The Importance of Pride Shabbat by Rafe Thurstance
When I was younger, I genuinely thought that Pride was nothing but a party, and as I’m someone that really doesn’t enjoy big crowds, dismissed it as such – parties are generally fine in my mind, as long as I don’t have to get involved! I remember, though, one time that I was in London with some friends when I was a teenager and we didn’t realise that it was the Pride parade weekend and we got caught in the middle of it and I found myself utterly mesmerised. Only a few of my friends knew at the time that I’m gay, and there was only one other gay boy in school, so to see right there, the diversity of people partying unapologetically as a celebration of who they are, really hit me hard. I found in my later life that I was sometimes just as secretive about my Jewish identity too. I seem to have lived a life of hidden identities, because for a long time I lived surrounded by a society that didn’t make me feel safe enough to say out loud “I’m Jewish” or “I’m gay” – to myself, let alone to anyone else. That was pretty much overturned by going to university when I was 21, but it wasn’t until I found Liberal Judaism at almost 25 that I truly felt grounded, rooted and comfortable in something authentic and nurturing that accepted me simply as I am in both of those things.
Progressive Judaism anywhere in the world has worked hard to undo a lot of damage done by the exclusion of people who identify in certain ways, and some beautiful rituals have been created in order to allow everyone to celebrate the passing of time, the birth of children, or even marriage in a way that remains true to our traditions.
Progressive Judaism celebrates Pride based on the relatively simple belief that absolutely everyone in the community should be able to be present, and live openly, as their full, deep, authentic, whole selves; and we may pray for and work toward a world where everyone can do so, being able to openly love whom they love, but prayer isn’t enough. Coming together as a community to celebrate these changes helps us to better foster a shared social conscience in a safe, spiritual, meaningful religious space, but also gives us a focus for action.
Rabbi Lionel Blue, “one of the most respected religious figures in the UK” according to The Guardian came out in 1980, five years before I was born, my colleague and teacher, Rabbi Mark Solomon, came out some time after that. These are but two great men who have paved the way for me to be where I am today, as a gay student rabbi … and I can wholeheartedly say that without the love and support of my community and the traditions that we have inherited and created, I don’t think I could have done it.