Jewish-LGBT history exhibition launched

A Leeds shul has hosted the launch of the Rainbow Jews exhibition, which documents and showcases Jewish-LGBT history in the UK.

Sinai Reform Synagogue held a shabbat weekend, which included a service on Friday night and Saturday morning, before the display was launched.

The services were led by Sinai’s assistant rabbi, Esther Hugenholtz, with Friday’s service followed by a supper at the shul.

Surat Shaan Rathgeber Knan, founder and manager of Rainbow Jews and of his latest project Twilight People, spoke about his journey coming to terms with the relationship between his sexuality and his Judaism.

The Saturday shabbat service included alternative texts and liturgy which embraced LGBT issues, which event organiser Nicolle Levine called “thoughtful, spiritual, sensitive and inclusive”. She added: “this is exactly what we were aiming for in bringing the exhibition to Sinai.” 

The service was attended by members of the Jewish and non-Jewish LGBT community from across Yorkshire. 

The launch of the exhibition took place after the Shabbat service, and saw speaking guests including Leeds’ Lord Mayor and Sinai member Judith Chapman, Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton and Pudsey Horsforth and Aireborough MP Stuart Andrew.

The exhibition is run by Rainbow Jews, which is a lottery funded oral history project that records and showcases Jewish LGBT history in the UK from 1950-present.

An oral history selection can be heard on the Rainbow Jews website: www.rainbowjews.com

Sinai’s Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Morris also spoke about the Jerusalem Pride attack. 

On Sunday morning, Nicolle Levine and Sinai member Matt Thornfield were guests on Radio Leeds talking about the event. They spoke about significant parts of the exhibition, including a testimony of a Jewish woman who aged 90, came out as lesbian.

For more information, contact sanctuary@sinaisynagogue.org.uk.

The event took place between 31 July and 2 August.