Bashert, the LGBT initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, is presenting the first of two panel discussions on ‘Living a Jewish Life.’

The first will be on Monday, October 10th, at Hillel at the University of Washington at 7pm, and will focus on daily personal life and being Jewish, how being LGBT and being Jewish impact each other. Panelists will include:

Connie Burk—a Jewish lesbian mother, community activist and artist. Connie is a member of Kol HaNeshamah, serves on the Jewish Women International’s Advisory Board for the International Conference on Domestic Violence in the Jewish Community, and is the Executive Director of the NW Network of Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse in Seattle.

Andrew R. Cohen—the Director of Finance and Administration at Tricordia--Community Enrichment Programs, past board member of Congregation Beth Shalom, and newly appointed member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle Planning & Allocations Committee. In 2001, Rabbi Dov Gartenberg performed a commitment ceremony for Andrew and his partner, the first such ceremony in the Northwest under the auspices of a Conservative Rabbi.

Miryam Kabakov—the National Program Director of AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps. Miryam is Founder of Orthodykes of New York.

Moderator: Rabbi Will Berkovitz—the Acting Director of Hillel. Prior to rabbinical school, Will worked as a journalist in Seattle and was the Executive director for both University of Oregon Hillel and St. Louis Hillel at Washington University. He is on the advisory board of the Yedidya Center for Jewish Spiritual Direction, and the Bashert Committee at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.

This event is open to everyone—please join us!

Date:	Monday, October 10, 2005
Time:	7pm (8:45pm Kosher dessert reception)
Location:	Hillel at the University of Washington 4745 17th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105
RSVP:	You may RSVP to this invitation at Bashert@JewishInSeattle.org. Please provide your name and email address. You have the option of providing your home or business address and phone number. The JFGS does not share mailing list information.

The second panel discussion, being planned for January, will focus on communal life and being Jewish.

For more information about Bashert or this event, please contact Allison at AllisonG@JewishInSeattle.org or at the Federation on (206) 774-2276.

This is a free event and there will be no solicitation