ABSTRACT
SUM M ARY. This article examines recent developments in Montreal lesbian, bisexual and queer women’s Jewish community building. It be gins with an overview of the issues facing GLBT Jews. It follows with background on Montreal’s lesbian Jewish groups in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. It explores the author’s personal perspective on queer Jewish identity and her role as coordinator of N ice Jewish Girls, a Montreal group for anyone who identifies as a lesbian, bisexual or queer woman and their non-Jewish partners and friends. It discusses the formation of the group, notably its inclusiveness. It briefly presents the recent activi ties of N ice Jewish, including holiday celebrations and cultural
Rebecca E. Margolis is a Montreal-based Yiddish Studies scholar. She grew up in Montreal and received a liberal Jewish day school education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies from McGill University and a master’s and doctorate in Yid dish Studies from Columbia University. Rebecca has been active in Jewish communal life for much of her adult life as an organizer, teacher and activist in the Jewish and GLBT communities. She currently coordinates a local group for queer Jewish women and their friends called Nice Jewish Girls. When she isn’t working on her Yiddish re search, teaching or doing work in the local Jewish/gay communities, Rebecca trains and coaches Olympic Weightlifting.
