Synagogues are important centres of Jewish life and experience for many Jews. KeshetUK works with synagogues and Rabbis regardless of denomination, so that LGBT+ people and their families can feel included within the synagogue’s tradition.
In the UK, Jewish communities provide a wide range of services, support and facilities. Rather than see these duplicated for Jewish LGBT+ people, Jewish communities should ensure that their provision is inclusive of LGBT+ people and their families, and meets their needs.
Jewish communities are diverse and there is no single approach that will work for everyone. KeshetUK works in partnership with communities to identify their goals, then we tailor our support so they can achieve them.
KeshetUK workshops use a mixture methods to understand how LGBT+ inclusion can work in Jewish communities. They are interactive and create a space where any question can be asked.
In the UK, Jewish communities provide a wide range of services, support and facilities. Rather than see these duplicated for Jewish LGBT+ people, Jewish communities should ensure that their provision is inclusive of LGBT+ people and their families, and meets their needs.
Jewish communities are diverse and there is no single approach that will work for everyone. KeshetUK works in partnership with communities to identify their goals, then we tailor our support so they can achieve them.
KeshetUK workshops use a mixture methods to understand how LGBT+ inclusion can work in Jewish communities. They are interactive and create a space where any question can be asked.
What we offer synagogues
- LGBT+ inclusion training - appropriate for rabbis, cantors, religious education teachers, lay-leadership, general staff (eg. receptionists, security etc)
- Meeting with individuals such as rabbis, teachers and staff - in confidence where necessary - to increase their understanding of what including Jewish LGBT+ people and their families could look like
- Bespoke sessions - previous ones have included themes including LGBT+ mental health and a timeline of LGBT+ history
- We are planning to pilot an 'audit' of synagogues and so if you're interested in taking part in this - please do contact us
Recent Synagogues work
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Testimonies
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"Working with KeshetUK opened my eyes to exactly how uncertain it can be as a member of the LGBT community. Silence does not always equal acceptance, and tolerance can be easily interpreted as disinterest. Training with KeshetUK made me want to do better as a person and as a community."
Felicity Miller, Vice-Chair New West End Synagogue |
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"KeshetUK has helped me as a Rabbi to deepen my understanding of issues and challenges faced by LBGTQI people and also to appreciate better the meaning of inclusion. The first KeshetUK session that I attended at Limmud, four years ago, was a real eye opener as I had the opportunity to question my own assumptions and perhaps unconscious prejudices. The Jewish community needs KeshetUK so that it can truly be an inclusive community."
Rabbi Mark Goldsmith Aylth, North Western Reform Synagogue |
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"LGBT inclusion within faith communities can be a difficult topic to broach. The training by KeshetUK did so with intelligence, candor and in a non-judgemental spirit. They communicated effectively with a group who were diverse in their ideological views, their experience of working with the LGBT community and their understanding of the issues. We would strongly encourage all Jewish organisations to take advantage of this training for their professional and lay leadership teams."
Jon Pam, Community Development Director Masorti Judaism |