LGBT Synagogues & Havurot
California
Kulanu (Havurot) at Congregation Beth Am
26790 Arastradero Rd.
Los Altos Hills, CA
94022
Phone: (650) 493-4661
www.betham.org/kulanu/
Affiliation: Reform
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The Kulanu group at Congregation Beth Am was established to provide support for the friends and family of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Jews in our community, and to promote the inclusion of homosexual Jews and their partners into the Beth Am community. Kulanu welcomes anyone committed to promoting diversity, self-respect, and human rights, whether or not they have a personal gay or lesbian connection.
Congregation Beth Chayim Chadashim
6000 West Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
90035
Phone: (323) 931-7023
www.bcc-la.org
Affiliation: Reform
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In 1972, a small group of Los Angeles Jews shared a vision. They dared to dream of a safe place to worship, celebrate their heritage and create community. They called their dream Beth Chayim Chadashim, "House of New Life" -- the world's first synagogue for lesbians and gay men. Today, BCC is an inclusive community of progressive lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and heterosexual individuals, our families and friends, with programs for all ages. And we continue to affirm the vision of our founders, that all people are created B'tzelem Elohim -- in G-d's image.
Congregation Sha'ar Zahav
290 Dolores Street (corner of 16th Street)
San Francisco, CA
94103
Phone: (415) 861-6932
www.shaarzahav.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, the Congregation of the Golden Gate, is a progressive Reform synagogue, established in 1977. We are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual Jews, together with family and friends, both Jewish and non-Jewish. We come from a wide range of religious, ethnic, class and cultural backgrounds to worship God with egalitarian, feminist and gay-positive Jewish liturgy. We welcome all who wish to join us for worship, learning and celebration at our synagogue at the corner of Dolores Street and 16th Street in San Francisco.
Congregation Kol Ami
1200 N. La Brea Avenue
West Hollywood, CA
90038
Phone: (323) 606-0996
www.kol-ami.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Congregation Kol Ami builds on the traditions of Judaism while respecting and welcoming everyone: lesbian, gay, bisexual, straight, interfaith couples and our children. Together Rabbi Denise L. Eger and Cantor Mark Saltzman create a hamishe atmosphere, safe for spiritual nurturing and connection. Our mission is to be a progressive, Reform congregation rooted in a rich Jewish tradition, with a commitment to social justice, Israel and diversity that guides us in the present and transforms our future.
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Are you Jewish and identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer? Are you looking for a place to call your spiritual home? Congregation B’nai Israel has a wonderful place for you. Kulanu, which means "ALL OF US", is the GLBTQ outreach group within this wonderfully open and accepting congregation.
Kulanu offers a place to meet other people, like you, who either want to connect or re-connect with their Jewishness or just want to socialize with other GLBTQ people in a Jewish setting. This is a group, which continues to evolve so you can be a part of a group that is open to ideas and projects for the members to do and share together. The possibilities are endless and you can make a difference.
District of Columbia
Bet Mishpachah
P.O. Box 1410
Washington, DC
20013
www.betmishpachah.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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Bet Mishpachah is a congregation for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews and all who wish to participate in an inclusive, egalitarian, and mutually supportive community. We join together to affirm our religious and cultural heritage, integrating Gay and Lesbian and Jewish identities. Our membership is comprised of singles, couples, and families, and is open to everyone, regardless of religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Since our founding in 1975, our congregation has grown to hundreds of members. Bet Mishpachah is proud to have a celebratory community of women and men who share equally in the leadership of the congregation. Your presence in our congregation strengthens us and demonstrates your commitment to the broader Jewish and Gay/Lesbian communities that we serve.
Florida
Congregation Etz Chaim
1881 NE 26th Street, Suite 100
Wilton Manors, FL
33305
Phone: (954) 564-9232
www.etzchaimflorida.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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We are a unique congregation in South Florida committed to building a spiritual home for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jewish community. At Congregation Etz Chaim you will find a love for the Jewish people, rituals and traditions we have come to know, a passion for Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam (charity and repairing the world) and a devotion to prayer and study. We are a community, a place to celebrate life's together, as well as to share other events in our lives, along with other Jews. We invite you to become a member of our family. We welcome your enthusiasm and your commitment. Together we can create a true home for Jews of the rainbow in Southeast Florida.
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In 1985, a small group of men and women founded Congregation Bet Haverim (House of Friends) on behalf of lesbian and gay Jews who wanted to live openly in the context of their Jewish heritage. For most of the early years, Congregation Bet Haverim (CBH) was entirely gay and lesbian. With no inclusive liturgy to guide us, we created our own within the Jewish tradition. Bound by our love of Judaism and our commitment to each other, Bet Haverim became more than a congregation. It became a thriving community, characterized by generosity of spirit and openness to change. For some who were not lesbian or gay, Bet Haverim offered what they had not found in other Jewish communities. In a courageous move, Bet Haverim opened its doors to them. Today, Bet Haverim is a diverse and rapidly growing community. All are welcome.
Illinois
Congregation Or Chadash
5959 N. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL
60660
Phone: (773) 271-2148
www.orchadash.org
Affiliation: Reform
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The mission of Congregation Or Chadash is to provide a warm and affirming community where all Jews can feel welcome. To accomplish this mission, Or Chadash will remember that it was founded as an answer to the prejudice that gay and lesbian Jews experienced in other synagogues; strive to ensure that no Jew experiences prejudice within our community; maintain affiliations with the Union for Reform Judaism and the The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews : Keshet Ga'avah; build strong ties within the greater Jewish community of the metropolitan Chicago area; and dedicate itself to the basic obligations of Jewish life, including: respecting the contributions of people of all generations, sharing the life-cycle events of its members, celebrating Shabbat and the holidays, fostering prayer with sincerity, visiting the sick, comforting the bereaved, and encouraging the study of Torah.
Massachusetts
Ohel Tzedek GLBT Action Team at Temple Israel
477 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA
2215
Phone: (617) 566-3960
www.tisrael.org/gblt.asp
Affiliation: Reform
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The Ohel Tzedek GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender) Action Team is a diverse, dynamic, and dedicated group of approximately 20 key organizers who enjoy working together within a larger pool of approximately 80 additional people interested in hearing about and participating in our activities. We focus primarily on issues related to equal marriage and transgender education and awareness.
As of October 2009, this group was working to ensure the passage of current legislation which would designate assault against transgender individuals as a hate crime and would make it illegal by Massachusetts state law to fire an individual because of their gender expression or identity. Temple Israel members have lobbied their legislators and helped to make our own community a safe space for everyone.
Congregation Am Tikvah
PO Box 1268
Brookline, MA
2446
Phone: (617) 232-5543
www.amtikva.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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Congregation Am Tikva - People of Hope - has been serving the Greater Boston community since 1976, creating an open and welcoming environment where gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jews and their friends, of all ages and degrees of religious observation can meet to explore their common heritage and enjoy the company offellow Jews!
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The Temple Sinai Rainbow Committee is dedicated to developing the temple’s warm and welcoming atmosphere for the gay, lesbian, transgendered and bisexual community. Highest priorities are ensuring a supportive, gay-friendly culture and working to make sure Temple Sinai's school provides a safe and nurturing environment for gay youth.
Outreach & Synagogue Community at Falmouth Jewish Congregation
7 Hatchville Road
East Falmouth, MA
2536
Phone: (508) 540-0602
www.falmouthjewish.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Although not specifically for LGBT people, this committee does specifically mention lesbian and gay people.
The mission of the Committee for Outreach & Synagogue Community (COSC) is to actively welcome all into the Falmouth Jeiwsh Congregation and to help build a vibrant, inclusive Jewish community of people from various backgrounds. Outreach & Synagogue Community activities center on the Jewish mitzvah of ahavat ger (loving the stranger)--anyone who feels distanced from God, Torah, and Israel. COSC aims to welcome and integrate a diversity of Jews and their families, interfaith and interracial couples, gay and lesbian individuals and families, single adults and blended families, sick and poor, young and old, and in-between.
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The mission of the Gay-Straight Group of Temple Israel of Natick is to create an environment in which all Jews, regardless of their sexual orientation, are included and welcomed into our Jewish community.
The Gay-Straight Group:
-Functions as a resource on GLBT* issues to all temple members and their families and others interested in participating in Temple Israel of Natick activities.
-Educates the temple community on pertinent issues related to GLBT Jews.
-Serves as an intermediary to other committees, clergy, temple staff, and officers.
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As our temple is blessed with a growing and diverse membership, the needs of this community grow as well. One of the newest groups in the Temple Beth Shalom family is the Keshet Community. Keshet in Hebrew means “rainbow”. Our hope is that the TBS Keshet Community will be comprised of people from a variety of backgrounds. As with the Gay/Straight Alliances (GSA’s) in our high schools or PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in local communities, our purpose will be to provide education and support for members of the group as well as the entire TBS community.
