It seems that after every JGLG event I feel compelled to set fingers to keyboard. It is Saturday night’s Fireworks Party that has me waxing lyrical this time. Wow. Thank you. We had a blast (pun intended)!
It is so hard to believe that just 2 short months ago my partner and I shuffled anxiously outside our first JGLG event, too frightened to enter. We knew no one in the crowd, and when we did finally cross the threshold, we just tried our hardest at first, to disappear into the wallpaper.
Our approach to this JGLG event, the fireworks party, couldn’t have been more different. For starters, a small group of us gathered at our home, and we set out together, in convoy, to the party. When we got to the party, well, there was no anxious shuffling this time! We bounded in excitedly, greeted with the embraces of our ever-widening circle of friends.
The place was packed with people, the music was pumping, and the booze was flowing. Of the 100 or so people who were there, we couldn’t believe how many were now familiar, friendly faces, most of whom we got to know through JGLG.
As ever, our friends again exuded the warmth, support and affirmation that I have come to associate with the JGLG. Against the background of pulsing music, fireworks popping, and general raised decibels, the news that I had recently come out to some family members was warmly received, and I felt enveloped anew by an incredible, validating sense of community. Sadly for me, the evening moved so fast that by the time I got through with the “hellos”, it was time to start on the “goodbyes”.
I can only thank you and the crew again and again for your tireless efforts on behalf of the Jewish Gay and Lesbian community. Each event has been loads of fun and affirming, not to mention well-organised and abundant! They certainly beat languishing in a darkened corner of some far-flung closet!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Your email prompted me to drop you the line I’d been meaning to send since Sunday. I wanted to let you know how very much we both enjoyed the Women’s BBQ. My partner and I had cleared our diaries way in advance so as to be able to attend.
But as I had mentioned before, getting to the BBQ wasn’t as simple as clearing our diaries. Because when we did finally pull up in front of the house, our nerves kicked in big time. We sat in the car for what seemed like ages and deliberated as to whether or not we’d bottle it and flee, or if we could muster up the courage to walk in.
Fortunately, since it was pouring with rain we had both convinced ourselves that the BBQ would be cancelled. Rather than just bolt, we’d decided to just approach the door and peer into the house to determine that there were no signs of life.
But the opposite was true. The house was bustling, vibrant and very much alive.
As you know, both from myself and from all the others who preceded me, it took many years to arrive at that doorstep. Having finally got there, torn as we were, we quickly rang the bell before we could change our minds!
I don’t know what we expected at a lesbian BBQ. Well, I do know we were uncertain if there’d be any sausages served! And my partner didn’t know if its ok for her to be there as she’s still convinced she’s not a lesbian! But whatever we may or may not have expected, what we got was a warm welcome and an almost instant sense of belonging. It’s a huge relief to be somewhere amongst people where one’s whole self is welcome and invited. At the JGLG BBQ I could be Jewish, Lesbian and kosher all in the same place at the same time. Wow. Moreover, I could acknowledge my partner out loud.
The sense of wholeness and affirmation was so strong that I couldn’t, after we eventually left, go on to the “straight event” that I was supposed to attend later that evening. I didn’t want to have to shut down or withdraw those parts of me that had only then had their first expression. I didn’t want to be stuffed back into the closet.
That feeling of completeness is so powerful that it impels me forward to seek more of it. “You mean we could actually live our whole lives like this?” What you and the other group members helped us know and experience on Sunday is that we “Yes, we can! “
So thank you...to you and to all the members of the group who blaized the trail and who continue to smooth the bumps in the road for the rest of us.
PS My partner will be submitting her (JGLG) application to become a lesbian very soon!
JGLG’s 2011 Pride started on Friday night with a joint service with BKY Synagogue led by no less than 7 lesbian and gay rabbis and one rabbinical student! Rabbi Lionel Blue was guest of honour and the service attracted almost 100 people! Lionel spoke after supper and it was a marvellous evening. (Photo courtesy of Avivit Katzil)
JGLG marched at Pride with three other Jewish LGBT Groups - BKY, Keshet UK and GJiL. (Photo courtesy of Ariel J Friedlander)
And finally on Sunday we held a post-Pride brunch at Gordon’s house in his fabulous garden. It was a wonderful weekend with varied and well-attended events.
"I enjoyed making the Kneidalach and moreover taking part in a wonderful Seder."
"It really was a fabulous evening; I thought Anna did really well."
"Thank you for a lovely evening. We both enjoyed meeting everyone and will try and come to more events."
"Just wanted to say thank you so much for the Seder on Tuesday. I had a really lovely time and enjoyed the evening - even though I had to leave at 10pm to get back before the trains stopped. Everyone was really friendly and it was lovely to be Jewish in a relaxed environment where no-one seemed to be trying to out-do each other with how Jewish they were! A real difference."
"Just a quick e-mail to say thanks for encouraging us to come to the JGLG Seder. It was a really enjoyable event - just the right mix of spirituality, realism and humour. Good to meet familiar faces and new people. Fab rabbi who I am sure will have a very successful career with her charm, intelligence and good looks."
