The Center for Jewish Learning presents Community Scholar-in-Residence Joy Ladin for a trio of events to discuss her poetry, her most recent book “The Soul of the Stranger: Reading God and Torah from a Transgender Perspective” and to facilitate a learning session entitled “Reading Torah Through the Lens of Transgender Experience.”

In 2007, Ladin became the first openly transgender employee of Yeshiva University. Ladin teaches at the Stern College of Yeshiva University, where she holds the David and Ruth Gottesman Chair in English.

Ladin has published numerous poetry collections, including “The Future Is Trying to Tell Us Something.” Ladin is also the author of a memoir, National Jewish Book Award finalist “Through the Door of Life: A Jewish Journey Between Genders.”

Ladin’s presentations will be:

• A poetry reading at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 18 at MaTovu, 4200 Blaine Ave. Light dessert reception to follow, registration preferred.

• A book talk on “The Soul of the Stranger: Reading God and Torah from a Transgender Perspective” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 19 at the J’s Staenberg Family Complex, Performing Arts Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. Ladin’s book will be available for purchase, and she will be signing books after the program.

• A Lunch and Learn on “Reading Torah Through the Lens of Transgender Experience” at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 20 at the Kaplan Feldman Complex, 12 Millstone Campus Drive. The cost is $10. A light kosher lunch will be served. Registration required.

Ladin’s visit is sponsored by the Center for Jewish Learning, along with the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival, MaTovu, Kol Rinah, Jewish Ciommunity Relations Council, St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, and the Gateway Business Guild.

Register for these events at JFedSTL.org/events/Joy-Ladin. For more information, contact Kathy Schmeltz at [email protected] or 314-442-3761.