Our 2006 Brighton weekend started with a peaceful and spiritual Friday night service led by Rabbi Elli
Sarah followed by a delicious supper.JGLG held its biggest Chavurah ever on the evening before Pride in June. We had no fewer than six Rabbis and two Rabbinical Students taking part in the service. Rabbi Lionel Blue was present and spoke movingly about coming out as a gay Jewish man.
The service was co-ordinated by Rabbi Roderick Young with help from Rabbis Shulamit Ambalu, Irit Shillor, Elli Tikvah Sarah, Sheila Shulman and Lionel Blue together with Student Rabbis Anna Gerrard and Judith Levitt. It was a fantastic evening and I for one felt exceptionally proud to be part of it.
Sheldon's generosity at hosting this summer's garden party was greatly appreciated by all who were fortunate enough to enjoy the fantastic spread and also the wonderful weather enabling us to take full advantage of his magnificent garden and home. JGLG would like to thank Sheldon for his hospitality and hard work.
A small but beautiful group of JGLGers marched for the first time this year at Brighton Pride. My partner and I joined the March at the end and were moved at the great reception we got as we marched. The only down side was the group of religious fundamentalists at the end of the march shouting at how homosexuality was a sin etc.
However, we took the JGLG banner over in front of them and paraded it much to the joy of the crowd who broke into spontaneous applause and cheering. JGLG made a lot of friends that day and once again I felt so proud to be part of it.
Our 2006 Brighton weekend started with a peaceful and spiritual Friday night service led by Rabbi Elli
Sarah followed by a delicious supper.
Saturday afternoon we had a tour of Brighton Pavilion which was fabulous and completely over the top decoration-wise! Saturday evening saw us on the beach by the Pier watching the sun go down, drinking wine, followed by an excellent three course Italian meal. Some of us then went clubbing - some of us collapsed in bed!!
Sunday morning's discussion "To Marry or not to Marry" led by Rabbi Elli Sarah was both interesting and thought-provoking. In fact the discussion led on to other topics also. All in all, it was a great weekend and one we hope we will repeat.
Chavurah with Rabbi Lionel Blue, May 2006 |
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In May 2006, our regular Chavurah was led by Rabbi Lionel Blue, who has been a long-standing member of the JGLG. |
"I bet when you were a child sitting at the seder table with your family you never thought one day you would end up here!"
This was Rabbi Mark Solomon's opening gambit at the communal seder night for the Jewish Gay & Lesbian Group (JGLG). It was a profound observation. Around the room fifty or so people in attendance reflected on their sometimes difficult personal journey which had brought them here tonight. Tellingly, few of us as a child would have chosen this path for ourselves. Although the Jewish liberal and progressive movement fully embraces our sexuality; the mainstream orthodoxy still opposes homosexuality making it very difficult to come out.
My girlfriend and I are fortunate. We had spent the first night seder (Jews in the Diaspora celebrate two
nights) at home surrounded by our loving family. Others in the room we know are not so fortunate. For many
this was the only opportunity to celebrate one of the most important Jewish festivals. Shunned by their
family and friends who, though they profess to being good Jews and good people, cannot accept their
homosexuality, they have sought and found a family in JGLG. Sonia, the president of JGLG said that the main
thrust of the group is that it is inclusive - it is a group for Jewish gay, lesbian, bisexual and ts/tg
people also welcoming members' non-Jewish partners. The group provides an opportunity for Jewish LGBT people
from all religious backgrounds, atheist to agnostic, liberal to orthodox to enjoy social and religious
activities in a safe and welcoming environment.
The Passover seder night is one of the highlights of the JGLG religious calendar. My girlfriend and I have been going for the past five years but due to various family commitments did not think we would be able to make it this year. Thankfully we were able to rearrange things so we could attend. And how pleased we were that we had made the effort. It was a fantastic event, the best yet. The service was inspirational. Rabbi Solomon led the service and he had prepared extra material with a specific LGBT focus. Some of the songs had been rewritten with a gay theme. This was not in any way blasphemous, rather an innovative insight into how the religion that has marginalised so many people could be inclusive.
Passover is all about the freeing of the Jews from slavery thousands of years ago. Rabbi Solomon spoke movingly about the fact that around the world there are still many enslaved people physically and emotionally. This resonated around the room with many people some of who still battle daily to be free to be themselves. Rabbi Solomon said that for him leading this seder was all about liberation and all the more poignant as it is a double issue - gay and Jewish.
The first part of the service concluded and the food and drink flowed and everywhere one looked people were talking and laughing, clearly relaxed and having a good time. It is traditional at the Passover meal to invite a stranger to join you at the table and tonight was no different. Several new people had appeared at the beginning of the evening looking somewhat nervous but they were welcomed and soon put at their ease. Throughout the evening, they relaxed and it was clear that they felt at home and part of the family. The highlight of the evening for me was the communal singing after the meal. It had been a long evening but everyone sung with much joy, vigour and on the whole in tune!
As mentioned above, Jewish orthodoxy as with other extreme affiliations of other major religions does not accept homosexuality. It is therefore difficult for gay Jews who want to observe their religion to do so safely and openly. It is thanks to groups like JGLG that gay people are able in some way to practise their beliefs with like-minded people.
The Passover service ends with the saying `next year in Jerusalem' - in other words that if we are lucky enough we will celebrate next Passover in Jerusalem - the holy city. Well this year in Jerusalem World Pride will be taking place. We hope this will be an event where gay people of all races and religions can march proudly side by side and show the world and the religious leaders that we are queer, we are here and we have no fear.
Nikki Sinclair & Sarah Pinn
The Jewish Gay and Lesbian Group celebrated their mid-summer weekend in Brighton on mid-summer weekend. Over
40 lesbian and gay Jews attended a Friday night service led by Rabbi Elizabeth Sarah followed by supper.
Although the weather was a let-down on Saturday, spirits were not dampened and the first Jewish lesbian and gay walk round Brighton took place. Despite the weather the two hour walk was a big success.
Sundowner's drinks on the beach was replaced by a visit to a local gay pub followed by a delicious Italian meal at a restaurant in the Lanes in Brighton. This in turn was followed by clubbing!
Sunday consisted of a workshop about issues surrounding gay and lesbian Jews. Brunch completed a fantastic weekend. Next year in Manchester!!
Sonia Lawrence
