A Letter from Sasha T. Goldberg about Nehirim’s Merger with NUJLS
June 1, 2010
Dear Students, Friends, and Colleagues—
I’m writing to you with some very exciting news. Nehirim and NUJLS, the National Union of Jewish LGBT Students, are merging! This merger is a reflection of Nehirim’s longtime collaboration with NUJLS, and our shared commitment to providing programming and community to LGBT Jews (plus partners and allies) throughout the country. I am writing this letter to share my joy and excitement with you, as well as to share a little bit about my vision—and to ask for yours in return.
This month I celebrate my third year of working as the Assistant Director of Nehirim: GLBT Jewish Culture and Spirituality-and there is a lot to celebrate. I am proud to say that the past three years at Nehirim have been packed with innovation and growth; we have had a 200% expansion on programming and reach since 2007, and today we expand again by merging with NUJLS, the National Organization for LGBTQQI Jewish Students. This also marks an expansion for me, personally: I will step into the position of the Associate Director at Nehirim, and also into the position of Director of Student Programming.
As many of you already know, this merger and my new position at Nehirim arrive after having spent the past eleven months serving as the NUJLS Board President while Vanessa “Vinny” Prell continued her last year as the Executive Director. This has been a privilege and a pleasure both personally and professionally—having come out at fourteen and founded the first GSA at my own high school, LGBT student issues have always been near and dear to my heart—and having the opportunity to provide professional leadership and commitment to an organization for which I care deeply has proved rewarding and inspiring. Both personally and professionally, I am honored to serve as the Director of Student Programming in this new merger.
It is my ultimate vision that the Nehirim-NUJLS merger will continue in this theme of expansion: Building on the strength and history of NUJLS and the incredible NUJLS students, I am greatly looking forward to growing the student programming at Nehirim to provide a national, cohesive, and vibrant hub of Jewish life for each Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Jewish student.
Can I count on your help in this vision? I hope that you will be excited to help foster the opportunity for the next generation of LGBT Jewish students to be engaged leaders with a rich, proud history of Jewish and LGBT lives and identities. Perhaps it’s been a while since you have been involved with Nehirim or NUJLS, perhaps you are hearing about Nehirim or NUJLS for the first time, or perhaps you have been a regular to both organizations—either way, I invite you to re-engage and share your vision with me, as well. In the coming weeks and months, I hope to speak with many of you about your ideas and about how you might like to be involved with LGBT Jewish Students and LGBT Jewish Student programming.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the many inspired and inspiring LGBT Jewish Students who have already been involved with NUJLS, many of whom I have been fortunate enough to meet-and who will continue to provide the centermost heart and vision of Jewish LGBT Student life. To the students, particularly: I look forward to more! Thank you also to Vinny, who is both a colleague and a trusted friend, for her years of hard work and for building a beautiful foundation. Last but not least, thank you also to the Board for all of your thoughtful consideration in these many months of transition.
Happy Pride Month to each you—I look forward to connecting and working together as we usher in a new decade of LGBT Jewish Student life.
All my very best,
Sasha T. Goldberg
Associate Director of Nehirim, Director of Student Programming
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