"I must thank the committee for all their hard work on making a most amazing Seder. As usual the food was excellent, and I really enjoyed the service led by Rabbi Anna; she made sure that we all felt included, it was a wonderful evening, well done to all involved."
"I really enjoyed how Rabbi Anna asked questions and we had to get in pairs to decide what new fruit we would put on the Seder plate and why. I said a strawberry, to show that it wasn’t just adults who were slaves in Egypt and who were freed, but children too." (Lily aged 9)
"I should have got in touch earlier to say how lovely the Seder night meal was - Anna was a great choice."
"Thank you to everyone involved with the Seder. Thanks very much for a wonderful night, I found it very interesting . And fun the way you do it in English and Hebrew. Also could you pass my thanks to the ladies in the kitchen. Also everyone who makes it a success."
The March Chavurah was particularly special for me. I knew Mark Solomon would be taking the service. Mark has had a long association with JGLG. Some 15 years ago he was the prime mover in relocating our services from Alyth Gardens to the Montagu Centre. But on the last Friday of the month he will now be with his Edinburgh community. So this was to be his valedictory attendance.
There were about 40 of us. We all enjoyed Mark’s rich and ever mellifluous singing and the service was both engaging and sensitive. I was pleased to see people from both Young JGLG, Gay Jews in London, and from BKY.
After the blessings and the appetising Chavura meal, Mich Sampson gave us a taste of the new Jewish Training Choir whose base since last October has been at the Montagu Centre. If anyone was diffident before Mich started they soon lost their inhibitions and were singing enthusiastically by the end.
After some warm up vocal gobbling and body loosening Mich got us going on some great Hebrew, Yiddish and Ladino songs. Soon we were singing in parts - harmonising with each other surprisingly quickly. We had all stayed to the end even though it was well after 10pm by the time we left. The Jewish Training Choir meets Thursday evenings from 7-9.
Facebook page: ‘Groups’ then ‘Jewish Training Choir’ email: mich@mich-sampson.com or call Mich on 07989 598949. Website: www.mich-sampson.com/jewish_choir.html
Russell
Peter Tatchell spoke to the Jewish Gay and Lesbian Group at their monthly Friday night event on “The Unfinished Battle for LGBT Rights”.
As expected from a respected human rights campaigner of many decades he was precise, lucid, measured and without rhetoric. The journalist Melanie Phillips, whose tirade appeared in the national press last week, would be unlikely to accept his views.
Two fascinating facts were that the UK has moved in the last decade from one of the most repressive regimes (Section 28 etc), to one of the most progressive in the Western world. Mr Tatchell explained that 65%, that is 46 of the 70 countries world-wide where homosexuality is a crime, (death penalty, imprisonment, stoning) are in the British Commonwealth which has equality as a guiding principle!
Despite more open minded pre-colonial tribal rules, the British legal systems imposed in Victorian times and later have left the current legacy of repressive laws, hatred and inequalities towards women, sexual orientation and others. The past and recent teaching by fundamentalist missionaries has added to this intolerance, while the UK has moved well away from such injustice.
The Jewish Gay and Lesbian group celebrates its 40th anniversary next year, and was formed before any similar group in the world, beating the Americans by a few months. A visitor to the event wrote “The folks were lovely and very welcoming. The speaker was outstanding. Great to see such a thriving group.”
Whizz Whizz Bang Bang by Lee Saunders
When I googled "Jewish and Gay" several months ago, I expected to see something depressing about Stephen Fry or a Joan Rivers fan club. It was with some surprise that up popped the JGLG website in all its multi-colour glory and I was just in time to express interest in the curiously-named Jewish Gay and Lesbian firework display. Images popped into my head of little rockets wearing kippot racing through the sky, the larger ones going "Oy, look how far my son has gone, I'm over the moon" (whatever!) so I persuaded my sparky friends Nicky and Jilly the Masha Martin to cancel their typical Saturday nights, which we won't go into here (X Factor really) and brave the nippy West Finchley air to attend an incredibly packed event.
Greeted by the effervescent president Peggy, who will have edited this and inserted her own adjective (no I haven’t – Peggy!), the dutiful fellow-Manc Eric on the door and our hospitable host and pyromaniac, Julian, we were invited to digest so much food, wine and chicken soup for the soul that if there was an early Father Chanukah, he'd have never fitted into his 32 inch pants. Apparently every Jew is 32 inches. I am not sure where we count from. But it's true.
We all ooohed and ahhhed in unison as Julian lit the touchpaper to the fireworks, handed out sparklers and disappeared every few seconds behind plumes of smoke, reminiscent of Battle of the Somme. But then perhaps there was a bunch of stoners behind his back fence.
More important than the fireworks, and even more important than the matchmaking attempts of some wonderful lesbians, was the generally friendly spirit, which, in my experience of the Jewish scene around the Manchester bars, transcended age, background, experience and the almost unbridgeable North-South divide. Almost. Even Stephen Fry might have found something to smile about here.
