On Purim there is a custom of dressing up in misgendered clothing. How does this practice align with the biblical prohibition of men and women wearing each other's clothing (Deuteronomy 22:5)? This text based class will explore the intentions and applications of wearing gender affirming clothing. Beginning in the Garden of Eden, through contemporary questions affecting the LGBTQ+ community, we will discuss the role of clothing in communicating our identities. 

Rabbi Mike Moskowitz is the Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, the world’s largest LGBT synagogue. He is a deeply traditional and radically progressive advocate for trans rights and a vocal ally for LGBTQ inclusivity. Rabbi Moskowitz received three Ultra-Orthodox ordinations while learning in the Mir in Jerusalem and BMG in Lakewood, NJ. He is a Wexner Field Fellow, Senior Rabbinic Fellow at the Hartman Institute, and the author of Textual Activism, Graceful Masculinity, Seasonal Resistance, and Ancestral Allyship. His newest book, Inviting Order, will be out in time for Passover 2026. Rabbi Moskowitz’s writings can be found on his website.