More than 100 community members donned in colorful attire gathered for a joyous evening at Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s second annual Community-Wide Pride Shabbat, an evening celebrating Jewish joy, connection, and community.
Centered around building a vibrant LGBTQIA+ Jewish community and fostering welcoming spaces where everyone can celebrate their identity with pride, the event was held at the North Palm Beach Country Club on June 12 — the same date as the Pride Celebration in Tel Aviv, Israel.
The welcoming gathering brought together LGBTQIA+ Jews, allies, families, and friends for a meaningful Shabbat experience featuring blessings led by Cantorial Soloist Suzanne Guinane, Maggie Douglas, and Sy Douglas. Throughout the evening, attendees enjoyed time to connect, reflect, and celebrate in a warm environment that embraced both Jewish identity and LGBTQIA+ pride.
“As a Jewish community, we are committed to creating spaces where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and connected,” said Whitney Cherner, vice president of community engagement at Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County “Our Community-Wide Pride Shabbat is a beautiful reflection of that commitment, bringing people together to celebrate who they are while strengthening what unites us.”
The event was led by Federation’s Pride Committee, which includes its chair, Andrew Koerner, as well as committee members Rick Baer, Sawyer Feld, Greg Goodman, Ethan Kernkraut, Tracey Labgold, Traci Rollins, Sarah Sax, and Peter Webb. Those interested in serving on the committee to help plan meaningful events and strengthen the Jewish Palm Beach community’s commitment to LGBTQIA+ pride and belonging should contact [email protected].
Federation also recently launched an online Pride Resources Hub, offering educational resources, guides, and tools, as well as a curated collection of local and national LGBTQIA+ organizations. Access the hub at jewishpb.org/pride.
Photo credit: Coastal Click Photography