JGLG was proud to march twice at Pride this year – firstly at Pride London in June together with other Jewish LGBT groups and then again in August at Pride in Brighton and Hove with other inter-faith LGBT Groups - at the front of the parade.
Following London Pride we held a very successful Pride Sunday Brunch in a member’s new house and beautiful garden and we were incredibly lucky on all days with the weather.
Have a look at the pictures below – please note our new red LGBT Jews at Pride tee-shirts!
“Axl Rose...?!! Why on earth would Axl Rose want to play for us?"
That was the immediate reaction to my suggestion JGLG could check out new talent Ezra Axelrod, a 24-year old Jewish (and gay) musician hailing from Oregon, USA.
No, we weren't about to witness the revival of legendary rockers Guns n' Roses, but much better than that, we were going to see a heartfelt performance, rendered more genuine and stirring by accompanying strings.
On Thursday 10th June, twenty of us went to the Green Carnation bar in the heart of Soho. It was an intimate and cool setting. Glass of wine in hand, we occupied the sofas at the front, sitting back for songs both at turns witty, knowing and ever-so queer. The first half dozen or so songs were full of arch humour, very much keeping in with the surroundings and the bar's references to Oscar Wilde. During the break we had an opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new ones too. As the second half got going, Ezra's performance became a little more melancholy, but not too sentimental. We learnt more of his Jewish heritage and his grandfather's claims to being the only Sephardic cowboy from the Mid-West!
It was a great evening, with a cosmopolitan and relaxed vibe. Bolivar rounded the evening off nicely, a sweet and slightly more up-tempo number, it was full of Latin vim and vigour. Ezra could go far and if he does, he's certainly got some new groupies sure to follow every step!
The sun shines on JGLG – well, this was certainly true for the matzoh ramble that took place on April 4th. Despite the bad forecast the day was dry and we were able to make a round trip from Highgate station, through the historic Queens Wood (dedicated to Queen Victoria), Highgate Woods, through the beautiful streets of Highgate to Kenwood, where typical Pesach fare was eaten heartily outside Kenwood House. We then walked through Hampstead Heath, along the ponds and back via Fitzroy Park. Great to be out in the fresh air and to enjoy the sunshine and to see nature springing back to life after the long, cold winter.
Almost 55 Jewish lesbians and gay men, their partners and children attended the annual JGLG Second Night Seder in North London this year. The service was led by Rabbi Mark Solomon and was followed by a sumptuous hot four course meal cooked by members.
A highly successful event! After a slightly late start, 12 participants made it through adverse weather conditions to the Hollywood Bowl N. Finchley for the first Bowling tournament between the Young & Not So Young groups.
Representing the 'Not So Youngs' were: Ruth K, Ruth W, Sacha, Hero, Eric, Morris and on the Young side were: Dean, Inbar, Rachel, Matthew (newcomer) and to even the sides out - the 2 youngest members of the NSY's, Karen L & Steve V.
After some spectacular displays of technique, trickery, faulty lanes & nail-biting ball spins, the NSYs triumphed over the Youngsters 540 to 457!
In true racy style the JGLG league finished off the afternoon with a cappuccino & cake at Cafe Rouge, where we met with another potential member - newly arrived from New York a week ago so excused for missing the bowling because he couldn't find it!
A great afternoon
Once again the Men’s Valentine party proved to be a great success. With almost 30 joining in the fun the atmosphere was warm and friendly and the event socially very successful. Many thanks to Steve for his hospitality in his lovely home and creating a very special evening.
Following a successful ‘girls only’ Valentine’s Night last year, the evening was repeated at Ruth W’s in Enfield – albeit a week early. That didn’t affect numbers too much with 20 of us enjoying the great atmosphere, food & drink! No budding love affairs as far as we know – but another enjoyable, loved-up night for the girls!!
To mark Holocaust Memorial Day, JGLG invited Ruth to share her moving story at our January Chavurah. Ruth was born in Germany just after the Nazi Party had risen to power. She talked about the growing sense of fear and intimidation her family felt as racist laws were introduced. After the horrific events of Kristallnacht in November 1938, Ruth's parents made arrangements for her and her older brother to move to England. They arrived with the Kindertransport and Ruth's story centred on her experiences during the war. We got to hear about the various families she lived with and her sense of rejection every time she and her brother were moved on. As the doodlebugs dropped in London she couldn't have known her parents were still alive, her father now living in Shanghai after escaping on the brink of war.
Years later she was reunited with her mother and father but she spoke with clarity about the pain she felt saying goodbye to England, her adopted country. Ruth has shared her story hundreds of times with students but this is a story that needs to be told again and again. It is a story that keeps repeating itself, even though the lesson we were all meant to draw from the Sho'ah was "never again". Ruth campaigns for greater recognition of the atrocities that took place against the Armenian population in the early 20th century and this spurs her on as she recalls her own experiences of living under the Nazis. We will get another opportunity to hear about Ruth's experiences and her work later in 2010.
