Rabbi’s Message – June 1, 2023
As we enter into the month of June, color seems to burst into the world. The Rainbow Pride Flag has become a symbol of diversity: red = life, orange = healing, yellow = sun/sunlight, green = nature, indigo = harmony, violet = spirit. For the Jewish community, the rainbow is symbolic of much more. It is a sign of the never-ending covenant between God and humanity. It is a visible commitment to the diversity of human expression. In Judaism, we recognize that God has created and formed us as beautiful, individuals, each in the image of the divine.
Pride celebrations began in June 1970 as a commemoration of the Stonewall Inn riots in Greenwich Village the year before. This had historically been an open space for the LGBTQ community, yet in many jurisdictions the law denied these individuals the rights to love those with whom they chose to spend their lives. When the NY Police Department raided this space, it was a pivotal moment and a call to both action and awareness.
Today, we at Temple Israel also lift the rainbow flag. Perhaps as allies, or perhaps as members of the LGBTQ+ community. And we do so together proudly. Our tradition teaches us that diversity makes us stronger and that gender and sexuality are far more complex and nuanced than we can imagine. Let us not limit our acceptance based on our limited understanding, but open our arms with love and acceptance to one another.
Please join us tomorrow night, June 2, for a unique and prideful Share Shabbat, as we embrace the beauty of our vibrant community and see one another as we wish to be seen, created in the image of the Divine. RSVP here.
Please note that the Temple building may be warm on Friday evening. The city is currently working on updating the gas line, causing us to turn off our air conditioning system to allow them to accomplish the work.