Congregation Beit Simchat Torah
Congregation Beit Simchat Torah ("CBST") is a non-denominational, pluralistic, progressive LGBTQ+ Jewish synagogue located at 130 West 30th Street, in Manhattan New York City, New York, United States.
The congregation was founded in 1973 by and for LGBTQ people, and is the world's largest LGBT synagogue. CBST serves Jews of all sexual orientations and gender identities, their families and friends. From 1992-2024, the congregation was led by Senior Rabbi Emerita Sharon Kleinbaum. Current clergy include Senior Rabbi Jason Klein, Associate Rabbi Yael Werber, and Cantor Sam Rosen. CBST is not affiliated with any denomination or branch of Judaism.
History
The congregation, founded in 1973 by twelve gay Jewish men led by Jacob Gubbay, originally met in Chelsea's Church of the Holy Apostles and brought its prayer materials to services each week in a brown paper bag. In 1978 they began renting space in the West Village at 57 Bethune Street, in the Westbeth Artists Community residential-artistic complex, for offices, a Hebrew school, and a sanctuary, though the space was not large enough for Friday night services, which continued to be held in the church. In addition, the synagogue hosts annual Yom Kippur services at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, as the only free High Holy Day services in New York. Yom Kippur services draw over 4,000 people.
Building a Synagogue at 130 W 30th Street
In June 2011, after 16 years of searching for a home, the congregation purchased a large space in Chelsea/Midtown Manhattan, at 130 West 30th Street between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue. Built in 1927-28, this landmarked Assyrian Revival-style building building designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert underwent renovations between 2013 and 2016. The "Dedication of Our New Home" was marked that year with a celebration on April 3.
Notable members
- Barbara Gaines (born 1956), television producer
- Brad Hoylman (born 1965), New York State Senator
- Mike Moskowitz, Orthodox Rabbi who became an LGBTQ Ally and now works as a Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies at CBST
- Cynthia Nixon (born 1966), actress and activist
- David L. Reich (born 1960), President & COO of Mount Sinai Hospital, and President of Mount Sinai Queens
- Janet Weinberg (1955-2018), advocate for people with HIV/AIDS and disabilities
- Randi Weingarten (born 1957), president of the American Federation of Teachers
- Edie Windsor (1929–2017), successfully brought a federal lawsuit, United States v. Windsor, against the Defense of Marriage Act
See also
- Judaism and sexual orientation
- Judaism and sexuality
- LGBT and religion topics
- LGBT clergy in Judaism
- LGBT-affirming denominations in Judaism
- Religion and homosexuality
- Same-sex marriage and Judaism
References
- ^ "About". Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. October 5, 2012. Archived from the original on July 18, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) is a vibrant spiritual community and a progressive voice within Judaism. Founded in 1973, CBST attracts and welcomes gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, queer and straight, individuals and families who share common values. Passionate, provocative, and deeply Jewish, CBST champions a Judaism that rejoices in diversity, denounces social injustice wherever it exists, and strives for the human rights for all people.
- ^ Kurshan, Virginia (November 13, 2001). 130 West 30th Street Building Designation Report (List 331, LP-210) (PDF). New York City: New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ^ "About: Mission and Values". Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. October 5, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ Ingall, Marjorie (April 1, 2016). "CBST, the World's Largest LGBT Synagogue, Gets a New Home". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ Weiss, Anthony. "Gay Acceptance and Gay Synagogues". Keshet Ga'avah: The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews. GLBTJews.org. Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ "Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Congregation Bet Simchat Torah, New York City". Religion & Culture: Meeting the Challenge of Pluralism (a Ford Foundation project). Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ Dunlap, David W. (2004). From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-12543-7., pp.98–99
- ^ Allen, Dan. "High Holy Days for NYC's LGBT Community: Congregation Beit Simchat Torah Opens Its Doors for Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur". About.com Local – Manhattan, NY. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ Dunlap, David W. (August 8, 2011). "'Gay Synagogue' Finds a Home, Full of Ancient Assyrians". The New York Times. City Room. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ Dunlap, David W. (June 21, 2012). "Designing a Synagogue for a Gay Congregation, With Acoustics in Mind". The New York Times. City Room (digital); Designing a Synagogue For a Gay Congregation (New York edition). p. A22. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ "130 West 30th St. New York". Projects. FSI Architecture. 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ^ Chandler, Doug (July 26, 2011). "In A Move Freighted With Symbolism, CBST Purchases First Home". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- ^ "Our History". Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. October 6, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
- ^ Oswald, John A. (November 10, 2015). "Legendary Producer Barbara Gaines Awarded for LGBT Work". The Forward. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ "Senator Brad Hoylman". NY State Senate. December 21, 2012.
- ^ Maltz, Judy (July 11, 2019). "This ultra-Orthodox rabbi wants you to know that 'He/His' is his pronoun of choice". Haaretz. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Young, Robin (November 9, 2018). "This Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi Says His Holiest Moment Was Becoming Public LGBTQ Ally". www.wbur.org. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies". Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. June 12, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Sales, Ben (July 3, 2018). "This ultra-Orthodox rabbi just took a job at an LGBT synagogue". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Rogovoy, Seth (March 20, 2018). "The Secret Jewish History of Cynthia Nixon". The Forward. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
- ^ Make For Me a Holy Place (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 30, 2021.
- ^ Andy Humm (November 14, 2018). "Janet Weinberg's Life Celebrated". Gay City News. Archived from the original on June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "The Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum and Randi Weingarten Fund for Social Justice". Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. June 11, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Hoffman, Allison (September 28, 2012). "Jewish Organizations Join DOMA Appeal: The case of Edie Windsor finds allies in the Jewish community". Tablet Magazine. The Scroll: Tablet Magazine in the News. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ Kampeas, Ron (June 28, 2013). "Edie Windsor's lawyer and the daughters of Zelophehad (includes drash)". Telegraph: Blogging Jewish News and Culture. JTA: The Global Jewish News Service. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
Further reading
- Dunlap, David W. (February 3, 2016). "Gay Congregation Celebrates Its Identity With New Home in Manhattan". The New York Times.
- Kleinbaum, Rabbi Sharon (ed.). "Siddur B'Chol L'vav'cha: With All Your Heart: The New CBST Siddur Bchol Lvavcha for Friday Night". Congregation Beth Simchat Torah. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- Blumenthal, David R. (June 28, 2010). "Siddur B'Chol L'vav'cha: With All Your Heart – By Congregation Beth Simchat Torah". Reviews in Religion & Theology. 17 (3): 341–344. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9418.2010.00579.x.
- Harris, Ben (June 2, 2009). "Gay synagogue's new siddur arrives". Jewish Telegraph Agency. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- Shokeid, Moshe (1995). A gay synagogue in New York. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231084604. OCLC 31604510.
