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Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:24-32
I stopped using the phrase "Judeo-Christian" about a dozen years ago when I realized that Judeo values are not Christian values. For evidence, look no further than pervert pride month in New York City; as reported by Julia Gergely of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, May 31, 2024 (bold, links, photo in original):
As June rolls in, so does Pride Month — a 30-day celebration of the LBGTQ community and its long fight for equality.
New York City is home to the largest LGBTQ population in the country, so it’s no surprise that we’re also home to one of the biggest Pride parades. This year’s parade — themed “Reflect. Empower. Unite” — will take place on Sunday, June 30. Last year, the parade drew roughly 75,000 marchers and 2 million spectators, a capstone to a month of events ranging from raucous, late-night parties to documentary screening, drag shows and art exhibits.
The city’s Jewish community — also the largest in the country — is hosting a number of Pride events, too, from family-friendly concerts to galas to special Shabbat services. Scroll down for our roundup of Jewish ways to celebrate Pride New York this June.
Is your synagogue or Jewish organization hosting a Pride event open to the public? Send an email with the details if you’d like us to add it to our list!
Celebration of Eshel featuring Modi
Eshel, an organization that supports Orthodox parents of queer teenagers, is celebrating its 13th anniversary this year with a gala at the Prince George Ballroom (15 East 27th St., Manhattan) on Tuesday, June 4 at 7 p.m. The event includes dinner and drinks — the keynote program this year is an interview with comedian Modi Rosenfeld and his husband Leo Veiga. Get tickets, $75, here.
Base UWS Pride Celebration
On June 5 at 7:30 p.m., Base UWS, a new community for Jews in their 20s and 30s led by Rabbi Danny Stein, is hosting an evening of socializing and storytelling in honor of Pride on its rooftop deck overlooking Central Park. Drinks, snacks and ice cream are part of the free event. Location upon RSVP.
Pride Reception and Kabbalat Shabbat with Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
Join Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (30 West 68th St., Manhattan) for a Shabbat service and special LGBTQ+ Pride reception on Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. Register for free here.
CBE’s Very Queer Pride Party
Party the night away with Congregation Beth Elohim (274 Garfield Pl., Brooklyn) as the Reform synagogue in Park Slope celebrates Pride on Friday, June 7 at 8 p.m. The party features food, an open bar and performances by The Isle of Klezbos and DJ Plotz. Tickets start at $18. CBE will also co-host a seudah shlishit (the third meal on Shabbat) with several other Brooklyn Jewish groups before Brooklyn’s annual Twilight Pride Parade on June 8. Free; register here.
Jewish Family Pride in Brooklyn
In conjunction with several Brooklyn Jewish organizations, The Neighborhood is hosting several events the weekend of June 7-9 to celebrate Brooklyn’s Queer Jewish families, including a Pride Shabbat on June 7 at Hannah Senesh Community School (342 Smith St.), a Rainbow Rockout concert at Brooklyn Brewery (79 North 11th St.) and a Pride afternoon in Prospect Park. Check out the full list of events here.
Pride Celebration at JCC Mid-Westchester
On Sunday, June 9 at 2 p.m., join the JCC Mid-Westchester (999 Wilmot Rd., Scarsdale) for a Pride celebration featuring rainbow challah-making, crafts and music. There will also be a talk with author Jeff Bender about his book “Apparel Has No Gender.” Register for the free afternoon here.
Pride Shabbat Dinner with Town and Village Synagogue
Town and Village Synagogue (334 East 14th St., Manhattan) is hosting a Pride Shabbat dinner on Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m. featuring a conversation with Kate Brooks, the author of “Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World.” Tickets are $30 for adults and $18 for kids under 18.
Jewish Queer Youth Nachas Gala
Jewish Queer Youth is throwing its annual Pride=Nachas gala this year on Thursday, June 27 at 7 p.m. The event features music, dancing, frozen cocktails, kosher cuisine and will honor two Jewish community leaders. Location upon RSVP. From $90; learn more here.