It is our hope that this group will attract those in our community who:
* Are part of the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender) community
* Have family members who may be part of the GLBT community
* Have friends who may be part of the GLBT community
* Are looking for ways of becoming more aware of the issues pertaining to the GLBT community
* Want TBS to be visible in the community as a congregation that welcomes members of the GLBT community
* Want to understand better how Judaism and the Reform Movement in particular approach GLBT issues
* Want to make sure that our school is a safe place for all of our children
* Have a strong belief in equal rights, and social justice
* Are interested in engaging in lively discussion and brainstorming
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Temple Beth El's GLBTIQQA Committee ensures our Congregation's committment to welcome and affirm those of us who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, or questioning. The Committee does this through education within our Congregation and advocacy in the larger community.
Recent events have included, marhing in the Portland Pride Parade with Congregation Bet Ha'am members (wearing the emblems above pinned to our shirts so as not to carry a banner on Shabbat), representing Temple Beth El at the Equal Marriage Rights hearings before the Maine State Legislature, and leading a Torah study discussion of Leviticus at Shabbat services.
New Jersey
New Jersey Gay & Lesbian Havurah
P.O. Box 2576
Edison, NJ
08818-2576
Phone: (732) 650-1010
www.njhav.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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New Jersey's Lesbian & Gay Havurah is a community of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Intersexed Jews and their friends throughout NJ. Their members represent the full spectrum of Jewish backgrounds and observances. Anyone interested in the development of GLBTI and Jewish culture and community is welcome. It is the mission of New Jersey's Lesbian & Gay Havurah to: Be a welcoming, supportive and empowering community of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexed Jews, their loved ones, and supporters, provide cultural, religious, educational & social programming that reflects and celebrates the diversity of our community, and advocate and educate, within the larger Jewish and Gay communities, for the collective interests of our constituency.
New York
Gay & Lesbian Inclusion Committee (GLIC) at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck
5 Old Mill Road
Great Neck, NY
11023
Phone: (516) 487-0900
www.tbegreatneck.org/glic.htm
Affiliation: Reform
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GLIC sponsors dicsussion groups, programs and a newsletter at TBE Great Neck
Congregation Beth Simchat Torah
57 Bethune St.
New York, NY
10014
Phone: (212) 929-9498
www.cbst.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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Congregation Beth Simchat Torah is New York City's synagogue for the New York metropolitan area's 200,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Jews, as well as our families and friends. Founded in 1973, and under the leadership of Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum since 1992, CBST has become the largest GLBT synagogue in the world and arguably one of the most influential. CBST is an important voice in Judaism; in the worldwide discourse on the nature of religious community; and in the movement to secure basic civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the United States and throughout the world.
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To advocate for the enactment of New York State legislation that affirms the right of same-sex couples to have the same freedom to access civil marriage and to have the same lawful rights as other couples.
To ensure that our federal, state and local governments fully respect the legal civil marriages of same-sex couples.
To oppose all attempts including constitutional amendments and the "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA) to limit access to civil marriage for same-sex couples.
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In 2005, Chevrei Tikva, a synagogue with outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) Jews, and their families and friends, became part of the Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple synagogue-community. Rabbi Howard Ruben said, "As our doors always have been open to the GLBT community, now we open our arms in welcome to the Chevrei Tikva Chavurah of Fairmount Temple." "We are pleased and proud to become a chavurah ("group of friends") within the Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple community. said Jonathan Freilich, Chevrei Tikva's Vice President.
Pennsylvania
Congregation Beth Ahavah
615 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA
19123
Phone: (215) 923-2003
www.bethahavah.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Congregation Beth Ahavah serves Philadelphia and the greater Delaware Valley's GLBT Jewish community and welcomes people of all gender and sexual identities. Since 1975, we've been committed to providing a comfortable place for people of all sexual orientations and religious affiliations to experience Judaism. We are affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and draw from meaningful traditions and practices in all branches of Judaism. We are located on Broad Street at the home of Congregation Rodeph Shalom, their new congregational partner.
Bet Tikvah
P.O. Box 10140
Pittsburgh, PA
15232
Phone: (412) 362-7025
www.bettikvah.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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In 1988, three people decided to form a group to meet the needs of Jewish gays, lesbians, and bisexuals in the Pittsburgh area. Thus was Bet Tikvah ("House of Hope") created. By 1989, the group had grown and was regularly holding member-led services at a variety of locations in the Pittsburgh area, including a local gay-owned restaurant, a University of Pittsburgh campus building, and the homes of members. Since 1994, the congregation has met for worship at Rodef Shalom, a prominent Pittsburgh synagogue. Although Rodef Shalom is a Reform congregation, Bet Tikvah is not affiliated with any particular branch of Judaism. In addition, services and events are open to and regularly attended by interfaith couples, those wishing to explore Judaism, and heterosexual Jews.
Bet Tikvah now counts over 70 memberships, including families of all compositions. In addition to serving the needs of Jewish gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals, Bet Tikvah welcomes all who wish to join in worship.
Texas
Beth El Binah
Dallas, TX
75219
Phone: (214) 521-5342 ext.1784
www.bethelbinah.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Reform Jewish congregation with outreach to the lebsian and gay community of Dallas/Forth Worth. In Hebrew, Beth El Binah means House of an Understanding God. Although the majority of our members are gay or lesbian, all are welcome.
Gay Havurah at Temple Beth El
211 Belknap Place
San Antonio, TX
78212
Phone: (210) 733-9135
www.beth-elsa.org/
Affiliation: Reform
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This Havurah meets regularly for Torah Study and social events
Washington
Congregation Tikvah Chadashah
1122 E. Pike Street, PMB 734
Seattle, WA
98122
Phone: (206) 355-1414
www.tikvahchadashah.org
Affiliation: Chavurah
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Congregation Tikvah Chadashah is Seattle's oldest GLBT Synagogue, having opened in 1980. Congregation Tikvah Chadashah is a chavurah-style congregation, and a member of the World Congress of Gay Lesbian and Bisexual Jewish Organizations. We hold egalitarian chavurah services for Shabbat and holidays. All are welcome to our events, regardless of observance, religious background, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
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We are a community of people who recognise the true diversity of Jewish experience and who welcome all new members and participants, especially those who are distanced or estranged from many facets of contemporary Jewish community life. Our community is involved with those aspects of contemporary Judaism which both respect and creatively engage that diversity. We encourage participation in, and contributions to, our services and our after-service and secular events.
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Welcoming Synagogues
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Congregation Or Ami is home to a warm and welcoming, innovative, musical Jewish community. We deepen relationships with each other, while immersing in Torah, Israel and the Source of All Life. We travel together down Jewish paths which inspire our hearts and souls, and transform us to seek justice and nurture compassion in the world.
Recognizing that we are all created b'tzelem Elohim, in the image of God, we welcome the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals, couples and families in our community. Congregation Or Ami welcomes all Jews, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, as full participants in all religious practices and in the entire community life of the congregation. We also welcome non-Jewish partners of members to fully participate in the life of the community
Temple Solel
3575 Manchester Avenue
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
92007
Phone: (760) 436-0654
www.templesolel.net
Affiliation: Reform
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At Temple Solel, the teachings of Judaism are translated into positive, meaningful, creative life experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds. They pride ourselves on the quality of our interpersonal relationships; they truly reach out to each other in support and caring. Temple Solel has acknowledged their support of J-Pride, San Diego's LGBT Jewish community organization and expressed that their doors are open to the LGBT Community. Contact jpride@lfjcc.com to find out when their rotating LGBT Shabbat will be at this congregation.
Congregation Shir Ami
2210 Encinitas Blvd
Encinitas, CA
92024
Phone: (760) 697-0434
Affiliation: Conservative
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Congregation Shir Ami has acknowledged their support of J-Pride, San Diego's LGBT Jewish community organization and expressed that their doors are open to the LGBT Community. Contact jpride@lfjcc.com to find out when their rotating LGBT Shabbat will be at this congregation.
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This conservative congregation has a long history of inclusion. Their senior Rabbis have been vocal about the importance of LGBT rights since the early 1990's. In 1992, Rabbi Harold Schulweis formed an organization called "Response" at VBS. Its purpose was to provide support, education and social networking for gays, lesbians and their families, including VBS members and non-members. Regular meetings were held until 2000. During that time, VBS amended its rules to allow family membership for same-sex partners. In 2007, VBS added a Gay and Lesbian Welcome page on their website under the Community tab.
Temple Beth El
Hodgson and T Streets, P.O. Box 442
Eureka , CA
95502
Phone: (707) 444-2846
www.tbe-eureka.org/
Affiliation: Reform
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Temple Beth El is currently participating in the IJSO's Welcoming Synagogues Project, which seeks to create inclusive and welcoming synagogue spaces for LGBT people. By the end of the process, each congregation will have an inspiring and compelling vision of inclusion and welcoming of LGBT people and will have begun to make that vision a part of their every day congregational life.
