Chani Getter, LCSW (they/them) is a U.S. speaker, writer, therapist, and interfaith minister. Rev. Chani is also an award-winning activist and educator who supports a growing community of LGBTQ+ and non-binary people.[1][2] Their life and work has been featured in two documentary films, DevOUT (2012) and One of Us (2017).[3][4]

Their private therapy practice supports many people, including those leaving the Haredi Jewish community and those in transition.

Early life

Chani Getter was born into a Haredi Jewish family affiliated with the Nikolsburg-Monsey Hasidic community. They were married off at the age of seventeen and quickly had three children.[5] It was only during their second pregnancy that Rev. Chani learned what a lesbian was after watching Ellen DeGeneres on TV and consulting a dictionary.

At 23, Rev. Chani left their marriage and started living as a single, out, proud, gay parent while staying deeply connected to their faith and Jewish practice, a story that was covered in the documentary film devOUT[3] and also featured in a PBS documentary television show, Religious & Ethics Newsweekly.[6] Rev. Chani then became a part of the Jewish Renewal movement, and maintained their Orthodox observances for some time.[7][8] They have been critical of the insular nature of Hasidic communities in New York City.[9]

Education

Despite limited early education and little work experience, Rev. Chani was determined to advance their education and career. While working full-time as a bookkeeper and raising three children alone, they earned a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and a Master's degree in Social Work, were ordained as an interfaith minister, and opened a private therapy practice.[10] Today, they are a licensed clinical social worker in the States of New Jersey and New York.

Career

In 2013, Rev. Chani was recruited by Lani Santo, CEO, to join the staff of Footsteps, a social service nonprofit in the New York City metro area.[11] Footsteps aids former Haredi Jewish people enter mainstream society,[12] including those exiting in order to follow their natural sexual preferences.[13] In 2014, Rev. Chani was instrumental in launching Footsteps' Family Justice Program,[14] which provides emotional, legal, and practical support to formerly ultra-Orthodox people undergoing divorce and custody proceedings. The program also trains attorneys and clinicians. Rev. Chani directed the program until 2020. Today, Rev. Chani serves as Scholar in Residence for Footsteps; they teach, train, and mentor staff at partner organizations to improve quality of service for individuals living or raised in insular communities and may have limited secular education and/or English language skills. Their work as a life coach and counselor was featured in the documentary film One of Us.

The Jewish Women's Archive highlights Rev. Chani's pivotal role in supporting the formation and development of organizations and resources for people wanting to stay connected to their Orthodox roots.[1] For nearly 20 years, Rev. Chani has supported and nurtured a growing community of women, trans, genderqueer, and non-binary people across North America and Europe. From 2007 to 2020, Rev. Chani facilitated a monthly support group for LGBTQ+ women in New York City for Keshet.[15][16][17] For several years, Rev. Chani also directed and lead annual weekend retreats for LGBTQ+ individuals and families with community building programs and workshops. In 2022, Jewish Queer Youth (JQY) named Rev. Chani a "Jewish Queer Trailblazer" and honored their work with the Pride = Nachas Award.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Lesbianism". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  2. 1 2 JQY. "Pride=Nachas Rooftop Party". JQY. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  3. 1 2 ""DevOUT"— a new film about Orthodox Gay Jews (from Tablet Magazine)". 19 December 2011.
  4. ↑ Ewing, Heidi; Grady, Rachel (2017-10-20), One of Us (Documentary), Etty, Chani Getter, Ari Hershkowitz, Loki Films, retrieved 2023-09-29
  5. ↑ "The harsh reality awaiting Hasidic Jews who leave their community behind". Haaretz. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  6. ↑ "May 10, 2013 ~ Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism - May 10, 2013 - Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly - PBS". PBS. 10 May 2013.
  7. ↑ "Haredi and Out of the Closet". 10 September 2009.
  8. ↑ "Gay Jews Struggle in the Orthodox World – Tablet Magazine". www.tabletmag.com.
  9. ↑ Zarum, Lara (16 October 2017). "Netflix's One of Us Reveals the Fight of Hasidic Jews to Break From the Sect".
  10. ↑ "Meet Rev. Chani, LCSW". revchani.com. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  11. ↑ "Staff". Footsteps. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  12. ↑ Otterman, Sharon (25 May 2018). "When Living Your Truth Can Mean Losing Your Children". The New York Times.
  13. ↑ "'You Will Lose Your Entire Family': Inside The Struggle To Come Out In Ultra-Orthodox Judaism". Archived from the original on 2018-02-25. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  14. ↑ West, Melanie Grayce (12 August 2014). "Formerly Orthodox, and Struggling for Parental Rights". Wall Street Journal – via www.wsj.com.
  15. ↑ "'One of Us': Film Review - TIFF 2017". The Hollywood Reporter. 10 September 2017.
  16. ↑ Kenigsberg, Ben (19 October 2017). "Review: 'One of Us', a Portrait of Starting a New Life". The New York Times.
  17. ↑ Blog, Godzooks: The Faith in Facts (19 May 2018). "Breaking Up: Why Is Leaving Religion So Hard? Hasidic".
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