Pride Shabbat with Congregation Beit Simchat Torah
New York’s pioneering queer synagogue is hosting a Pride Shabbat — seen as a “cornerstone celebration of CBST’s calendar” — on Friday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Masonic Hall. (46 West 41st St., Manhattan). Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum will deliver her final sermon before she steps down. Donations suggested and a livestream will be available. Register here.
June 14, 2025 update: It's not just in New York; as reported by Sharon Chisvin in the Winnipeg Free Press, June 14, 2025:
Like the many Pride events taking place in Manitoba this month, tonight’s Pride Havdalah will provide an opportunity for members of the LGBTTQ+ community and their allies to celebrate their identity, inclusion, community, resilience, and love.
At the same time, the June 14 Havdalah will offer those in attendance the opportunity to take part in an ancient and sacred religious ritual.
Havdalah is a weekly Jewish religious ceremony that differentiates between the end of the holy Sabbath on Saturday night and the beginning of the regular work week. The word Havdalah comes from the Hebrew verb l’havdil, which means to separate.
Havdalah is a brief, bittersweet and moving multi-sensory ceremony. It involves the recitation of four blessings emphasizing the distinction between light and darkness and the holy and mundane, the lighting of a multi-wicked braided candle, the sipping of wine, and the sniffing of spices.
The special Havdalah candle, by some interpretations, is said to represent the duality of the material and the spiritual worlds. Alternatively, it is said to represent the diversity of the Jewish people unified by a shared tradition. The wine, it is generally agreed upon, represents joy, and the fragrance of the spices, usually a combination of cinnamon and cloves, represent the lingering sweetness of the Sabbath that has just passed.
Pride Havdalah, hosted by the Rady JCC, is one of four Pride events sponsored by Winnipeg Jewish community organizations this month. Registration for the event was open to people from every gender expression, sexuality, faith and cultural background.
“This is the first time our community is organizing a Havdalah specifically during Pride,” says Tomer Levy, Rady JCC community engagement co-ordinator. “The Rady has hosted many cultural and holiday programs in the past, from Pride Shabbat dinners to film nights, but this felt like an important and timely opportunity to mark Pride with a uniquely Jewish ritual.”
Tonight’s event includes a catered kosher dinner and a drag performance, in addition to the Havdalah service.
“Havdalah is a very special moment in the Jewish week,” explains David Vamos, a music teacher and cantorial soloist who will be leading the service. “It is when we conclude the Sabbath and begin our everyday lives again. It is a time to reflect on the week that was and our wishes for the week ahead.”
It is both a public celebration and an individual experience.
“Similarly,” Vamos continues, “Pride is a time for our community to look at our own history, where we are right now, and where we would like to go. In the same way that Havdalah is an incredibly personal experience, so too is Pride, as everyone has a different relationship to their own identity and what they need for acceptance and happiness.”
Pride, Levy adds, is about visibility and belonging, which are values that resonate with Jewish traditions.
“Hosting a Havdalah during Pride is a natural extension of those values,” he says. “Hosting it during Pride is a powerful way to bring Jews and allies alike to honour our community and our values in a spirit of joy and inclusion.”
As many of those attending tonight’s event identify as Jewish, they are likely to already be familiar with the specialness of Havdalah. Event organizers, however, expect to welcome celebrants from many other backgrounds as well and are eager to introduce them to the beauty of the ceremony.
“I’ve had the opportunity to attend many Havdalah services over the years with non-Jewish attendees,” Vamos says, “and there is a near universal feeling of warmth and community for both Jews and non-Jew alike.”
Those feelings of warmth and community, combined with the sense of calm and serenity inherent to the Havdalah ceremony, are certain to ensure the success of this evening’s event.
“We hope non-Jewish attendees come away with a deeper appreciation for Jewish culture, ritual, and hospitality,” Levy says. “But more than anything, we want them to feel genuinely welcomed.”
Making people feel genuinely welcomed, of course, should be part of every Pride event.
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