Keshet Committee at Shaare Emeth: LGBTQ+
Pride Shabbat 2023
Friday, June 23 at 6 p.m.
Featuring musical guest: BandTogether’s Woodwind Ensemble; special readings and prayers. BandTogether is a volunteer music organization in the greater St. Louis area, open to performers of all abilities, providing performance opportunities to members of the LGBTQ+ community in a safe and relaxed setting.
Saturday, June 24
9:30 a.m. – Torah Study with Rabbi Bearman – Following The Rainbow Thread: Celebrating Jewish LGBTQ+ History
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: National speaker Ben Greene will host the workshop: LGBTQ+ Inclusion: What it Means, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do
Ben Greene is a public speaker and fierce advocate for the transgender community. After coming out at 15 years old, he built a career based on spreading storytelling and education to individuals, corporations, government groups, hospitals, and schools around the world. He is publishing a book about supporting transgender youth, and is passionate about educating everyone—no matter where they’re starting from.
Registration is required for Saturday’s Torah Study and/or Workshop.
Pride St. Charles
June 17 from 12 – 7 p.m.
At Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway
St. Charles, MO
Stop by the Shaare Emeth booth!
St. Louis PrideFest
Saturday & Sunday, June 24 & 25
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. • Click here for details
PrideFest Grand Pride Parade
Sunday, June 25 at 12 p.m.
We’ll join members of the Jewish community and walk as a group, beginning at 8th and Market.
RSVP to Michele if you’re planning to walk with us.
Interested in carpooling? Please email Michele and let her know if you can drive or need a ride.
Past Events
Shaare Emeth’s Keshet Committee hosted a special Shabbaton on January 25-28, 2023. We were proud to offer the following events.
Building Communities of Belonging: Inclusive Practices for the Congregation & Beyond – A Virtual Workshop
Wednesday, January 25 at 7 p.m.
This impactful, virtual workshop will be facilitated and hosted by Nate Looney, Director of Community Safety & Belonging, Jewish Equity Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI), Jewish Federations of North America. This event will be held via Zoom – the link will be emailed in advance to those registered.
Kabbalat Shabbat Service Featuring Inclusive Music & Readings, with Special Musical Guest, Charis
Friday, January 27 at 6 p.m.
In the Stiffman Sanctuary at Congregation Shaare Emeth (also available via live stream). No registration is required.
A Keshet Inclusion Torah Study with Rabbi Bennett
Saturday, January 28
9 a.m. Nosh in the North Lobby
9:30 a.m. Study begins In the Kehillah Center
All of Our Voices: Intersectionality and Inclusion for All, A Diverse Panel of St. Louis Voices
Saturday, January 28
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Lunch immediately following
12:15 – 1:30 p.m.
Rabbi Lori Levine will moderate this panel, addressing what it’s like to belong to more than one group (queer AND…). Our wonderful panelists are Jamie Adams, Beth Bierman, Rachel Bolter, Sela Masaki, and Clarissa Reel.
This event can also be attended virtually. The link will be emailed in advance to those registered.
About Congregation Shaare Emeth’s Keshet Committee
Keshet means rainbow or קשת in Hebrew. Since 2019, the Keshet Committee, with the leadership and partnership of Rabbi Levine, has been working toward affirming and welcoming members of the LGBTQ+ community. Our goal is to help the congregation live up to our highest values so that all congregants and prospective members feel truly at home at Shaare Emeth. The Keshet team hosts programming to support and celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion within our congregation and acts as a resource on LGBTQ+ issues to the congregational community.
Keshet Committee members:
Co-Chairs: Leslie Masaki and Michele Siler; Sam Bernstein, Beth Bierman, Rachel Bolter, Chrys Goodell, Michelle Gralnick, Terri Jacobson, Julia Partin, Michael Sherberg, Molly Thal, and Sharon Vermont; Rabbi Lori Levine; and Hannah Michelson, Staff Liaison
Resources from Shaare Emeth’s Keshet LGBTQ+ Committee
- Keshet Online
- Kulanu: All of Us (A program and resource guide for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Inclusion.)
- The Reform Movement’s resolutions and responses
- History of the Reform Movement’s queer inclusion
- The World Congress of LGBT Jews – Keshet Ga’avah
- Mishkan Ga’Avah: Where Pride Dwells from CCAR Press
- Siddur Sha’ar Zahav (An English-Hebrew prayer book created by one of the earliest LGBTQ+ congregations in the US.)
- Queering the Text: Biblical, Medieval, and Modern Jewish Stories
- Jewish text and tradition – Resources from Keshet Online
- Torah Queeries (LGBTQ-supportive liturgy)
- Torah commentary
- Language Matters (FAQs about using correct queer language)
- Printable signs and stickers
- Resources for queer Jews of color
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