Congregation Beit Simchat Torah Explained

Congregation Beit Simchat Torah
Map Type:Manhattan
Map Size:250
Map Relief:1
Coordinates:40.737°N -74.0087°W
Religious Affiliation:Judaism
Location:130 West 30th Street, Midtown, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Rite:Non-denominational / Progressive
Festivals:-->
Country:United States
Organizational Status:-->
Status:Synagogue
Functional Status:Active
Founded By:Jacob Gubbay and others
Established:1973
Year Completed:2016
Date Destroyed:-->
Elevation Ft:-->
Footnotes:[1] [2]

Congregation Beit Simchat Torah ("CBST") is a non-denominational, pluralistic, progressive LGBTQ+ Jewish synagogue located at 130 West 30th Street, in Manhattan New York City, New York, United States.

The congregation was founded in 1973 by and for LGBTQ people,[3] and is the world's largest LGBT synagogue.[4] CBST serves Jews of all sexual orientations and gender identities, their families and friends.[5] From 1992-2024, the congregation was led by Senior Rabbi Emerita Sharon Kleinbaum.[6] Current clergy include Senior Rabbi Jason Klein, Associate Rabbi Yael Werber, and Cantor Sam Rosen. CBST is not affiliated with any denomination or branch of Judaism.

History

The congregation, founded in 1973 by twelve gay Jewish men led by Jacob Gubbay, originally met in Chelsea's Church of the Holy Apostles and brought its prayer materials to services each week in a brown paper bag. In 1978 they began renting space in the West Village at 57 Bethune Street, in the Westbeth Artists Community residential-artistic complex, for offices, a Hebrew school, and a sanctuary, though the space was not large enough for Friday night services, which continued to be held in the church.[7] In addition, the synagogue hosts annual Yom Kippur services at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, as the only free High Holy Day services in New York. Yom Kippur services draw over 4,000 people.[8]

Building a Synagogue at 130 W 30th Street

In June 2011, after 16 years of searching for a home, the congregation purchased a large space in Chelsea/Midtown Manhattan, at 130 West 30th Street between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue.[9] [10] Built in 1927-28, this landmarked Assyrian Revival-style building[11] building designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert[12] underwent renovations between 2013 and 2016. The "Dedication of Our New Home" was marked that year with a celebration on April 3.[13]

Notable members

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2012-10-05. About. live. 2021-02-24. Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. en. Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) is a vibrant spiritual community and a progressive voice within Judaism. Founded in 1973, CBST attracts and welcomes gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, queer and straight, individuals and families who share common values. Passionate, provocative, and deeply Jewish, CBST champions a Judaism that rejoices in diversity, denounces social injustice wherever it exists, and strives for the human rights for all people.. https://web.archive.org/web/20090718192326/http://www.cbst.org:80/About . July 18, 2009 .
  2. Book: Kurshan, Virginia . . 130 West 30th Street Building Designation Report (List 331, LP-210) . New York City . November 13, 2001 . December 20, 2023 .
  3. Web site: About: Mission and Values . Congregation Beit Simchat Torah . October 5, 2012 . October 14, 2013.
  4. Web site: CBST, the World's Largest LGBT Synagogue, Gets a New Home . Ingall . Marjorie . 2016-04-01 . Tablet Magazine . en . 2019-06-27.
  5. Web site: Weiss. Anthony. Gay Acceptance and Gay Synagogues. Keshet Ga'avah: The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews. GLBTJews.org. October 14, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130408183933/http://glbtjews.org/article.php3?id_article=568. April 8, 2013.
  6. Web site: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Congregation Bet Simchat Torah, New York City . Religion & Culture: Meeting the Challenge of Pluralism (a Ford Foundation project) . October 14, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120321012238/http://religionandpluralism.org/SharonKleinbaum.htm . March 21, 2012.
  7. , pp.98–99
  8. Web site: Allen . Dan . High Holy Days for NYC's LGBT Community: Congregation Beit Simchat Torah Opens Its Doors for Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur . About.com Local – Manhattan, NY . October 14, 2013 . March 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123226/http://manhattan.about.com/od/glbtscene/a/lgbt-rosh-hashanah-new-york.htm . dead.
  9. News: Dunlap. David W. . 'Gay Synagogue' Finds a Home, Full of Ancient Assyrians . October 14, 2013 . . August 8, 2011 . City Room.
  10. News: Dunlap. David W. . Designing a Synagogue for a Gay Congregation, With Acoustics in Mind. October 14, 2013 . . June 21, 2012 . City Room (digital); Designing a Synagogue For a Gay Congregation (New York edition) . A22.
  11. Web site: 130 West 30th St. New York . Projects . FSI Architecture . 2018 . December 20, 2023 .
  12. News: The Jewish Week . In A Move Freighted With Symbolism, CBST Purchases First Home . July 26, 2011 . Doug . Chandler . August 8, 2011 . October 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161012042111/http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/move_freighted_symbolism_cbst_purchases_first_home . dead .
  13. Web site: Our History . Congregation Beit Simchat Torah . October 6, 2012 . September 30, 2016.
  14. Web site: Oswald . John A. . Legendary Producer Barbara Gaines Awarded for LGBT Work . The Forward . 10 November 2015 . 24 July 2024.
  15. Web site: Senator Brad Hoylman. December 21, 2012. NY State Senate.
  16. News: Maltz. Judy. July 11, 2019. This ultra-Orthodox rabbi wants you to know that 'He/His' is his pronoun of choice. 2021-02-23. Haaretz. en.
  17. Web site: This Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi Says His Holiest Moment Was Becoming Public LGBTQ Ally. 2021-02-23. www.wbur.org. Young. Robin. November 9, 2018 . en.
  18. Web site: 2018-06-12. Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies. 2021-02-23. Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. en.
  19. Web site: Sales. Ben. July 3, 2018. This ultra-Orthodox rabbi just took a job at an LGBT synagogue. 2021-02-23. www.timesofisrael.com. en-US.
  20. Web site: The Secret Jewish History of Cynthia Nixon . Seth . Rogovoy . March 20, 2018 . . July 8, 2018 .
  21. Book: Make For Me a Holy Place . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20210730010204/https://www.cbst.org/sites/cbst.org/files/images/image_content_type/CBST%20booklet%20%287.5X10%29PPPPspreads%2002.28.19.pdf . July 30, 2021 . dead.
  22. Web site: Janet Weinberg's Life Celebrated. Andy Humm. November 14, 2018. Gay City News. en. 2019-06-27. June 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190627104249/https://www.gaycitynews.nyc/stories/2018/24/weinberg-remembrance-2018-11-22-gcn.html. dead.
  23. Web site: The Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum and Randi Weingarten Fund for Social Justice . Congregation Beit Simchat Torah . 11 June 2024 . 24 July 2024.
  24. Web site: Hoffman. Allison. Jewish Organizations Join DOMA Appeal: The case of Edie Windsor finds allies in the Jewish community. Tablet Magazine. October 14, 2013. The Scroll: Tablet Magazine in the News. September 28, 2012.
  25. Web site: Kampeas. Ron. Edie Windsor's lawyer and the daughters of Zelophehad (includes drash). Telegraph: Blogging Jewish News and Culture. JTA: The Global Jewish News Service. October 14, 2013. June 28, 2013.

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