1 February 2026

This Month in Queer Religious History*

Congregation Beit Simchat Torah

On 9 February 1973, a small group of LGBTQ+ Jews gathered in a Manhattan living room for the first service of what would become Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), the world’s first LGBTQ+-founded synagogue. This humble beginning marked a revolutionary moment in queer religious history—a defiant affirmation that LGBTQ+ Jews deserved a spiritual home where they could worship without having to hide their identities. Over the next five decades, CBST would grow into a global beacon of queer Jewish life, blending tradition and radical inclusion while challenging both religious homophobia and secular assumptions about faith.

The early 1970s were a time of upheaval for LGBTQ+ communities. The Stonewall uprising of 1969 had ignited a movement, but queer people—especially those of faith—still faced exclusion from mainstream religious institutions. For LGBTQ+ Jews, the pain of rejection was twofold: marginalized by broader society and often unwelcome in synagogues, many struggled to reconcile their identities with their spirituality. Into this void stepped Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum (who led CBST from 1992 to 2024) and founding members like Jacob Gubbay, who envisioned a synagogue where “coming out” and “keeping kosher” were not contradictions.

From its first service, CBST embodied the Jewish principle of tikkun olam (repairing the world). The congregation became a sanctuary for those ostracized by their families or synagogues, offering not just prayer but crisis support, HIV/AIDS advocacy, and political activism. During the darkest years of the AIDS epidemic, CBST memorialized thousands of lives lost—many of whom were denied traditional Jewish burials elsewhere—and mobilized to demand government action. The synagogue’s 1985 AIDS Seder, a ritual blending Passover themes with pandemic grief, became a national model for spiritual resistance.

CBST’s theology was as bold as its activism. It reinterpreted Jewish texts to affirm queer lives, such as reclaiming the story of David and Jonathan as a sacred same-sex bond. The congregation also pioneered gender-inclusive liturgy, welcoming transgender and nonbinary Jews decades before most synagogues acknowledged them. This innovation reflected CBST’s core belief: that LGBTQ+ identities are not just tolerated but a divine gift—a concept Rabbi Kleinbaum framed as kedushah (holiness).

The synagogue’s impact transcended religion. In 2011, CBST became the first LGBTQ+ congregation to lead the National LGBTQ Task Force’s annual Pride march, symbolizing its role as a bridge between queer and faith communities. Its advocacy extended to fighting for marriage equality, protesting anti-trans laws, and partnering with Muslim and Christian LGBTQ+ groups to challenge religious bigotry worldwide.

Today, CBST stands as a testament to the power of queer faith. Its story reminds us that spirituality can be a weapon for justice—and that the fight for inclusion is far from over. As we honor CBST’s founding, we celebrate the courage of those who dared to create a table where all are welcome, and we recommit to building a world where no one must choose between who they are and what they believe.

Sources

  1. CBST History.  “CBST History.” https://www.cbst.org/about/history. Accessed 31 January 2026.
  2. Wikipedia. “Sharon Kleinbaum.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Kleinbaum   Accessed 31 January 2026
  3. Alpert, Rebecca. Like Bread on the Seder Plate: Jewish Lesbians and the Transformation of Tradition. Columbia University Press, 1997.
  4. Sarna, Jonathan D. American Judaism: A History. Yale University Press, 2004.
  5. Sweet Ken. “After 32 years as a progressive voice for LGBTQ Jews, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum heads into retirement.” The Associated Press. July 1, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/sharon-kleinbaum-lgbtq-synagogue-gay-marriage-religion-2d2499e5b5dbbc52fbee302ed89878ef.  Accessed 31 January 2026.

This Month in Queer Religious History

*Each month during 2025-2026, our 25th anniversary year, CLGS is honoring an individual, event, or movement of consequence in queer religious history. Although we will be able to highlight only a very few of those individuals and movements that have contributed to the thriving of LGBTQ+ persons and communities throughout history, we are eager to share with you the stories of some of the people and movements that have created positive change for LGBTQ+ people, our families, and our communities.