Congregation Beth El
8660 Gilman Dr.
La Jolla, CA
92037
Phone: (858) 452-1734
www.congregationbethel.com
Affiliation: Conservative
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We are dedicated to developing a meaningful, dynamic and vibrant expression of Judaism for ourselves, our children, and the community. Congregation Beth El serves as a center of Conservative Judaism for San Diego by promoting Jewish religious and intellectual life throughout the lifecycles of its members. We encourage membership by having a spiritual, welcoming congregational environment with attractive and inviting facilities.
We see ourselves as a choosing people, constantly searching for what is right, good, and true. We are proud of our heritage and yet appreciate that there are truths about life found outside it. We value the wisdom of our sages, we bask in our literature, and we seek continuously "To renew the sacred and to sanctify the new."
We reach out to the entire spectrum of the Jewish community because we believe that Judaism's greatest value lies in between the extremes.
Congregation Beth El has acknowledged their support of J-Pride, San Diego's LGBT Jewish community organization, and expressed that their doors are open to the LGBT Community. Contact jpride@lfjcc.com to find out when their rotating LGBT Shabbat will be at this congregation.
Temple Israel
269 Loma Ave
Long Beach, CA
90803
Phone: (562) 434-0996
www.tilb.org/
Affiliation: Reform
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In the decades since our founding, we have grown into a thriving, dynamic, inclusive community, welcoming all who seek to learn, experience and
celebrate Judaism. Our members come from all walks of life, and include singles, traditional and non-traditional families, gay/lesbian Jews, Jews of color, interfaith couples, retirees and young adults. We are a house of prayer, study and caring – we are family.
Congregation Beth Am
26790 Arastradero Rd.
Los Altos Hills, CA
94022
Phone: (650) 493-4661
www.betham.org
Affiliation: Reform
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The core mission of Congregation Beth Am is to create a vibrant Reform Jewish community committed to:
* Meaningful worship and spiritual growth
* Lifelong study of Jewish texts, traditions and values, including the philosophy and practice of Reform Judaism
* Individual and communal acts of gemilut chasadim (lovingkindness), tzedaka (righteous giving) and tikkun olam (repairing the world)
* Integrating Jewish practice into home and family life
* Communal support and pastoral guidance for individuals throughout the life cycle, and for families in all their diversity
* Leadership in the Jewish and general communities
* A strong partnership of lay and professional leaders, and active participation of members
In pursuit of these goals, we commit ourselves to ongoing innovation, risk-taking and seeking new challenges, as well as continuous evaluation of our progress and results. We commit ourselves, as well, to building and sustaining the infrastructure necessary to realize our mission.
Congregation Shir Hadash
20 Cherry Blossom Lane
Los Gatos, CA
95032
Phone: (408) 358-1751
www.shirhadash.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Shir Hadash is an evolving Reform Jewish congregation dedicated to providing a vital Jewish life, spiritual growth, and a sense of community for its members. Their name means "New Song," and as a congregation they worship together through Song, Torah Study, and Community. They hosted their first Pride Shabbat in June of 2007.
Temple Adat Shalom
15905 Pomerado Rd.
Poway, CA
92064
Phone: (858) 451-1200
www.adatshalom.com
Affiliation: Reform
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We are a Reform, egalitarian Jewish community in North County, San Diego dedicated to individual and communal growth in Knowledge (Torah), Worship (Avodah) and Good Deeds (G'milut Chasadim).
Temple Adat Shalom seeks to create a dynamic, friendly, caring, and spiritually rich environment for its members. We seek to cultivate and strengthen the bonds of understanding of our Jewish heritage and tradition, and foster meaningful connections for Jewish learning, celebration, social activities, and community social action. We hope that you will visit Temple Adat Shalom, inquire about our programs and make our house of worship your home.
Congregation B'Nai Israel
3600 Riverside Blvd.
Sacramento, CA
95818
Phone: (916)446-4861
www.bnais.com
Affiliation: Reform
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Sacramento's oldest Jewish congregation and the city's largest Reform synagogue, Congregation B'Nai Israel is dedicated to taking Torah out into the world. The congregation and their social-action minded Rabbi Mona Alfi have been active in supporting the Sacramento LGBT community. To celebrate LGBT Pride Month, B'Nai Israel hosts a Pride Shabbat, marches in the parade and hosts a booth at the festivities. One of their three social action priorities for 2006-2007 was working with the Jewish Community Relations Council and other congregations and community groups to combat growing hostility toward gays among Sacramento's fundamentalist Christians from the former Soviet Union.
Congregation Beth Am
5050 Del Mar Heights Rd.
San Diego, CA
92130
Phone: (858) 481-8454
www.betham.com
Affiliation: Conservative
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Our Mission: To foster a welcoming Jewish environment where compassion and spirituality bring our members and guests together in prayer, learning, social interaction, and tikkun olam, all through halakhic guidance.
Congregation Beth Am has has acknowledged their support of J-Pride, San Diego's LGBT Jewish community organization and expressed that their doors are open to the LGBT Community. Contact jpride@lfjcc.com to find out when their rotating LGBT Shabbat will be at this congregation.
Congregation Beth Israel
9001 Towne Centre Dr.
San Diego, CA
92122
Phone: (858) 535-1111
www.cbisd.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Congregation Beth Israel marches in the San Diego Pride parade, hosts the JPride annual seder, officiates at same gender marriages and has a small contingent of LGBT members. They are also a host location for J-Pride, San Diego's LGBT Jewish community organization rotating Shabbat. Contact jpride@lfjcc.com to find out when their LGBT Shabbat will be at this congregation.
Congregation Dor Hadash
4858 Ronson Court
San Diego, CA
92111
Phone: (858) 268-3674
www.dorhadash.org
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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Dor Hadash is a warm and welcoming community; whose doors are open to all – singles, marrieds, gays, lesbians, interracial, interfaith. They are a diverse and varied group of people from all walks of life. They have also participated in the San Diego Pride parade for several years.
Ohr Shalom Synagogue
2512 Third Ave.
San Diego, CA
92103
Phone: (619) 231-1456
www.ohrshalom.org
Affiliation: Conservative
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Ohr Shalom is a unique Synagogue offering a rich cultural blend of Conservative Judaism with a diverse international flavor that is found nowhere else in San Diego County. We are a warm, friendly and welcoming congregation.
Ohr Shalom has acknowledged their support of J-Pride, San Diego's LGBT Jewish community organization and expressed that their doors are open to the LGBT Community. Contact jpride@lfjcc.com to find out when their rotating LGBT Shabbat will be at this congregation.
Temple Emanu-El
6299 Capri Drive
San Diego, CA
92120
Phone: (619)286-2555
www.templeemanuelsd.org
Affiliation: Reform
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In 2006, Temple Emanu-El's president was featured in the San Diego Jewish Journal in an article about prominent gay and lesbian Jews in the area. The Temple and their rabbi have marched in the San Diego Pride parade for over five years in a row. Temple Emanu-El has acknowledged their support of J-Pride, San Diego's LGBT Jewish community organization and expressed that their doors are open to the LGBT Community. Contact jpride@lfjcc.com to find out when their rotating LGBT Shabbat will be at this congregation.
Temple Emanu-El has been known to have a contingent walking in the Annual LGBT Pride Parade.
Tifereth Israel Synagogue
6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd.
San Diego, CA
92119
Phone: (619) 697-6001
www.tiferethisrael.com
Affiliation: Conservative
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue has acknowledged their support of J-Pride, San Diego's LGBT Jewish community organization and expressed that their doors are open to the LGBT Community. Contact jpride@lfjcc.com to find out when their rotating LGBT Shabbat will be at this congregation.
Temple Beth Sholom
2625 N. Tustin Ave.
Santa Ana, CA
92705
Phone: (714) 628-4600
www.tbsoc.com/
Affiliation: Reform
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We celebrate our rich diversity as a congregation, a community of many communities. We are a great intergenerational family in a place where we care for and about one another. We are newcomers and old-timers, children and adults, individuals and couples and families, multi-racial families, gay and straight, Jews by birth and by choice, non-Jewish partners and spouses. Interfaith families are always welcome.
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Congregation B'nai Israel, founded in 1858, seeks to be a vibrant Reform synagogue dedicated to the perpetuation of Jewish life and values within the framework of contemporary American Judaism. This synagogue strives to serve God and the Jewish people by creating a supportive environment which contributes to the education and spiritual growth of its members and encourages its members to perform meaningful mitzvot. Central to this mission is the fostering of a strong sense of community among an intergenerational and diverse membership. By service to the Jewish community locally, in Israel, and worldwide, as well as to the non-Jewish community, we dedicate ourselves to the concept of Tikun-Olam, the repairing of the world.
