Fact sheet/flyer for The Gay Synagogue Beth Simchat Torah, ~1974-1975
Dublin Core
Title
Fact sheet/flyer for The Gay Synagogue Beth Simchat Torah, ~1974-1975
Description
In 1973, the Gay Synagogue was felt to be enough of an oddity to require some explanation, even some justification for its existence.
Source
Archives of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, New York City, NY
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Text
The Gay Synagogue
Beth Simchat Torah
Post Office Box 1270, GPO
New York, N. Y. 10001
It is difficult to fit Beth Simchat Torah into one of the traditional
categories of synagogues in America: Orthodox, Conservative
or Reformed. The Gay Synagogue conforms to none of them, borrows
from all of them, adds a generous note of Hassidic joy and a special
flavor of love and spirituality all its own. Call it an Experimental
Synagogue if it must be characterized and indeed the form and content
of the services are constantly changing.
The Gay Synagogue is more than a house of worship. Rather it is
dedicated to a total immersion in Jewishness and enjoyment of the
many facets of the rich Jewish heritage: language, literature,
music, customs, traditions, history, holidays, modern Israel to
name a few.
The founders and most of the men and women who attend are homosexuals.
Why a separate synagogue for gays? Probably there are as many
reasons as there are people in attendance. Some find it difficult
to relate to Establishment congregations in which they are shunned
unless they conceal their predilections. Others have lost interest
in a religious life altogether but find a special rapport with this
group. Still others, with no religious background whatsoever, are
eager to establish a Jewish identity within their own special framework.
Perhaps the greatest attraction of all is the opportunity openly
to enjoy one's Jewishness and one's gayness.
HISTORY
The Gay Synagogue's origins were quite spontaneous. A few friends,
mindful of the success of the Metropolitan Community Church, a gay
Protestant church, decided to form a Jewish counterpart. One person
took the initiative.
He obtained space in the same Episcopal Church that hosts MCC. He
Beth Simchat Torah
Post Office Box 1270, GPO
New York, N. Y. 10001
It is difficult to fit Beth Simchat Torah into one of the traditional
categories of synagogues in America: Orthodox, Conservative
or Reformed. The Gay Synagogue conforms to none of them, borrows
from all of them, adds a generous note of Hassidic joy and a special
flavor of love and spirituality all its own. Call it an Experimental
Synagogue if it must be characterized and indeed the form and content
of the services are constantly changing.
The Gay Synagogue is more than a house of worship. Rather it is
dedicated to a total immersion in Jewishness and enjoyment of the
many facets of the rich Jewish heritage: language, literature,
music, customs, traditions, history, holidays, modern Israel to
name a few.
The founders and most of the men and women who attend are homosexuals.
Why a separate synagogue for gays? Probably there are as many
reasons as there are people in attendance. Some find it difficult
to relate to Establishment congregations in which they are shunned
unless they conceal their predilections. Others have lost interest
in a religious life altogether but find a special rapport with this
group. Still others, with no religious background whatsoever, are
eager to establish a Jewish identity within their own special framework.
Perhaps the greatest attraction of all is the opportunity openly
to enjoy one's Jewishness and one's gayness.
HISTORY
The Gay Synagogue's origins were quite spontaneous. A few friends,
mindful of the success of the Metropolitan Community Church, a gay
Protestant church, decided to form a Jewish counterpart. One person
took the initiative.
He obtained space in the same Episcopal Church that hosts MCC. He
Citation
“Fact sheet/flyer for The Gay Synagogue Beth Simchat Torah, ~1974-1975”, Congregation Sim Beit Torah, LGBTQ Religious Archives Network, accessed May 16, 2024, https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/exhibits/show/cbst/item/1695.
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