ODS S1:E4 Joshua Lesser
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Rabbi Joshua Lesser
Founder of SOJOURN & Rabbi Emeritus, Bet Haverim
In this episode, we hear from Rabbi Joshua Lesser, an LGBTQ+ activist and rabbi emeritus at Congregation Bet Haverim, a Reconstructionist synagogue founded by Jewish LGBTQ+ Atlantans that welcomes all Jews and their loved ones. Joshua created SOJOURN, the Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender & Sexual Diversity, and co-edited Torah Queeries, a weekly Torah commentary with an LGBTQ+ lens. Leading at the intersection of justice and spirituality, he is passionate about incorporating Jewish contemplative practice with a commitment to civil and human rights.
Out Down South is brought to you by the Atlanta LGBTQ+ History Project and is part of the WUSSY Podcast Network.
Hosted by Rachel Garbus (@goodgraciousrachel) and Sam Landis (@iam_samlandis).
Produced by Jon Dean (@jondeanphoto), Rachel Garbus, and Sam Landis.
Episode 4 was edited by Rachel Garbus
Podcast graphics created by Sam Landis
Photographed by Jarrett Heatherly. Joshua Lesser is pictured alongside murals in Reynoldstown, Atlanta.
Project interns - Alyssa Zhang, Alex Campo, and Hunter Buchheit.
Podcast Music Information:
Intro Song: “Break the Mould” by Jack Pierce
Supplemental Music from Audio Jungle
The podcast is funded by a Georgia Humanities grant and individual gifts from LGBTQ+ history lovers like you. If you would like to support the project, you can by visiting: atlantalgbtqhistoryproject.org/donate
Stay up to date with the Out Down South Podcast and Atlanta LGBTQ+ History Project on social: instagram.com/atllgbtqhisproj/ or @atllgbtqhisproj on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
About the Project:
The Atlanta LGBTQ+ History Project is a multimedia initiative to gather, share, and preserve the history and life stories of LGBTQ+ communities in Georgia and across the Southeast. Through oral history, photography, and archival materials, we bring the voices and stories of LGBTQ+ Atlantans to life.
Explore the project through museum exhibitions, the Out Down South podcast, live and virtual panel series, and online materials. All project materials are archived at Georgia State University Library’s Special Collection & Archives. Find out more at
Learn more by visiting: atlantalgbtqhistoryproject.org
We are grateful for the partners of the podcast and project: WussyMag, The LGBTQ Institute at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the special collections and archives at Georgia State University Library where all of the oral histories from this project will be archived.
Visit and learn more about our Out Down South Exhibit at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Out Down South is a multimedia exhibit celebrating Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community. Through original portrait photography and samples of oral history, Out Down South highlights the stories of 12 LGBTQ+ Atlantans who have made an indelible contribution to our city.
Out Down South is part of the Atlanta LGBTQ+ History Project, which gathers, shares, and preserves the stories of LGBTQ+ communities across Georgia.
Want to record your own oral history, or interview a friend or family member?
StoryCorps is an organization that provides people across the country with the opportunity to record and preserve the stories of their lives. You can record an interview with a friend or family member at their Atlanta recording booth, or remotely through the StoryCorps app. Find out more here: storycorps.org/atlanta/
We are grateful for the partners of the podcast and project: WussyMag, The LGBTQ Institute at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the special collections and archives at Georgia State University Library where all of the oral histories from this project will be archived.
Full episode transcript to be uploaded at a later date.