District of Columbia
Machar: The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism
6045 16th St NW
Washington, DC
20011
Phone: (202) 686-1881
www.machar.org/
Affiliation: Humanistic
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Machar is a member-driven community which thrives on diversity. Our congregation was founded in 1977. Our member families often come from different cultures, countries, and religious belief systems. Through Machar, we not only teach mutual respect and appreciation; we learn it in new ways, each day. Our community works through our many committees, our frequent lectures/discussions with national and international experts, and through many community service activities. We also interact through self-enrichment groups, such as a Book Club, a Humanist Lifestyles course, and more, in which members may participate. Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter, where you can learn about our activities and events.
Florida
Temple Beth Shira
7025 Beracusa Way, Suite 105H
Boca Raton, FL
33433
Phone: (561) 912-1453
www.templebethshira.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Temple Beth Shira is a vibrant Reform congregation in West Boca. The spiritual leader speak and write on LGBT welcoming. Additionally, Cantor Ellen Stettner performed a wonderful lesbian wedding for Dana and Katie in Vermont in September, just after same-sex marriage was legalized, which you can see here: http://www.7dvt.com/2009dana-katie-get-married. Temple Beth Shira has many LGBT families who are welcomed and integrated into the congregation with love, celebration and unambivalent acceptance.
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Temple Sinai is currently participating in the IJSO's Welcoming Synagogues Project, which seeks to create inclusive and welcoming synagogue spaces for LGBT people. By the end of the process, each congregation will have an inspiring and compelling vision of inclusion and welcoming of LGBT people and will have begun to make that vision a part of their every day congregational life.
The Temple
1589 Peachtree St., NE
Atlanta, GA
30309
Phone: (404) 873-1731
www.the-temple.org/
Affiliation: Reform
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The Temple is currently participating in the IJSO's Welcoming Synagogues Project, which seeks to create inclusive and welcoming synagogue spaces for LGBT people. By the end of the process, each congregation will have an inspiring and compelling vision of inclusion and welcoming of LGBT people and will have begun to make that vision a part of their every day congregational life.
Congregation Or Hadash
6751 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA
30328
Phone: (404) 250-3338
www.or-hadash.org/
Affiliation: Conservative
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Congregation Or Hadash is currently participating in the IJSO's Welcoming Synagogues Project, which seeks to create inclusive and welcoming synagogue spaces for LGBT people. By the end of the process, each congregation will have an inspiring and compelling vision of inclusion and welcoming of LGBT people and will have begun to make that vision a part of their every day congregational life.
Massachusetts
Jewish Community of Amherst
742 Main Street
Amherst, MA
1002
Phone: (413) 256-0160
www.j-c-a.org/
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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The Jewish Community of Amherst is dedicated to creating and maintaining an open, dynamic, spiritual and participatory membership. We believe a strong commitment to Jewish values and embracing the spiritual richness of our traditions enables our diverse community to meet the challenges of our contemporary world. We value openness and welcome all- gays and lesbians, singles, interfaith couples, people of color, differently-abled people, and those of limited economic means.
Beth El Temple Center
2 Concord Avenue
Belmont, MA
2478
Phone: (617) 484-6668
www.ma002.urj.net/
Affiliation: Reform
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Beth El is a Reform congregation of over 400 memberships, affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism, and the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts. Beth El Temple Center is located in Belmont, Massachusetts. Belmont is a small town of about 5 square miles sandwiched between Cambridge, Watertown, Waltham, Lexington, and Arlington. It's very convenient to Boston and the academic institutions in Cambridge. The greater Boston area, of which Belmont is a part, has a vibrant Jewish community. Beth El welcomes interfaith families. Beth El is fully egalitarian. Beth El welcomes gay and lesbian Jews. They have hosted several events including their gay clergy speaking on the intersections of Judaism and Sexual Orientation, film screenings and a panel discussion with gay and lesbian congregants.
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Boston Jewish Spirit is a liberal, inclusive Reform Jewish Congregation committed to the opportunities, challenges and diversity of urban life. We welcome all who are seeking to experience Judaism's universal spiritual ideals and traditions, regardless of religious background. We extend a special invitation to interfaith and multicultural families, LGBT people and residents of Boston's city neighborhoods. Together we seek to create a community of worship, learning and service, grounded in the timeless Jewish vision of a "house of prayer for all people," and responding to the mandate of our Hebrew Prophets to work for justice and peace in the world.
The rabbi has also been deeply involved in the struggle of gay and lesbian people for the civil and religious right of full marriage equality.
Temple Israel
477 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA
2215
Phone: (617) 566-3960
www.tisrael.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Celebrating Diversity - At Temple Israel, we celebrate our rich diversity as a congregation, a community of many communities. And when we join together to welcome Shabbat, to study together or to celebrate, we are one community, a great intergenerational family in a place where we care for and about one another. We are newcomers and old-timers, children and adults, individuals and couples and families, multi-racial families, gay and straight, Jews by birth and by choice, non-Jewish partners and spouses. As we raise our voices in prayer and song, we know that we have created a family suffused with blessing.
Congregation Kehillath Israel
384 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA
2446
Phone: (617) 277-9155
www.congki.org
Affiliation: Conservative
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As with most synagogues, energies collect around learning, celebrating, helping, and sharing. What makes our approach unique, we feel, is the kind of Judaism (morally powerful, accepting, intellectually alive) we celebrate, and the kind of Jews (curious, passionate, committed) you’ll find here.
Minyan Shaleym
50 Sewall Avenue
Brookline, MA
2446
Phone: (617) 501-9510
www.minyanshaleym.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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Minyan Shaleym is an independent, traditional-egalitarian, lay-led, and multi-generational congregation that meets every Shabbat morning, as well as for Jewish holidays, life cycle events, and other communal activities.
Moishe House Boston/Kavod Jewish Social Justice House
165 Winthrop Road
Brookline, MA
2446
Phone: (646) 408-6160
www.kavodhouse.com
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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Kavod Jewish Social Justice House is an innovative grassroots organization, striving to create a welcoming and vibrant Jewish community for people in their 20s and 30s, and to connect them with social action and community-building opportunities in Boston and beyond.
Temple Beth Zion
1566 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA
2446
Phone: (617) 566-8171
www.tbzbrookline.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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TBZ is an Inclusive, Dynamic Jewish Congregation Whose Members are Committed to Each Other, to Joyful, Participatory Worship, and to Torah Study, Spiritual Growth, and the Pursuit of Social Justice.
Temple Sinai
50 Sewall Avenue
Brookline, MA
2446
Phone: (617) 277-5888
www.sinaibrookline.org
Affiliation: Reform
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At Temple Sinai, everyone is welcome to particpate in temple life, no matter what their approach to embracing Judaism or degree of Jewish literacy. We are respectful of each individual's relative commitment to leading a Jewish life, and are always happy to welcome your involvement.
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An identity proudly rooted in our cultural heritage. A community that together is creating a spiritual home for secular Jewish life. A voice for progressive Jewish values and social change. An arts and education center celebrating Yiddish, Jewish, and progressive culture.
B'Nai Or
P.O. Box 400715
Cambridge, MA
2140
Phone: (617) 244-0900
www.bnaior.org
Affiliation: Renewal
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B'nai Or Boston is an established Jewish renewal community rooted in Torah, seeking wisdom and guidance from the spiritual paths begun by Abraham and Sarah, and continuing through Moses, Miriam and the people of Israel. All Jews and their partners are welcome to participate in our community. Women and men are fully involved in every aspect of communal life. The B'nai Or membership embraces a wide diversity of lifestyles and family configurations. Many who wish to return to their spiritual roots find us to be a comfortable place for exploration and deepening. They are affiliated with ALEPH and have hosted several programs on sexual orientation.
Congregation Kahal B’raira
765 Concord Avenue
Cambridge, MA
2140
Phone: (617) 969-4596
www.kahalbraira.org
Affiliation: Humanistic
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Humanistic Judaism embraces a philosophy that combines rational thinking with a celebration of Judaic culture and identity. Humanistic Jews value their Jewish identity and the aspects of Jewish culture that offer a genuine expression of their contemporary way of life. Kahal B'raira welcomes members to our congregation who come from Interfaith families. Our community is enriched by the contributions of our diverse membership. We celebrate Jewish holidays and life cycle events (such as weddings and bar and bat mitzvah) with inspirational ceremonies that draw upon but seek to go beyond traditional literature.
