The Story Continues

This exhibit is yet another product of the fruitful partnership between CBST and LGBTQRAN in preserving queer religious histories. Others include the Archive Network’s profiles of prominent members of the congregation, such as our profiles of Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum and founding congregation members Allan Masur and Michael Levine.

Here is a recording of the preview event for this exhibition held on January 20th, 2022.  In this recording you will hear leaders of CBST talk about their history and this exhibit and curator Remy Biggs provides a preview of the exhibit.

While this exhibit only addresses the first twenty years of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah’s existence, the story does not end at that in the slightest. The Congregation still meets, both online and in person, and still makes a point of being involved in the lives of queer Jewish people in New York City since its inception in 1973. Many have come and gone in the decades since the temple’s founding, but the mission has remained the same: a devotion to public service and a dedication to providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ people of all walks of life. The congregation is more relevant, influential, and spiritually uplifting than ever.

Read more about CBST’s continued journey, changing lives, making history, and making their Home of Our Own dream into a reality in the book (purchase at the CBST online Book Shop). Visit CBST at 130 West 30th Street, New York NY 10001, and become part of CBST’s world-wide community at CBST.org. All are always welcome.

Credits

The text and images in this exhibit derive from the award-winning historic book, “Changing Lives, Making History: Congregation Beit Simchat Torah – the First Forty Years” by Rabbi Ayelet S. Cohen, quoted and summarized by consultant Ann Targownik with review, edits, and approval by the CBST Archives Committee: Barbara Dolgin, Michael Levine, and Sara Sloan, with CBST Executive Director Yolanda Potasinski and CBST Senior Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum. Exhibit direction done by Mark Bowman, exhibit curation done by Remy Biggs, & exhibit design done by Carl Foote.