12 North American premieres, and 7 US premieres.
One of the movies being featured in this year’s line-up is an Israeli film called The Holy Closet.
The Holy Closet features seven stories depicting life cycle moments of LGBTQ Jews who chose to remain religious, building their daily lives, relationships, and families according to Jewish tradition.
The film is being shepherded in the US by Eshel, an organization that aims to create a world where Orthodox LGBTQ individuals can live out their lives in the Orthodox communities of their choice.
The film is groundbreaking because it is the very first film that addresses the overlap of LGBTQ identities and Jewish religious life that is filled with poignancy, joy and humor, rather than darkness and pain.
This movie is followed by a panel discussion led by Rabbi Steve Greenberg, founding director of Eshel.
With a grant from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Eshel has been able to establish a local support group, to partner with local organizations and to conduct programs.
Eshel has already worked with CAJE in the context of CAJE’s Mental Health Network led by Audrey Bensoussan, Associate Director of Day Schools.
When Rabbi Greenberg needed to find a counseling expert in the Jewish LGBTQ+ space, he called Audrey, confident that she would be able to connect him to the right person.
Indeed, she was!
Audrey connected Rabbi Greenberg to Shoshana Farbman, Federation’s BeWell Miami Coordinator. In turn, Shoshana connected Rabbi Greenberg to Dr. Dani Rosenkrantz, a Jewish queer psychologist, who specializes in Jewish LGBTQ mental health, relationships, and anxiety.
“When looking for educational experts in various fields, CAJE, because of its reach in the Miami educational community, is always able to connect us to the right person. When I reached out to Audrey, looking for an expert to be a part of the panel for the movie, she herself didn’t know of Dr. Dani Rosenkrantz. Audrey, however, knew to make the connection with Shoshana which led us to invite Dr. Dani as part of the conversation.”
- Rabbi Steve Greenberg, Eshel
Being a great connector is about creating a ripple effect of positive and impactful relationships.
By bringing the right people together with intention and authenticity, CAJE contributes to meaningful and informed programs addressing complex and important subjects.
For more information about CAJE’s Day School Mental Health Network, or anything regarding Jewish Day School Education, please contact Audrey Maman Bensoussan: audreymaman@caje-miami.org
