Members of Menorah Synagogue were delighted to welcome Ariel Chapman, Executive Director of Keshet UK, to their inaugural Pride Shabbat.
The service incorporated contemporary liturgical and musical elements throughout, and Ariel delivered the sermon.
Menorah’s Rabbi Kath Vardi said: “We aimed to create space to reflect on the values of welcome, inclusion, and justice – particularly as members of LGBTQI+ communities who have historically not been well served by religious institutions, and who, in many parts of the world, continue to face exclusion from religious life.”
Rabbi Kath – pictured with Colin Fintz and Karen Trillo, who helped to organise the service – added: “We look forward to building our relationship with Keshet in synagogue life over the coming year and to celebrating Pride again next June.”
If your synagogue celebrated Pride Shabbat and you have a photo to share, or you would like to be part of the Progressive Judaism bloc at London Pride this Saturday, please email media@progressivejudaism.org.uk.
Keshet UK is the UK’s Jewish LGBT+ education and training charity. To find out more about their work please click here.