Rachel Wahba

The existence of Israel is vital for our collective self-esteem, a People among people, as Jews everywhere. Why aren’t we smart enough to override the anti-Jewish racism we have internalized, now posing as anti-Zionism? I grew up “Stateless,” the child of an Egyptian father and an Iraqi mother kicked out of their native lands and stuck in Japan. I know the shame of not being able to get a Japanese passport and not being able to travel. I know the shame of being considered a F

Liberation matters. LGBTQ Pride, a march forward for individuals, families and communities from shame, fear, and despair, matters. Even in Jerusalem. The effort is about identity and inclusion, about living this one life as freely as possible. There is nothing holy about closets filled with shame. Coming out Queer, especially in 1976, even in San Francisco, was a radical move. And very difficult for my traditional Mizrahi parents. Especially for my mother, who grew up during