Gay rabbi

The world of synagogue life that was closed to me, in the end embraced me and Evan, and opened doors—and hearts—so that I could serve as their rabbi with complete openness and integrity. Thanks for being a dedicated teacher and servant of the Jewish people. Rabbi Goor is married to Cantor Evan Kent, his life partner of over thirty-seven years.

All were supportive. He made aliyah in and now serves as the rabbinic liaison at J2 Adventures—planning trips to Israel for rabbis and synagogues—and on the boards of the Israel Religious Action Center, Shutaf—a program for special needs kids—and the David Forman Foundation.

In a gay rabbi moment for American Judaism, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (YCT), an all-male seminary in Riverdale, New York, ordained Rabbi Tadhg Cleary —an out gay rabbi from New Zealand—on June The ordination, which took place alongside three other graduates, marks the first time an openly gay student has received semicha (rabbinic ordination) from an Orthodox Jewish institution in the.

Thank you, not only for sharing, but for your dedication and your rabbinate. Steven Greenberg (born June 19, ) is an American rabbi with a rabbinic ordination from the Orthodox rabbinical seminary of Yeshiva University (RIETS).

InRabbi Goor was appointed the first out, gay rabbi to serve a mainstream congregation. You have been an example for so many. Together we forced open the doors so that future generations of rabbis could walk through them with their heads held high. At the time it seemed that I was the first openly gay rabbi to be appointed senior rabbi at a mainstream congregation, a story interesting enough for The New York Times.

When I was ordained inall I could see in my future were closed doors.

Forcing the Door Open : Rabbi Shua Brick of Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland is the first openly gay rabbi hired at an Orthodox synagogue

This is a story that resonates with me. He is described as the first openly gay Orthodox-ordained Jewish rabbi, since he publicly disclosed he is gay in an article in the Israeli newspaper Maariv in and participated in a documentary film about gay men and women raised in.

When I did accept a job in the New York area, the senior rabbi asked if I was gay. When Evan and I first met, we hid our relationship.

He 39 s the : “We want to be giving semicha to him for

In follow-up interviews, I was careful to avoid the question of sexual orientation. None of them were surprised. It took years for Rabbi Shua Brick to accept himself. But he didn't know if any Orthodox synagogue would accept him too. While the synagogue celebrated, protestors attended my installation, and a famous radio personality spoke about me for an entire week as an abomination.

As an act of self-preservation, I was complicit in keeping that door tightly closed. When the senior rabbi position at Temple Judea became available, I knew it was up to me to open the door so I could serve with wholeness and integrity.

When I applied to Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion, I hid the fact that I was gay, for fear of discovery which would bar any opportunity to be ordained, let alone find a position upon ordination.

The door slammed shut. I feel privileged to have shared my professional journey with a loving partner, caring friends and family, and a supportive community. Eventually, despite facing hurdles, I was welcomed for twenty-six years as rabbinot as gay rabbi.

Doors began to open. I met with leaders of the congregation to share my story and come out to them.