Nachas is Pride

Who is behind Nachas?

Martin Rawlings-Fein is a Jewish, bisexual, transgender father of two and a rabbinic student at the Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary. He serves as the chair of the Trans*/Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) Planning Team at Sha'ar Zahav. Martin is also a filmmaker and activist, known for co-creating the San Francisco Trans March, SF EB BiCON, and founding the BiCONIC Film Festival. He holds a Master of Arts in Jewish Studies from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.

Our Services

בסיסי (Basisi) Basic Services

Personalized Ritual Crafting: We work directly with individuals and families to co-create meaningful Jewish rituals—such as b’nei mitzvah, baby namings, healing rituals, and gender-affirming ceremonies—that honor identity and tradition.
 - Blessing for the Bisexual Community
- The Westward Amidah

בינוני (Beinoni) Intermediate Services

Service Leader Training: Our structured cohort model provides foundational skills in Torah reading, liturgy, and inclusive davening (prayer leading). This training is open to LGBTQ+ individuals with little to no prior experience.

מתקדם (Mitkadem) Advanced Services

Resource Consultation for Synagogues: Nachas offers consultative support to synagogues seeking to expand their inclusivity and train lay leaders in spiritual practice.

Our Mission, Vision & Culture

  • Mission: Creating Belonging, Joy, and Justice in Jewish LGBTQ+ Spaces

    Nachas exists to build and sustain a vibrant, affirming Jewish LGBTQ+ community by weaving together service leading, tradition, activism, and radical inclusivity.

    Inspired by Pirkei Avot 1:14, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?", our mission is to create spaces where all identities are honored, all voices are heard, and all people are empowered to engage in Jewish life on their own terms.

  • Vision: A Future Where Queer Jewish Life Thrives

    We envision a Jewish world that fully embraces LGBTQ+ people not as guests, but as essential co-creators of Jewish life. Nachas seeks to foster joy, spiritual depth, and social justice, guided by the prophetic call of Tzedek, tzedek tirdof (Deuteronomy 16:20)—"Justice, justice you shall pursue." Our vision is to create a multi-generational movement where queer Jews find safety, strength, and Torah that speaks to our lived realities, ensuring that our community thrives across generations and geographies.

  • Culture: A Home for Jewish Learning, Celebration, and Activism

    Radical Hospitality, known in Hebrew as Hachnasat Orchim, emphasizes the importance of welcoming others into our homes and communities with open arms and generous hearts. Collective Liberation, represented by Yetziat Mitzrayim, highlights the shared journey of liberation that connects us all, transcending boundaries of time and place. Finally, L’dor V’dor signifies the vital intergenerational legacy we create, ensuring that our values and traditions are passed down from one generation to the next.

Contact Nachas

If you’re ever confused while exploring our website or have questions about Nachas, we’re here to help! Contact us through this form and we will get back to you within a day. We believe no question is too small when it comes to creating joyful, inclusive Jewish life.