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Inclusivity Committee

Beth El is a member of JProud Philly and supports its mission as an LGBTQ Consortium committed to working together as a collective agent of change to raise awareness, educate, and advocate for the diverse needs of the Jewish LGBTQ community while building relationships with allies in the Greater Philadelphia area.

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Inclusivity at Congregation Beth El

In striving to be a kehillah kedoshah – a sacred community – Congregation Beth El provides multiple entry points for the mind, spirit and body.

We are open and inclusive to all.  To you.  People of all races, genders, physical or intellectual abilities, sexual orientations, gender expressions, religions and prayer and observance levels are warmly welcomed and embraced into our community.

We are a safe place of Jewish worship and community for the LGBTQ community.  Our clergy perform same-sex Jewish weddings on our bimah and in our community as well as conversions from all faiths to Judaism.

Along with members who themselves live in mixed households, many of our families have close relatives – including parents and children – who share a household with a non-Jewish partner.  While exerting no pressure on non-Jewish members of our community, Beth El is ready and willing to help intermarried couples raise Jewish children.  Non-Jewish partners and family members are welcome to attend all services and programs at Beth El, with or without a Jewish partner.  We are also glad to have many ways in which non-Jews can participate in our services.

We welcome the opportunity to work with families and individuals to create synagogue experiences that rise above any perceived limitations to create a relevant, spiritual, and accessible Jewish life for you.  We welcome the active involvement of all our diverse members in worship, in the social life of the congregation, in community service and in synagogue leadership. 

We believe that being open and inclusive is not a fixed place to be, but rather a continuous effort and commitment to accommodate the needs of each member and work to eliminate barriers to full participation in all Beth El activities to the greatest extent possible.  The Beth El office will happily help you find the answer to any specific questions you may have about diversity and inclusion at Congregation Beth El.

Tue, December 10 2024 9 Kislev 5785