As the secular year draws to a close the film GER: Choosing to be Chosen is taking shape. It looks a little different than what I first imagined it to be, a film about many different personal experiences, like Clocked my first film. It will be short, around 30 minutes this time around — instead of the 45 plus that the first cut of Clocked was. I feel more confident about the style, after I have cut it down and inserted my own story, unlike Clocked where I didn't have any of my story at all.

Some things that need to be done before the first cut is tested out on audiences:

1. Insert personal dialogue — Just can’t get away from my story.
2. Cut down interspersed segments from interviews — just not enough flow as it stands.
3. Weave my own Gay/Bi/Trans coming out story in parallel with “Jewish Coming Out” story.
4. Talk to Sue about interviewing as an educational mentor — Need to have a few more mentors involved, maybe chat with Paul.
5. Try to get some sound bites from local rabbis: Rabbi Angel, Rabbi Kukla and others as needed.
6. Work on opening sequence, would like some sort of animation — Preferably trans Jewish artist (any takers).
7. Edit, edit, edit... 

Getting ready to go to NY for Thanksgiving, feel like I need to film some of our trip. Shelli (my wife) is a great camera person, she used to volunteer at access in college. I feel a little skittish about putting myself out there on film but it isn’t anything that I haven’t asked the participants in my films and television productions to do...

B'Shalom,
Martin Rawlings-Fein

Transgender Remembrance Shabbat

Friday, November 21, 2008, 7:30 pm
290 Dolores Street (corner of 16th Street)
San Francisco, CA 94103
www.shaarzahav.org

Since 1999, November 20th has been set aside in cities across the country as Transgender Day of Remembrance.  This day memorializes those who have been killed due to anti-transgender hatred.  High rates of murder and other violence continues to be one of the most critical issues facing our transgender communities; and more and more people, trans and non-trans, are raising their voices in commemoration and protest. 
 
At Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, we have designated November 21st as Transgender Remembrance Shabbat.  At Friday night services we will remember all who have suffered from anti-transgender violence, with special liturgy, music, sermon, and the reading of names.  As the Congregation Sha'ar Zahav community participates in the holy act of remembering, we continue to educate ourselves and to commit to further action on this critical community issue. 

More information about the Day of Remembrance can be found at  http://www.transgenderdor.org/

Our Mission: At Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, we are committed to sustaining a safe environment to nurture and express our diverse spiritual, sexual, educational and ethical values. Our rabbi, lay-leaders and members join together to bring meaning to Torah and Jewish observance. We are committed to creative prayer, study, mitzvot and tikkun olam (repairing the world).