Temple Beth David of the South Shore
1060 Randolph Street
Canton, MA
2021
Phone: (781) 828-2275
www.templebethdavid.com/
Affiliation: Reform
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Temple Beth David of the South Shore is a reform congregation founded in 1960. Members come from Canton, Milton, Randolph, Stoughton and surrounding South Shore Boston communities. They are a diverse group of people from a variety of traditional and non-traditional backgrounds, with a great respect for traditional observances. Jews-by-choice, non-Jewish spouses, and gays and lesbians will find a welcoming environment at Temple Beth David. They are proud to offer ASL-interpreted services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Their mission is to provide opportunities for spiritual expression and growth. Religious and educational programs are intended to be inclusive, so that all our members can feel comfortable.
Falmouth Jewish Congregation
7 Hatchville Road
East Falmouth, MA
2536
Phone: (508) 540-0602
www.falmouthjewish.org
Affiliation: Reform
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The Falmouth Jewish Congregation on Cape Cod is a vibrant, Reform congregation affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). Our community represents a diverse, inclusive, participatory family where congregants from all backgrounds are welcomed with warmth and respect.
Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue
43 Lochstead Ave
Jamaica Plain, MA
2130
Phone: (617) 522-3618
www.neharshalom.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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Seeking to reflect God’s Oneness and to see God’s image in each person, our defining values include a commitment to social justice, to inclusion, to equality of men and women, and to striving to transcend differences and recognize each other’s gifts. We welcome interfaith families and offer a safe place of worship and belonging to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Jews.
Temple Emunah
9 Piper Road
Lexington, MA
2421
Phone: (781) 861-0300
www.templeemunah.org
Affiliation: Conservative
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Temple Emunah is an inviting, egalitarian, Conservative synagogue of about 525 families that serves the Jewish communities of Lexington and more than twenty five surrounding cities and towns. We welcome into our congregation all Jewish men and women, their partners and children - whether Jewish or not - regardless of their sexual orientation, race, or national or ethnic origin. We invite all those who wish to journey with us to do so.
Temple Emanuel of the Merrimack Valley
101 West Forest Street
Lowell, MA
1851
Phone: (978) 454-1372
www.temv.org/
Affiliation: Reform
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The temple is open to all who are committed to exploring Judaism: parents and their children, people of all sexual orientations, couples where both are Jewish and couples where one - or both - is not, people with extensive Jewish knowledge and beginners. We welcome everyone to worship with us.
The mission of the Temple, as stated in its bylaws, is "to provide a welcoming atmosphere which encourages Jewish spirituality, learning, and community, and to share these values with others." Inclusion is a core belief of the members of Temple Emanuel, and we extend a truly welcoming hand to all.
Congregation Agudas Achim - Ezrath Israel
245 Bryant Street
Malden, MA
2148
Phone: (781) 322-7205
aaei.kudan.net/index.htm
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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The Rabbi's Vision: I believe that Judaism must be renewed according to the spirit of the age in which we live. I am committed to creating community. I believe a Jewish community must be inclusive, respecting difference, welcoming families of all definitions. I believe that the rabbi must, on occasion, be a lamp, illuminating the way for individuals and for the community. More often, the role of the rabbi is to serve as a lens, to focus the light generated by the community on the opportunities and challenges ahead. I believe that as a rabbi my role is to represent the Jewish people, to build bridges to those of other beliefs and traditions. I am committed to Tzedek, the actualization of the belief that through our faith and our labors, we can foster the perfection of our world through expression of the ideals of Justice and Shalom -- Peace and Wholeness for all humankind.
Congregation Shirat Hayam
185 Plain Street (Rte. 139)
Marshfield, MA
2050
Phone: (781) 582-2700
www.shirathayam.net/index.htm
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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We are a welcoming, inclusive congregation, affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation. We invite everyone to join our community. We meet for services, discussions, culture, religious/Hebrew school, adult education, holidays, and events. Visitors are always welcome.
Congregation Ael Chunon
334 Village Street
Millis, MA
2054
Phone: (508) 376-5894
www.aelchunon.org/
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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Congregation Ael Chunon has been serving the spiritual needs of our surrounding communities since 1928. The times have changed, the community has changed and so have we. But, we still offer a place of warmth, joy and belonging. Something that is so often missing in our lives. We are committed to a traditional approach of Jewish worship. We also include a number of social activities for our membership as well as for the outside surrounding communities such a Israeli Dancing, Sing-a-longs, and Jewish Storytelling! We find that through our informal social events our members and the outside community come together and learn more about one another.
Temple Israel of Natick
145 Hartford Street
Natick, MA
1760
Phone: (508) 650-3521
www.tiofnatick.org
Affiliation: Conservative
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Our mission embodies the three traditional roles of a synagogue: a Beit Tefillah, a place of worship and celebration; a Beit Midrash, a house of study, encouraging life-long Jewish learning; and a Beit Knesset, a community center, fostering caring and a sense of belonging... The Gay-Straight Group encourages the inclusion of all Jews, regardless of their sexual orientation, in our Jewish community.
Temple Beth Shalom
670 Highland Ave
Needham, MA
2494
Phone: (781) 444-0077
www.tbsneedham.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Temple Beth Shalom is a vibrant Reform Jewish congregation that welcomes individuals and families of diverse backgrounds and ages. We dedicate ourselves to the practice of our religious and spiritual traditions, to the study of our sacred teachings, to lifelong Jewish learning, and to social action locally and globally. As a caring community, we strive to meet the spiritual, intellectual, social, and cultural needs of each member of our Temple family and to create connections within our membership. We advocate full equality and encourage participation in congregational life. We support the State of Israel and Jewish people throughout the world. Additionally, TBS has a Keshet group for LGBT members and family.
Congregation Beth Jacob
P.O. Box 3284
Plymouth, MA
2361
Phone: (508) 746-1575
www.cbjplymouth.org
Affiliation: Reform
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The Beis Jacob Society of Plymouth is a welcoming Jewish Community serving the greater pre-cape area of the south shore. We enjoy year-round educational opportunities, learning activities and spiritual fulfillment. With a rich history and vibrant sense of community, "CBJ" is recognized and relied upon by many as the primary source of Jewish resources and activities in the Plymouth area.
Temple Sinai
25 Canton Street
Sharon , MA
2067
Phone: (781) 784-6081
www.temple-sinai.com/
Affiliation: Reform
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Our community is a diverse one—young and older; families with children, couples without children, people with varied levels of Jewish knowledge and observance, interfaith families, and gay and lesbian families.
We provide a broad offering of worship opportunities, learning experiences and programs. As a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, the national organization of Reform congregations, we have a wealth of resources available to our professional and lay leaders.
Havurat Shalom Community
113 College Ave
Somerville, MA
2144
Phone: (617) 623-3376
www.thehav.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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Founded in 1968, Havurat Shalom is an egalitarian Jewish community in Somerville, Massachusetts where women and men come to pray and learn; explore, celebrate and grapple with Jewish tradition; work for social justice; and discuss a variety of Jewish concerns.
Congregation B'nai Torah
225 Boston Post Road (Route 20)
Sudbury, MA
1776
Phone: (978) 443-2082
www.bnaitorah.com
Affiliation: Reform
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Our congregation emphasizes a strong Jewish identity reinforcing today’s values, religious education and a shared commitment to the Jewish community. B’nai Torah is a friendly and inclusive congregation, where people brought up in different branches of Judaism worship together, and where non-Jewish family members are included completely and comfortably.
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Temple Beth Elohim is a warm and inclusive Reform congregation, dedicated to creating a sacred community engaged in joyous, participatory and meaningful prayer, lifelong Jewish learning, excellence and innovation in education, and dedicated social activism.
Congregation Dorshei Tzedek
60 Highland Street
West Newton, MA
2465
Phone: (617) 965-0330
www.dorsheitzedek.org
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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Dorshei Tzedek is a Reconstructionist Congregation dedicated to creating a caring and inclusive community, and to enhancing Jewish practice and learning in the lives of our members. "Dorshei Tzedek" means "seekers of justice," and as our name implies, we are seekers: of meaningful spirituality, of serious Jewish learning, and of social justice.
Temple Hillel B'nai Torah
120 Corey Street
West Roxbury, MA
2132
Phone: (617) 323-0486
www.templehbt.org
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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Temple Hillel B’nai Torah is a Reconstructionist congregation that is welcoming, egalitarian, multicultural, and inclusive. We are devoted to worship, study, social justice and community. Hillel B’nai Torah is a haimish community that is rooted in Jewish tradition and responsive to the world we live in. We actively engage our members in the creative process of bringing new perspectives to tradition and making tradition meaningful to contemporary lives.
Temple Emanuel
280 May Street
Worcester, MA
01602-2599
Phone: (508) 755.1257 TTY Call: 508.792.1479 wait 10 seconds then dial 35
www.temple-emanuel.org/
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Senior Rabbi Jordan Millstein spoke publicly in defense of secular same-gender marriage at a civil rights rally in 2004. Their congregational newsletter in March of 2004 offers other voices from the synagogue in support of LGBT rights and inclusion. Their lay leadership includes out-LGBT people.
