Chani Getter is an American counselor and interfaith minister focusing on those leaving the

Haredi Jewish Haredi Judaism (, ) is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that is characterized by its strict interpretation of religious sources and its accepted (Jewish law) and traditions, in opposition to more accommodating values and practices. Its members are ...

community and those in transition. They are also an activist and educator who supports the

LGBTQ LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (sexuality and gender), questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, Asexuality, asexual, ...

community. Their life and work has been featured in two documentary films, ''DevOUT'' (2012) and '' One of Us'' (2017).

Early life

Chani Getter was born into a Haredi Jewish family affiliated with the Nikolsburg-Monsey Hasidic community, and was legally married off by their family at the age of seventeen. Getter had three children over the next five years, before coming out as gay, a story that was covered in the documentary film ''devOUT'' and also featured in a

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...

documentary television show, ''Religious & Ethics Newsweekly''. They later left their husband with their children, which resulted in divorce. Getter then became a part of the Jewish Renewal movement, and maintained their Orthodox observances for some time. They have been critical of the insular nature of Hasidic communities in New York City.

Career

Getter was previously the program director at Footsteps, which aids former Haredi Jewish people enter mainstream society, including those exiting to follow their natural sexual preferences. Their work as a life coach and counselor was featured in the documentary film '' One of Us''. They have also facilitated an

women's support group for Keshet.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Getter, Chani Living people 21st-century American Jews American nonprofit executives Life coaches LGBTQ people from New York (state) Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century American LGBTQ people Non-binary Jews Former Hasidim