Here We’ve Been: Queer Jewish Writing Workshop

For many queer Jews, navigating their gender and sexual identities alongside their family and cultural heritage can be complex. Facilitated by naveed L. salek nejad, in preparation for their upcoming vitrine exhibition at H. Fisher & Fils, this workshop is an opportunity for queer and trans Jews to write biographically about their intersecting identities.

On October 29, naveed invites you to an intimate evening of collaborative learning and sharing (chavrusa), exploring queer Jewish identity throughout the ages. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their personal experiences and family histories through writing, guided by prompts and the study of a variety of texts. We will explore the idea that queer Jews have always been here, by starting in Biblical times to medieval Jewish-Provençal poetry and a love letter from Berlin during World War II. While each text has its own unique context, the workshop has been designed to be inclusive and accessible to queer and trans Jews from across the Montreal community.

At the end of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to submit excerpts from their writing to be included in naveed’s textile piece to be displayed in the H. Fisher vitrine in 2027!

Admission is free, however early registration is encouraged as capacity is limited.

naveed L. salek nejad is an artist, writer and cultural mediator, holding an MA from Concordia University’s Individualized Program. Their artworks have been on display in Canada and internationally, most recently at the Former Jewish Orphanage Pankow (Berlin, 2025), the MFA Sub Gallery (Montréal, 2024), the Treaty Space Gallery (Halifax, 2023), and at Heima Collective (Seyðisfjörður, 2023). Their non-fiction writing and poetry has appeared in books published in Germany (Querverlag) and the United States (Thick Press), online (Esse arts + opinions), and in self-published artist books. Born to a Polish mother and Irani father in Germany, they reside in Tiohtiá:ke/Montréal.

This event is a part of the Montreal Jewish Arts Collaborative (MJAC), an initiative between the Montreal Jewish Museum, KlezKanada, and the Segal Centre. This program is made possible with support by the Averbach Family Foundation, the Azrieli Foundation, and CANVAS.