Temple Emanuel is a Reform Jewish congregation serving the Jewish community of Central Massachusetts. Located in Worcester, MA, Temple Emanuel is a leader in the Reform Movement in Judaism. A dynamic regional and spiritual center, our congregation is dedicated to serving an integrated, multi-generational community of members and friends.
We feature the finest Jewish religious school and early childhood center in Worcester, joyful worship services, festive holiday programs, engaging adult education, meaningful social justice work and social programs that are fun for all!
Temple Emanuel is a welcoming congregation, committed to helping all those interested in Judaism, including interfaith families, to find a comfortable synagogue home. We believe that our unique blend of traditional and liberal Jewish practice provides a nurturing environment for all those who seek to explore the richness of our tradition and find spiritual meaning in our modern world.
Congregation Beit Tikvah A Reconstructionist Community in Baltimore
5802 Roland Ave.
Baltimore, MD
21210
Phone: (410) 464-9402
www.beittikvah.org
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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Beit Tikvah, located in Roland Park, is a warm, welcoming, diverse, and egalitarian Reconstructionist Jewish congregation, offering a progressive, contemporary approach to Jewish life that integrates a deep respect for traditional Judaism with the insights and ideas of contemporary social, intellectual and spiritual life. This congregation includes LGBT clergy.
We are a rich and diverse membership, encompassing families and single adults, and Baltimore's only Kehillah Mekabalet: a congregation that, by charter, welcomes gay and lesbian Jews.
Maryland
Adat Shalom
7727 Persimmon Tree Lane
Bethesda, MD
20817
Phone: (301) 767-3333
www.adatshalom.net
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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Adat Shalom welcomes all Jews, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, as full participants in all religious practices and in the entire community life of the congregation. We also welcome non-Jewish partners of members to fully participate in the life of the community either as members or as non-members, subject only to the limitations on participation in certain religious rituals set forth in the congregation's Interfaith Guidelines.
We invite gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) members, whether single or as a couple, with or without children, to join our community, using the same membership categories applicable to all other members. Thus same sex couples, including interfaith couples, with or without minor children, are encouraged to join as a household with a family membership. One member of a couple may also join as an individual member. Single parent memberships are available for parents without partners. Associate memberships are available for those who concurrently maintain primary membership in another Jewish congregation.
Jewish GLBT members are encouraged to celebrate milestones in their lives, including anniversaries, by being called to the Torah for an aliyah. Adat Shalom celebrates with all members, gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgender or heterosexual, as their life cycle events are shared with the congregation.
We support our GLBT members who choose to sanctify their unions with commitment ceremonies. Prior to these ceremonies, couples are encouraged to celebrate an aufruf with the community at Shabbat services.
All members and their children are entitled to the services of Adat Shalom's full time clergy for the purpose of sanctifying their commitment ceremonies or weddings on an equal basis. In determining whether to perform the ceremony, the clergy will utilize the same criteria for same-sex commitment ceremonies and heterosexual weddings.
All GLBT members who adopt or give birth to children are encouraged to bring their children into the Jewish covenant through public rites of Brit Milah for boys and Simchat Bat for girls. Our congregation celebrates public covenant ceremonies during Shabbat service for both boys and girls.
Adat Shalom is committed to making the Torah School a welcoming and comfortable environment for children of non-traditional families. We commit ourselves to educating the children in our Torah School in a way that fosters acceptance of diversity. All programming in the Torah School, for both children and families, would carry the same expectations and privileges for participation and involvement for GLBT families and heterosexual families.
Maine
Temple Beth El
400 Deering Avenue
Portland, ME
4103
Phone: (207) 774-2649
www.tbemaine.org/index.php
Affiliation: Conservative
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Our mission is to be an embracing, supportive and vibrant community which observes Judaism in the Conservative tradition and which is devoted to the perpetuation of Jewish values and culture. Temple Beth El honors the diversity of its members and is committed to their spiritual, intellectual and religious growth.
With the hiring of Rabbi Carolyn Braun in 1995, Temple Beth El became the largest Conservative synagogue in the nation to be led by a woman. Today Temple Beth El remains in the forefront of Conservative Judaism. A 2007 amendment to our Temple Constitution broke barriers by including all members of interfaith families as equal synagogue members. In 2009 we were proud to have Rabbi Braun active among the statewide coalition of clergy who stood together in support of equal marriage rights.
Congregation Bet Ha'am
81 Westbrook Street
South Portland, ME
4106
Phone: (207) 879-0028
www.bethaam.org/
Affiliation: Reform
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We greatly appreciate and foster diversity. Members come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Old and young, single and coupled, straight and gay, Jews by choice and by birth, and interfaith families - all find a spiritual home here at Congregation Bet Ha’am.
Congregation Bet Ha’am strives to be a caring community that supports its members in all of life’s experiences, providing fellowship, comfort, encouragement and celebration.
Michigan
Beth Israel Congregation
2000 Washtenaw Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI
48104
Phone: (734) 665-9897
www.hvcn.org/info/bethisrael/
Affiliation: Conservative
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We invite you to join our congregation. Our arms are open to you regardless of your race or sexual orientation, regardless of your income or occupation, whether you are employed or unemployed, whether you are single, married, or in a committed relationship. We are here for you!
Minnesota
Shir Tikvah
5000 Girard Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN
55419-1199
Phone: (612) 822-1440
www.shirtikvah.net
Affiliation: Reform
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Our focus is the building of a caring, inclusive community, in the spirit of liberal Judaism. We are committed to a participatory and democratic process both in the congregational governance and in ritual.
We welcome individuals and families of varying Jewish lifestyles. We are particularly sensitive to the need for inclusion of both traditional and nontraditional family structures, and for the development of an appropriately inclusive ritual life that enriches our Jewish experience.
We are fully committed to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of gender, marital status, race, age, or sexual orientation in all aspects of congregational life. This will include, but not be limited to membership, Rabbinic and lay leadership, employment, and ritual involvement.
Missouri
Central Reform Congregation
5020 Waterman
St. Louis, MO
63108
Phone: (314) 361.3919
www.centralreform.org
Affiliation: Reform
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While there are other Jewish communities in the St. Louis area, Central Reform Congregation is the only Jewish congregation in the city of St. Louis. CRC has an active GLBT Chavurah that typically meets on a monthly basis in member homes.
Congregation B'Nai Amoona
324 South Mason Road
St. Louis, MO
63141-8029
www.bnaiamoona.com
Affiliation: Conservative
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In June of 2007, Congregation B'Nai Amoona became the first Conservative St. Louis area congregation to pass a resolution in favor of same-sex commitment ceremonies as permitted by the Law Committee of the Conservative Movement and consistent with the laws of the State of Missouri.
Congregation Shaare Emeth
11645 Ladue Rd.
St. Louis, MO
63141
Phone: (314) 569.0010
www.shaare-emeth.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Shaare Emeth is a place of meaningful worship with a dynamic religious school, Hebrew school, preschool and summer camps. They offer stimulating adult education classes and are deeply committed to social justice and outreach to the intermarried and Jews by choice. The Keshet group at Shaare Emeth was established to promote the inclusion of homosexual Jews and their partners in the Shaare Emeth community, and to provide support for the friends and family of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Jews. Shaare Emeth also hosts GLBT events throughout the year.
Shaare Emeth has long welcomed gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jews, their families, friends and their partners. We are committed to being a Keshet (“rainbow”) that is welcoming and promotes diversity, self-respect, and human rights.
The Reconstructionist Minyan of St. Louis
655 Skinker Blvd. (8D)
St. Louis, MO
63105
Phone: (314) 991-7972
www.shirhadashstl.info/
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Community welcomes all those interested in nurturing their Jewish life and identity. We seek to enrich our lives through study of Torah, prayer, communal celebrations, and working for social justice.
Shir Hadash is an inclusive and egalitarian community. We welcome all Jews regardless of current levels or past practices of observance. Gay and Lesbian Jews, Jews by choice, minority Jews, and non-Jewish partners are all invited to share in our community.
Shir Hadash creates a sense of community and caring through the active engagement of its members in the way we conduct our services, approach social justice opportunities, and integrate music and the arts into our experience of Judaism.
As a small, participatory community, we appreciate the involvement of all our members. New perspectives, intellectual curiosity, spiritual exploration, and creativity are encouraged and welcome. This is a hallmark of the Reconstructionist movement, which as a modern approach to Judaism seeks to integrate our Jewish identities with the world around us.
Nebraska
Temple Israel
7023 Cass Street
Omaha, NE
68132
Phone: (402) 556-6536
www.templeisrael-ne.org
Affiliation: Reform
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This large congregation in Omaha, NE was a proud participant of Synagogue 2000 which enabled the congregation to re-examine itself in order to be more welcoming, inclusive, and dynamic. They have included LGBT rights in their social action mission and are sensitive to the special healing needs of LGBT Jews.
