Breaking the Silence: Miryam Kabakov, Executive Director & Co-Founder of Eshel, on Supporting LGBTQ+ Orthodox Jews
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Breaking the Silence: Miryam Kabakov, Executive Director & Co-Founder of Eshel, on Supporting LGBTQ+ Orthodox Jews

36:33 Mar 20, 2026
About this episode
In this inspiring episode of The Brand Called You, host Lisa Lipkin sits down with Miryam Kabakov, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Eshel—the largest organization supporting LGBTQ+ Orthodox Jewish individuals and their families.Miryam shares her powerful journey of growing up in an Orthodox Jewish environment while keeping her sexuality a secret. She discusses the complexities and struggles faced by LGBTQ+ members within Orthodox communities, what it means to live authentically, and how Eshel is creating safe spaces and fostering acceptance.This honest conversation covers:Jewish texts and their interpretations regarding LGBTQ+ identitiesFamily reconciliation and the evolving process of coming outChallenges and successes in educating religious leaders and communitiesThe importance of integrating LGBTQ+ individuals into Orthodox life without losing connection to faith
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