Pittsburgh Tzelem Teen Group

For LGBTQ+, nonbinary & gender expansive Jewish teens Grades 9-12!

LGBTQIA+ person in front of rainbow wall

Creating safe spaces to help Jewish youth thrive.

Our new Pittsburgh Tzelem group provides a safe, sacred space for nonbinary, trans, gender expansive, and LGBTQ+ teens to explore and celebrate the various ways that Judaism honors expansive understandings of gender. Like all Moving Traditions’ programs, Tzelem combines Jewish wisdom made relevant for today with positive psychology and social-emotional learning – proven methods of learning that foster wellbeing.

Eight Monthly Sunday Sessions - Two Hours Each (in person)

The Pittsburgh Tzelem Group offers a safe, supportive space to make new friends and explore issues like:

Life transitions
Healthy Relationships
Body Positivity
Self-Compassion
Mental Health
Jewish Identity
And much more!

Two Locations

Squirrel Hill JCC’s 2nd Floor, 5738 Darlington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
October 22, 2023 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
November 19, 2023 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
December 10, 2023 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
January 21, 2024 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

UpStreet Pittsburgh, 5844 Forward Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
February 25, 2024 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
March 10, 2024 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
April 21, 2024 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
June 2, 2024 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Tzelem (“image”) comes from B’Tzelem Elohim—the concept that each person is created in the image of God. Tzelem groups provide safe, sacred space for nonbinary, trans, gender expansive, and LGBTQ+ teens to explore and celebrate the various ways that Judaism honors expansive understandings of gender. Each month the Tzelem groups focus on topics such as healthy relationships, stress, belonging and identity; sessions also include opportunities to meet other teens and Jewish trans adult mentors, and to discuss issues around transition and gender expression. The teens explore the issues through games, art, discussion, and by drawing on Jewish teachings.

Meet Our Pittsburgh Tzelem Group Facilitator

Em Duhamel (they/them) graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2022 with degrees in Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies, along with a certificate in LGBTQ+ Studies. Over the past five years, Em has served as a Jewish educator and Jewish youth professional in a variety of capacities, from being a counselor and a member of the program team at the URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy in both 2018 and 2019, to teaching middle school at Wise Temple in Cincinnati for two years. During the 2020-2021 academic year, they were a mentor for the Meyer-Gottesman Kol Koleinu Teen Feminist Fellowship offered by Moving Traditions. Em is currently a fellow for Repair the World Pittsburgh and facilitated Repair’s PeerCorps Teen Service-Learning Cohort this past spring.