New Jersey
Temple Beth Miriam
180 Lincoln Ave
Elberon, NJ
7740
Phone: (732) 222-3754
www.bethmiriam.org/
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Beth Miriam is a temple vibrant, alive and happy. Ours is a temple of the celebration of Judaism and applying what it teaches to the modern Jew and Jewish family. It is a place of education and learning, prayer and inspiration, music and exploration. We are a a liberal congregation which embraces all Jews. showing warmth and embrace to all genders, races, sexual orientations, marital and parental statuses. We also welcome the interfaith family to our congregation openly and lovingly.
Reconstructionist Temple Beth Israel
34 West Magnolia Avenue
Maywood, NJ
7607
Phone: (201) 845-7550
www.rtbi-online.org/
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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We are a small congregation with a history and a tradition of more than three quarters of a century. At the same time we are an evolving Reconstructionist congregation which is unique to the Bergen County area, and which reflects the changing dynamics of our community and of Judaism today. Among our ranks are young families, mature couples, members of the LGBT community, singles, inter-married and other non-traditional families, all from diverse backgrounds of religious observance and Jewish knowledge.
We seek to combine the best of these various perspectives to create a warm, welcoming and embracing atmosphere. We maintain a strong commitment to traditions and practices that have defined us, while also recognizing that we can and must be able to adapt these traditions to the new circumstances and challenges that we face in our synagogue, our homes, our workplaces and our communities.
New York
Temple Beth-El of Great Neck
5 Old Mill Road
Great Neck, NY
11023
Phone: (516) 487-0900
www.tbegreatneck.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Temple Beth-El, the oldest synagogue in Great Neck, was founded in 1928. Rabbi Jacob P. Rudin served as spiritual leader for four decades. It now enjoys a membership of over 1200 families and is recognized as one of the most innovative and dynamic Reform congregations in America. We are a member of URJ - Union for Reform Judaism. This temple as a very active Gay and Lesbian Inclusion Committee (GLIC) which has a newsletter and is listed on the temple website.
B'nai Jeshurun
2109 Broadway, Suite 203
New York, NY
10023-2106
Phone: (212)787-7600 ext.325
www.bj.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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Congregation B'nai Jeshurun welcomes all Jews regardless of sexual orientation. Through special activities, holiday celebrations, and opportunities for prayer and study organized by the Gay and Lesbian Committee, gay Jews can find a way back into an accepting and sensitive Judaism. We also seek to create a smaller community of support, friendship, and connection within the larger B'nai Jeshurun community. Everyone is welcome at all of our events. ASL interpretation is available by advance arrangement. For more information about what the Gay and Lesbian Committee is all about, call our voicemail: (212)787-7600 x325. If you are calling from out of town, please leave a local number or e-mail address where we may contact you.
The Temple of Universal Judaism Congregation Daat Elohim
1010 Park Avenue at 85th Street
New York, NY
10028
Phone: (212) 535-0187
www.tuj.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Congregation Daat Elohim is a growing Reform Jewish congregation with members of all ages, backgrounds and sexual orientations. Their community is inclusive and welcomes Jews, non-Jews and Jews by choice; intermarried and intramarried; couples and singles; and all who wish to worship in seeking peace, justice, righteousness and a community of concern for "repairing the world" (Tikkun Olam).
Oregon
Congregation Beth Israel
1972 NW Flanders Street
Portland, OR
97209
Phone: (503) 222-1069
www.BethIsrael-pdx.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Congregation Beth Israel is listed by Keshet, Portland, Oregon's LGBT social group as being GLBTQQ friendly. The purpose of Congregation Beth Israel is to promote the enduring and fundamental principles of Judaism and to ensure the continuity of the Jewish people; to enable its adherents to develop a relationship to God through communal worship, study and assembly; and to apply the principles of Reform Judaism to the society in which we live.
Congregation Neveh Shalom
2900 South Peaceful Lane
Portland, OR
97239
Phone: (503) 246-8831
www.nevehshalom.org
Affiliation: Conservative
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Congregtion Neveh Shalom is listed by Keshet, Portland, Oregon's LGBT social group as being GLBTQQ friendly. They are the second oldest Jewish congregation in the Pacific Northwest and the oldest Conservative congregation on the West Coast.
Congregation Shir Tikvah of Portland
1631 NE Broadway #314
Portland, OR
97232
Phone: (503) 282-1787
www.shir-tikvah.net
Affiliation: Liberal
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Shir Tikvah is listed by Keshet, Portland, Oregon's LGBT social group as being GLBTQQ friendly. They are... a Sacred Community -- whose practice of liberal Judaism grows from an understanding and love of the tradition on which it stands, centered in Torah. A Participatory Community -- committed to a true partnership between rabbi and laity, a collaborative relationship built on mutual respect, shaped by the spirit of covenant. An Inclusive Community -- where all are welcome to join in creating a Jewish congregational family --- an enthusiastic, working, living community of faith. A Worship Community -- where all may take part in celebration of Shabbat and holidays, drawing on fresh as well as traditional approaches to prayer, ritual, Torah, music and meditation, to nourish personal and communal spiritual life. An Intergenerational Community -- in which adults and children learn from each other through study, worship, and a shared love of Judaism. A Learning Community -- which creates with our rabbi abundant and varied opportunities for Jewish study --- a study that brings the practice of learning and reflection to all aspects of our existence. A Caring Community -- which guards a sacred space for each soul that enters into it; one responsive to members in need; one actively committed to work for social justice, to join with others in healing a hurting world. An Innovative Community -- in which all aspects of how we come together in community will be open for discussion and consideration on an ongoing basis.
Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Avenue
Portland, OR
97209-2333
Phone: (503) 248-4662
www.havurahshalom.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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Havurah Shalom is listed by Keshet, Portland, Oregon's LGBT social group as being GLBTQQ friendly. The mission of Havurah Shalom is to provide a vibrant, diverse, participatory Jewish community steeped in Jewish values; promoting spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility. In the spirit of giving back to our community, Havurah Shalom's High Holiday services, Shabbat, holiday celebrations, and High Holiday services are free of charge. We are a highly participatory, inclusive community of Jews (and many non-Jews) striving to bring the full meaning and wisdom of our ancient heritage into our Jewish lives. For PORTLAND LGBT PRIDE WEEKEND and PRIDE PARADE June 17-18, 2006 Havurah Shalom joined the Community of Welcoming Congregations to march in the GLBT (Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Trans) Pride Parade.
Kol Shalom, Community for Humanistic Judaism
1509 S.W. Sunset Blvd, Suite 2H
Portland, OR
97239
Phone: (503) 459-4210
www.kolshalom.org
Affiliation: Humanistic
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Kol Shalom is listed by Keshet, Portland, Oregon's LGBT social group as being GLBTQQ friendly. Members of Kol Shalom vary in their beliefs about larger forces in nature. Beliefs range from atheism to God as Nature and other personal interpretations. The unifying philosophy of Kol Shalom and of the Society for Humanistic Judaism is that human beings have the power and responsibility to shape their lives and care for the world, independent of an interventionist deity or any supernatural power; and that the Torah and other religious texts are entirely human creations. Humanistic Judaism is a belief system or faith based in humanism and the heritage of the Jewish people, rather than in theism. Our rituals and ceremonies do not include language that suggests belief in the supernatural.
P'Nai Or
9750 SW Terwilliger Blvd.
Portland, OR
97219-6531
Phone: (503) 248-4500
www.pnaiorpdx.org
Affiliation: Renewal
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P'nai Or is listed by Keshet, Portland, Oregon's LGBT social group as being GLBTQQ friendly. They are a vibrant, egalitarian, Jewish Renewal congregation. We support each other in our spiritual practices, our studies, our children's education, and our lives. Through the practice of mitzvot (sacred deeds) and tikkun olam (progressive social/political action) we strive to heal ourselves and the world.
As a community of spiritual seekers, we approach our spiritual path from a Jewish perspective. Our community is organized solely to offer a place for ourselves and the Portland community where this spiritual perspective can flourish, and we can deepen our wisdom, attunement, and experience. Our roots are in Torah, Kabbalah, and other classic Jewish sources; our intent is to make Jewish spirituality accessible. Our guide, teacher, and friend in this unfolding process is Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield, whose insights, knowledge and humor guide us on our path. We are also affiliated nationally with ALEPH, founded by Reb Zalman Schacter-Shalomi.
P'nai Or services combine elements of traditional Judaism with joyful song and dance in a participatory environment. A diversity of Jewish experience and expression is reflected in our membership, and all are welcome as full participants in the community.
