Giving Light to Justice
Dear friends,
As we light all the candles on this last night of Chanukah, we remember the most wondrous moment of the miracle-when the oil had lasted a full eight days. Channukah is one of the four times during the year, along with Pride, Purim, and Yom Ha-atzma-ut, that we say an al hanisim prayer-an expression of gratitude for the triumph of the human spirit in overcoming oppression. This year, we have a lot to be thankful for; our fierce spirits and fruitful rewards deserve a little extra light, so we wanted to take this opportunity to remind us all of some of the tremendous work we have done in the past six months in overcoming oppression.
Here are some highlights, starting with our last al hanisim in June and continuing through the summer:
-Dozens of CBST members marched in the annual Pride March, honoring the history of Stonewall
-We celebrated Pride at CBST with our speakers, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gilibrand and Rickke Mananzala, Executive Director of FIERCE
-Rabbi Kleinbaum and Social Justice Coordinator, Alex Weissman, participated in the first National LGBT Movement Building Convening in Berkeley, CA
-Koleinu's Healthcare/Eldercare Action Team launched its first campaign with about 80 CBST members in attendance, setting the goals of transforming care facilities in NYC to be more competent in working with LGBTQ folks
-The Trans Empowerment Coalition hosted CBST's first annual Trans Pride Performance with an incredible turnout and fabulous performers
-Koleinu leaders represented CBST at the 2nd Annual Manhattan Synagogue Leaders Meeting and pushed the conversation on power, privilege, and LGBTQ justice with other congregations engaged in Congregational Based Community Organizing
-CBST hosted a 30 person dinner with Nehirim to build stronger and broader Jewish LGBTQ communities
-CBST welcomed our new Social Justice Rabbinic Intern, Guy Austrian, who co-taught a session with Alex and members of Koleinu on LGBTQ Youth Homelessness and the Ne'ilah liturgy on Yom Kippur
Since the High Holidays...
-CBST members attended the signing of the Dignity for All Students Act with Gov. Paterson at the LGBT Center, which we lobbied for in Albany
-CBST actively spoke out against Islamaphobia through the press , our ongoing participation with NY Neighbors for American Values, and an interfaith teach-in for seminary students which Guy co-taught at the proposed site for Park51
-About 30 CBST members marched with Rabbi Weiss and other CBST staff at the Annual Wedding March with Marriage Equality NY
-Rabbinical interns Guy Austrian and Yosef Goldman represented CBST and helped plan a series of events, "Israeli, Orthodox, and Gay" with our partners at A Wider Bridge
-We launched our first LGBTQ Pastoral Care Series, a monthly training opportunity for current and future Jewish clergy, which has reached individuals from Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Renewal, and unaffiliated seminaries and shuls
-Koleinu's LGBT Rights Action Team represented CBST at two separate community forums on LGBTQ youth homelessness and spoke at a public hearing on proposed budget cuts
-CBST launched the Strength Through Community project and partnered with Keshet and Nehirim to provide a community-based response to the recent news of bullying and suicides among LGBTQ youth which has been expanded to include suicide prevention training for staff in congregations across NYC
-The newly formed Chesed committee and the Koleinu Healthcare/Eldercare team designed the CBST Community Care Survey to assess our community's needs and experiences with care services
-Koleinu's Healthcare/Eldercare team met with key staff at Jewish Home Lifecare to begin the conversation about making their facilities more LGBTQ competent
These are just some of the incredible moments worth highlighting recently. We are continually in the process of overcoming oppression and we have a lot to be grateful for this year.
Wishing you all a joyful last night of Chanukah filled with light, justice, and gratitude.
Hag urim sameach ,
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum
Alex Weissman, Social Justice Coordinator
