The congregation was founded in 1973,[3] and is the world's largest
LGBT synagogue.[4] CBST serves
Jews of all sexual orientations and gender identities, their families, and their friends.[5] Members commute from as far away as the Bronx and New Jersey.[6] The congregation is led by Senior Rabbi
Sharon Kleinbaum[7] and Assistant Rabbi Yael Rapport. It is not affiliated with any denomination or branch of
Judaism.
History
The congregation, founded in 1973 by twelve gay Jewish men led by Jacob Gubbay, originally met in Chelsea's
Church of the Holy Apostles and brought its prayer materials to services each week. In 1978 they began renting space in the
West Village at 57 Bethune Street, in the
Westbeth Artists Community residential-artistic complex, for offices, a Hebrew school, and a sanctuary with a capacity of 300 which they use for Saturday morning services, while continuing to hold Friday night services in the church.[8] In addition, the synagogue rents the
Jacob Javits Convention Center for
Yom Kippur services, which draw over 4,000 people.[9]
Senior Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum celebrated her 20-year anniversary with CBST in 2012.[10][11]
New building
In June 2011, after 16 years of searching for a home, the congregation purchased a large space in Midtown Manhattan, in a commercial condominium at
130 West 30th Street between
Sixth Avenue and
Seventh Avenue.[12][13] The new space is located in the
landmarked SJM Building designed by noted architect
Cass Gilbert and built in 1927–28.[14] Ground was broken in 2013 and construction was completed in 2016. The "Dedication of Our New Home" was marked that year with a celebration on April 3.[15]
Mike Moskowitz,
Orthodox Rabbi who became an LGBTQ Ally and now works as a Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies at CBST [18][19][20][21]
^"About". Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. October 5, 2012.
Archived from the original on July 18, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2021. Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) is a vibrant spiritual community and a progressive voice within Judaism. Founded in 1973, CBST attracts and welcomes gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, queer and straight, individuals and families who share common values. Passionate, provocative, and deeply Jewish, CBST champions a Judaism that rejoices in diversity, denounces social injustice wherever it exists, and strives for the human rights for all people.[self-published source?]
^Weiss, Anthony.
"Gay Acceptance and Gay Synagogues". Keshet Ga'avah: The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews. GLBTJews.org. Archived from
the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
^Wiener, Julie (June 23, 2010).
"CBST's 'Gay-by Boom'". The Jewish Week. Archived from
the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
Blumenthal, David R. (June 28, 2010). "Siddur B'Chol L'vav'cha: With All Your Heart – By Congregation Beth Simchat Torah". Reviews in Religion & Theology. 17 (3): 341–344.
doi:
10.1111/j.1467-9418.2010.00579.x.