The Eastside Jewish Community of Portland (EJCoP)
P.O. Box 86622
Portland, OR
97286
Phone: (503) 973-5267
www.ejcop.org
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
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The Eastside Jewish Community of Portland (EJCoP) is listed by Keshet, Portland, Oregon's LGBT social group as being GLBTQQ friendly. They offer diverse programs to enhance the Jewish identity, personal growth, and well-being within the Jewish community. We are open to all Jews, including the unafilliated, and families and singles of all ages.
At EJCoP we value Jewish learning, open discussions about values and perspectives, and non-judgemental exploration of Jewish wisdom. EJCoP offers community celebrations of Shabbat and holidays, as well as tzedakah and mitzvah projects.
Beit Haverim - South Metro Jewish Congregation
21420 Willamette Dr.
West Linn, OR
97068
Phone: (503) 650-7013
www.beithav.org/
Affiliation: Reform
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South Metro Jewish Congregation listed by Keshet, Portland, Oregon's LGBT social group as being GLBTQQ friendly. Per their website: Our Mission is to provide meaningful opportunities for people in the Portland South Metro region to join together for Jewish education, celebration, tzedakah, and worship.
Our Reform Congregation is a community of Jewish and interfaith families and individuals who live in a primarily non-Jewish environment, geographically and culturally distant from the established Portland Jewish community. We welcome anyone, wherever they are on the Jewish spectrum.
Our Driving Force is a common desire for our families and children to share a sense of Jewish belonging that comes from hands-on ownership within our own created community of mishpoche. We are a dynamic congregation of involved people who have chosen to connect or reconnect to Judaism and a Jewish identity.
Our Vision is a community where Jews by Birth, Jews by Choice, and Jews at Heart are accepted and feel a sense of belonging. We are an open, inviting, and spiritually alive Jewish community, with families and individuals joining us from the greater Portland communities of West Linn, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Gladstone, Milwaukie, Beaverton, Tualatin, Tigard, Wilsonville, Sherwood - and beyond.
We honor the richness and tradition of Judaism in a manner that's accessible to everyone.
Pennsylvania
Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation
190 Camp Hill Road
Fort Washington, PA
19043
Phone: (215) 283-0276
www.orhadash.com/
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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Or Hadash is a vibrant and diverse community that is committed to promoting the many facets of our evolving Jewish civilization. We strive to create a warm and welcoming home where all members are accepted and valued. Through our commitment to the principles of Reconstructionist Judaism, we promote and encourage opportunities for study, prayer, cultural and artistic expression, and acts of tikkun olam, or repairing the world.
Reconstructionists understand that belonging to the Jewish people comes before behaving or believing, and Or Hadash reflects the diversity of the American Jewish community. We welcome interfaith couples, and hold that conversion is unnecessary for the child of one Jewish parent, when that person is raised and educated as a Jew. We welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people and their life partners and families.
Beth David Reform Congregation
130 Vaughans Lane
Gladwyne, PA
19035
Phone: (610) 896-7485
www.bdavid.org/
Affiliation: Reform
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Beth David is an intimate, caring and vibrant community for Reform Jewish worship, learning and personal growth. Our aim is to have active participation by all our members and to be an inclusive congregation. Beth David and its Religious School offer a wide range of spiritual and educational programs. We are dedicated to Torah, social action, (tikkun olam - repairing the world), (tzedakah - charity), the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Our mission is to inspire a life- long commitment to Judaism and provide a place to celebrate our Jewish lives together, (l-dor v'dor - from generation to generation).
We encourage inquiries from all prospective members. Many of our members are interfaith couples who are committed to establishing a Jewish home, and the non-Jewish spouse is welcome at all synagogue events as a part of our community. We also welcome gay and lesbian members interested in joining us.
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Temple Beth Shalom is a warm, welcoming, and spirited community reflecting the rich diversity of the American Jewish community at large. We come together from varied Jewish backgrounds, including Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative and Orthodox, and welcome interfaith families, blended families, and individuals of all ages, races and sexual orientation. Our strength lies in the energy, participation and commitment of our members who work together to shape who we are.
Congregation Beth Israel
542 S. New Middletown Rd.
Media, PA
19063
Phone: (610) 566-4645
www.bethisraelmedia.org
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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www.bethisraelmedia.org
Congregation Mishkan Shalom
4101 Freeland Ave.
Philadelphia, PA
19128
Phone: (215) 508-0226
www.mishkan.org
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
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Mishkan Shalom is a spiritual, progressive and inclusive synagogue in Philadelphia. They are based on a common set of values articulated in their Statement of Principles. Their synagogue is a place where they integrate tradition and innovation, share their faith and doubts, ask questions, and learn from one another. They are committed to:
- A spiritual life that impels us to work for a better world, strengthens us in times of need and challenges us to grow
- The feminist reconstruction of Judaism
- Children being an integral part of the community
- The inclusion of gays, lesbians, and interfaith families
- The pursuit of economic justice in the Philadelphia Region and a just and lasting peace in the Middle East
Mishkan Shalom is an egalitarian and participatory community of approximately 300 households. Members take on a co-op responsibility, and are encouraged to take an active role in services and assume religious leadership. Rabbis are Rabbi Jeff Sultar and Rabbi Yael Levy. The religious school has over 150 students and is directed by Rabbi Erin Hirsh.
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Germantown Jewish Centre is listed by the Interfaith Working Group as a welcoming congregation. From their website, Germantown Jewish Centre describe themselves as a congregation where women and men participate as equals. GJC is affiliated with the Conservative Movement and takes a progressive approach to ritual observance and synagogue life. They welcome anyone who shares their values and commitment to Jewish community life. Minyan Dorshei Derekh is also affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation.
Rodef Shalom
4905 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA
15213
Phone: (412) 621-6566
www.rodefshalom.org/
Affiliation: Reform
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Our congregation anticipates our future with the same progressive thought of our predecessors. All Jewish households, irrespective of the age, family status, sexual orientation, faith tradition of origin, or financial means of its members are welcome to find a place within our circle. We are proud of the warm sense of family the members of Rodef Shalom are fostering today!
Texas
Temple Beth-El
211 Belknap Place
San Antonio, TX
78212
Phone: (210) 733-9135
www.beth-elsa.org/
Affiliation: Reform
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Temple Beth-El is a founding member of the Union for Reform Judaism. The synagogue is proud to have the only female rabbi serving a congregation in Texas and the first female cantor in San Antonio. Additionally, the rabbis give sermons about the importance and implications of welcoming LGBT people as members.
Washington
Kol HaNeshamah
c/o Alki UCC 6115 SW Hinds St
Seattle, WA
98116
Phone: (206) 935-1590
www.kol-haneshamah.org
Affiliation: Reform
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Kol HaNeshamah is West Seattle's progressive synagogue community. It is an intimate congregation with a warm approach to tradition. Shabbat is the cornerstone of our community. We meet twice a month on the first and third Friday and Saturday to worship at Alki UCC, near Alki Beach in West Seattle. We are a diverse congregation of households from West Seattle and beyond who are building an intimate Jewish community committed to progressive beliefs, practice and inclusivity. Michael Adam Latz is the founding rabbi.
Kol HaNeshamah is a progressive synagogue rejoicing in Torah, Avodah (Worship/ Prayer), Tzedek and Tikkun (Justice and Healing) but specializing in K'hillah (Community). We attract members from all around Seattle who believe a synagogue is a place to experience the joys of Judaism. We deeply believe in inclusivity. We are young, old, families, singles, single parents, interfaith, straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered.
Temple Beth Am
2632 NE 80th Street
Seattle, WA
98115
Phone: (206) 525-0915
www.templebetham.org/
Affiliation: Reform
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Temple Beth Am is currently participating in the IJSO's Welcoming Synagogues Project, which seeks to create inclusive and welcoming synagogue spaces for LGBT people. By the end of the process, each congregation will have an inspiring and compelling vision of inclusion and welcoming of LGBT people and will have begun to make that vision a part of their every day congregational life.
Europe-Netherlands
Kehillat Beit Ha'Chidush
1001 LC Amsterdam KvK 41217431 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Phone: 011-31 (23) 524-7204
www.beithachidush.nl
Affiliation: Reform
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Beit Ha'Chidush is Holland's progressive synagogue in the heart of old Amsterdam. We are participatory, egalitarian, and are open and welcoming for all Jews, their friends, loved ones and family. Beit Ha'Chidush is a 'House of Renewal'. We are led by Rabbi Elisa Klapheck, who is well known for her ground-breaking book on Regina Jonas (the first woman ever ordained as Rabbi, Berlin, 1935). If you are missing that "my kinda people" feeling while abroad, or if you want to ask the 'unaskable' questions about Judaism, please feel free to join our congregation, if you live in or near Amsterdam, or even while visiting.
Please note that the website is in Dutch.
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