Rainbow challah baked by Mitch Cohen
June is Pride Month around the world: from Israel to Africa, Asia to North America. It is a time to celebrate the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community and take action for the millions around the world who continue to face harassment and discrimination for who they are. Pride Month’s origins go back to the first Pride marches held in 1970, held in commemoration of the June 1969 Stonewall riots.
A great deal has changed in the 55 years since Stonewall. However, we still have a long way to go to achieve total equality and inclusion for our LGBTQ+ community. As of last Friday, June 21, the ACLU is tracking 527 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the US. While not all of these bills will become law, the fact that they are on a legislative agenda causes harm not just to the LGBTQ+ community, but to all of us as well.
The Reform Movement has spoken truth to power, fought for the marginalized and advocated on behalf of LGBTQ+ rights for decades. Even though so much has been accomplished, there is much more work to be done. (You can learn about the Reform Movement’s position and long history with advocating for LGBTQ+ rights HERE ). A few years ago, the Central Conference of American Rabbis published a book, Mishkan Ga’avah – Where Pride Dwells, which celebrates and affirms the achievements achieved on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and frames it in a Reform Jewish context, with words of liturgy, poems, and prayers.
Some may question why the Jewish world is so deeply committed to advocating on behalf of our LGBTQ+ community and why we observe Pride Shabbat.
The Torah teaches us that it’s important to speak up for those who are not always able to speak up for themselves, to strive for justice, to speak truth to power, even if it is not always easy, and to fight up what is right and ethical. Speaking truth to power sometimes means challenging the norm when the norm treats human beings as “other,” or “less than.” There’s a vast difference between diversity and inclusion and liberation and justice. The first enjoys the feeling of everyone’s embrace. The second embraces the fullness of everyone’s humanity. Embracing the fullness of everyone’s humanity is what the Torah means when it says in Genesis that we are all made “b’tzelem Elohim.” We are all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).
We live in a world that still does not completely embrace the fullness of the humanity of those in the LGBTQ+ community. We know too well that here in the United States, there’s a vast movement to even further destroy, erode and threaten the sanctity of their lives, limit or deny protections put in place to insure equal status and access to family benefits, healthcare, marriage, protection of trans children and so much more.
Pride Month is so important because it is a set time for all of us who have a voice to stand up speak out and advocate on LGBTQ+ issues in a Jewish context at a time when people are present. (We should be doing so all the time). It’s a time for us to show up as individuals, as a community, and in solidarity. As I shared last year, I have two nieces who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. One of them asked, “why did nobody wish me happy Pride? Don’t you all know I’m gay? Don’t you love me?” (We tell her we love her all the time and accept her fully and completely no matter how she identifies or who she loves. Of course we do!). She reminds us: Pride Month is a time to say to our friends, family members and community: We love you, we support you however you need, we will stand up, speak out and advocate alongside you. Happy Pride!
Reform Movement Resources (including: Pride Shabbat, Inclusion, Liturgy and Text, Personal Stories, How to Take Action, Resources for Families, Reports, DEI).
We Come Together
from Kol HaNnshamah: Shabbat Vehagim
We come together this Shabbat, each bringing to this sanctuary a private world of hopes, of fears, of dreams. Some of us are burdened by anxieties and cares that all but crash our faith in the future. Others have hearts filled with happiness, grateful for the joys of the past week, yet aware that even the most fortunate are vulnerable before the mystery of tomorrow. Every life is a unique blending of joy and sorry, of fulfillment and frustration.
Beneath our uniqueness we are all bound together by our common humanity. All of us most deeply yearn for the blessings of freedom and peace. Each of us seeks the personal liberation of a mind that is not enslaved to conventional wisdom. A heart that is able to love without fear, a spirit that cries “yes!” to the universe. Each of us strives too for the inner peace that comes with finding a harmony between our aspirations and our abilities. This is the Shabbat peace to which we aspire.
Please join us for our Pride Shabbat this evening at 6:00 PM. Guillermo da Silva-Montemayor will deliver a special d’var Torah. (Guillermo has been actively involved in TBS for over a year. He will complete his year-long conversion process with me in a few weeks. Professionally, he is a licensed family and marriage therapist/psychologist, with special expertise in complex trauma. Guillermo, his husband Carlos, and sons Emiliano and Lucas live in Yorba Linda.)
Shabbat Shalom!
Reminder: We would love your participation in our 2024 High Holy Days!
