FOUND TRIBE: Jewish Coming Out Stories

As one author in this anthology notes, both gays and Jews are minority groups, so this collection of memoir-essays from gay Jewish men depicts a small, singular set of uphill personal experiences. No one has found the path easy, but there is testimony to the rewards of being faithful to one's identity and the heritage that helps shape that identity. Naturally, the men's experiences have a good deal in common: shocked families with moms laying guilt trips about not having grandchildren; unsatisfying attempts at heterosexuality. Despite major commonalities, differences in experience intrigue: a writer who is also an Orthodox rabbi struggles with the dictates of halacha, or law; another cheerfully admits he is the kind of Jew that the prophets rail against. Interestingly, three of the writers are also religious converts. The quality of the writing is uneven. At worst, the tone can be pedestrian ("Sigh: My Mom and Dad: They were just so... Jewish"), but at best the essays present hard-won truths poured out with deliberation, pride and/or humor. (" 'I'm dying, I'm dying!' " my father was bellowing into the phone at 9:30, not exactly the middle of the night but my folks are in their 70s and go to sleep at eight.") Rabbi Steve Greenberg's especially compelling essay was originally published anonymously. In four years' time, attitudes among Orthodox Jews have changed to the point where Greenberg—and other Orthodox gays—can emerge from the closet. These brave voices deserve to be heard. (Aug.)