Pride Shabbat Is a Hit with Hundreds from the Gay Seattle Jewish Community

"Thank you G-d for creating the whole, infinitely complex universe and for creating infinitely complex me." - Jill Weiss.

Uttered during Pride Shabbat 2010, this line uniquely exemplified the feelings of warmth, encouragement and togetherness felt during Seattle's LGBTQ Shabbat service.Held on June 25 at Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Pride Shabbat was coordinated by members of Bashert of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Kolenu, Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Temple B'nai Torah, Temple Beth Am and Congregation Tikvah Chadashah, and was an example of community collaboration at its finest.

The evening included a customized Shabbat service and songs chosen to specifically speak to the LGBTQ Jews, their families and friends in attendance, a community meal following the service, and personal stories told by participants. Over 200 community members attended the evening which coincided with Pride weekend in Seattle. Bashert, Jewish Federation's LGBTQ initiative sponsors and supports a variety of community-wide LGBTQ events. For more information, visit www.JewishInSeattle.org/Bashert.