KeshetUK launches groundbreaking LGBT+ shul inclusion project

He said that the resource was aimed at congregations across the denominations. “We are proud to work with Orthodox, Masorti and Progressive communities - with any community which wants to work at being inclusive, whatever that means for them. We don’t believe that one size fits all.”

In the last ten years, LGBT+ inclusion in the Jewish community had improved “incredibly”, said Chapman, noting that KeshetUK had helped the Chief Rabbi with his guide, The Wellbeing of LGBT+ pupils – a guide for Orthodox Jewish schools, in 2018.

He said that the challenges LGBT+ Jews faced might include finding a rabbi and a congregation willing to conduct a same sex wedding ceremony “which aligns with their denomination, so it fits both parts of their identity”.

Writing for the JC, Chapman said that since October 7, many LGBT+ Jews had “found solace within our communities, which has led to many of us rediscovering traditions, rituals, and customs that have sustained us for millennia”.

He said he was hoping the Belonging in Ritual project would provide “a route back into the community for LGBT+ Jews and show how inclusive Judaism can be”.

The portal is already open for submissions and will stay open indefinitely. Chapman said that all authors would need to provide consent for their work to be uploaded. All submissions will then undergo a review process to ensure that they are in line with the KeshetUK’s values.

“At the later stages, we will look at all the resources and work with rabbis and communities to plug the gaps and support them in creating inclusive ritual templates,” said Chapman.

For more information or to submit resources, go to:

keshetuk.org/contribute or click here