Tell Magazine - March 2018 / Sivan 5778

{CELEBRATING GENDER DIVERSITY AND
LGBT+ MATTERS AT EMANUEL}
Kim Gotlieb
This is the first year in which marriage equality for same sex couples has become law.
The rabbis at Emanuel Synagogue are now free to perform the long-awaited mitzvah
of same-sex “weddings” under the chuppah. Until now, they were stymied behind
legal rhetoric which would not allow them to apply the term “marriage” to samesex
unions. It was awesome to find that the first same-sex marriage performed in
Australia was indeed a Jewish one, officiated by our own Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins.
This year’s Mardi Gras float is themed
to highlight some of the Jewish Gay
icons who have played an integral role
in supported the LGBT+ communities
- namely Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler
& Fran Drescher (from the nanny).
And Emanuel Synagogue should be
added to that list, for its unequivocal
support for the LGBT+ community.
Emanuel synagogue “pulled out all the
stops” to support the YES vote - from
posters outside the shul, to rabbinic
endorsement of the bill at the political
level. We are extremely grateful.
Emanuel continues to support LGBT+
issues, beyond the scope of their
membership, which certainly does
include a good representation of LGBT+
folk. However, it is clear that their is an
aspect of Tikkun
Olam (repair of the
world) in which
Emanuel’s support
for LGBT+ folk
extends way beyond
the limits of its
membership.
As President of
Dayenu it was
very heartening
to be at the Mardi
Gras Fair Day
stall and hear the
range of folk, both
Jewish and non,
who could speak
of a meaningful connections with
our rabbis. You do an amazing job.
Looking to the future, we are planning
some joint events for Pride Week in
June. We are also entering preliminary
discussions with the World Congress
of GLBT Jews about hosting their
conference in 2019. This year it is
happening in Rome, but L’shana
Haba (Next year) maybe right here
in Sydney. Emanuel Synagogue
has already shown support for
movement towards this possibility.
We can not fully celebrate, without
taking a moment to notice many issues,
which remain painful for LGBT+ folk
in our midst: There are young adult gay
folk who are too scared to come out to
their parents; there are lesbian schoolgirls
The Dayenu float at the 2018 Mardi Gras (Photo: Toby Centre Sydney)
engaged in self-harm and suicidal
ideation; their are gay luminaries in their
time, who experience loneliness and
isolation; there is addiction; relationship
challenges; and a raft of complex areas
of concern - many of
which are present within
the broader community,
but amplified through
the lens of homophobia
and the challenges of
experiencing this particular
brand of “othering”.
SUSTAINING THE ENVIRONMENT
& HEALING THE WORLD
Dayenu looks forward
to including more of our
youth, gender diverse,
and others aspects of the LGBT+/
Jewish interface. Please contact us, with
your thoughts and your enthusiasm.
L’dor V’dor, from
generation to
generation may
we find Sukkat
Shlomecha, a
shelter of peace, for
all who enter the
doors of Emanuel
Synagogue.
For more, see
www.dayenu.org.au
27