Temple Emanu-El hosts first Pride Shabbat

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Temple Emanu-El of Long Beach hosted the city’s first Pride Shabbat service on June 9, part of the many events included in the Pride on the Beach three-day festival organized by the LGBT Network.

Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft led the unprecedented service, emphasizing a need for places of worship to encourage inclusive memberships.

“Many faith communities have not been very welcoming to the LGBT population, including various Jewish denominations,” Zanerhaft said. “We wanted to be clear about being an inclusive synagogue. We open our arms — and doors — wide open to any and all who want to pray, celebrate, study, support social justice issues or be active with us in any way. We embrace diversity.”

More than 100 people attended the service where guests enjoyed desserts and live music performed by Cantor Lisa Klinger-Kantor and Jonathan Kapilian.

The guest speaker, LGBT Network Chief Executive Officer David Kilmnick, a Long Island native, spoke to those in attendance about his experience growing up as a gay, Jewish boy. Kilmnick recalled asking his rabbi in Hebrew School when he was young if he would be able to marry another man someday. The rabbi told him gay marriage wasn’t allowed under Jewish law, but that he understood and accepted him, regardless, and shouldn’t let that stop him from loving whomever he loves.

Zanerhaft said Kilmnick’s story puts the situation into a contemporary light, “at least in our slice of Judaism and our little corner of Long Beach.”

“Our LGBT friends, their partners, supporters and families,” Zanerhaft said, “must have a house of worship where they can belong and feel unequivocally that they are a valued part of an established and ancient heritage that has always believed in the dignity of every single person.”