On Friday, June 6, over 150 community members gathered together for a Community Pride Shabbat at Scalzi Park. Held in partnership between United Jewish Federation (UJF), Temple Beth El, and Temple Sinai, this is the first time that multiple agencies in the community have come together to celebrate Pride Month, and to share appreciation for the diversity that exists in the Jewish community. 

Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, the Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York, gave a stirring d’var torah about the need for embracing allyship as a Jewish value, because “we are all G-d’s children”. As stated by Rabbi Moskowitz, “Today we recommit to ending hatred by loving each other the way that we would want to be loved by G-d.” 

If you would like to help with the planning of next year’s Community Pride Shabbat, please contact UJF Deputy Director Eric Ross at eric@ujf.org.