Jewish Organizations Partner To Host Area’s First Pride Shabbat, March 31

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), a part of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County; Keshet, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating equality for LGBTQ+ Jews; and the Adolph and Rose Levis Jewish Community Center (JCC) are partnering to bring the community its first Pride Shabbat.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023, at the JCC Sandler Center, 21050 95th Ave S, Boca Raton, FL 33428. The Center is located on the Jewish Federation’s campus. The service will be led by cantorial soloist Jake Harris and Rabbi Greg Weisman from Temple Beth El.

“I’m so excited for our Community Pride Shabbat in March,” said Weisman, who is also Rabbi Board Chair for the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. “As the rights and protections for those who identify as LGBTQ+ are in peril around the world, taking the time to celebrate these members of our community and those who love them could not be more important. As a rabbi, I hear our tradition us calling to notice, recognize, and celebrate the holiness of each human being, as being made in God’s image.”

Notably, Pride Shabbat will take place on Trans Day of Visibility, an annual awareness day celebrated around the world. The day is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender and gender-nonconforming people, while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve trans justice.

“As our state sanctions erasure of LGBTQ+ identity in the public sector, it is even more important for our Jewish community to uphold the values of B’tzelem Eloheim and Kavod and affirm every person’s identity, which is exactly what the Jewish community of South Palm Beach County is doing,” said Tracey Labgold, Keshet’s Florida Education and Training Manager.

“The list is still in formation, but at this point 14 Jewish organizations have agreed to lend their support to our inaugural community Pride Shabbat. Our goal is for this to become an annual event with a different Jewish organization or synagogue hosting each year.”

Shabbat is the Jewish Day of Rest, which lasts from Friday evening to Saturday night.  During Erev Shabbat, the Friday evening start to the holiday, people often come together and celebrate the end of the work week and enter the days of rest with a prayer service, candle lighting and festive dinner.  During Shabbat, Jewish people are encouraged not to engage in labor, as they separate work from prayer.

Registration is required. Visit https://jewishboca.org/prideshabbat to register for information and entrance to the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County campus.

About the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County

Established in 1979, the JFSPBC is made up of Jewish and social service organizations, synagogues, and schools that provide valued services and programs to recipients in South Palm Beach County, in Israel and around the world. The JFSPBC is also comprised of local residents, including lay leadership, volunteer, donors, professional staff, rabbis, educators, event participants and students. Situated on a 100-acre campus in west Boca Raton – the largest in the nation – the JFSPBC supports more than 70 beneficiaries, engages with more than 5,000 donors, and connects more than 130,000 residents. To learn more about how we contribute to a shared vision for the Jewish community, visit https://jfspbc.org or call 561.852.3100.