Kehilateinu (Pride Club)

Kehilateinu, is Temple Sholom's LGBTQIA+ Pride club. Co-presidents Danny Lybbert and Cae Rosch Sandeen, along with the support of board member Kim Werker and Cantor Shani Cohen, are working together to organize a gender-inclusive addition to Temple Sholom’s community group offerings.

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Kehilateinu will welcome LGBTQIA+ community members and their friends, family, and allies for social, educational, and philanthropic events aimed at fostering camaraderie among those on this unique path through Jewish life. The group will function, alongside Sisterhood and Men’s Club, as a third pillar of support and community to enhance the already-rich social fabric those groups have established at Temple Sholom.

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Contact us at: kehilateinu@templesholom.ca

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MISSION AND VISION

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VALUES

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• Community → Kehilah Kedoshah → קְהִלָּה קְדוֹשָׁה
• Inclusivity → Klal Yisrael → כְּלַל יִשְׂרָאֵל
• Accessibility → Kol L’Darcho → כָּל לְדַרְכּוֹ
• Learning → Talmud Torah → תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה
• Safety → Pikuach Nefesh → פִּקּוּחַ נֶפֶשׁ
• Allyship and advocacy → Tikkun Olam → תִּקּוּן עוֹלָם

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MISSION

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Kehilateinu’s mission is to:

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• Connect queer Jews and allies in a welcoming, sustained community
• Provide a safe space for queer Jews and their allies
• Socialize, celebrate, and learn together in the fullness of Jewish life
• Support each other in exploring and understanding our identities in the context of Jewish experience
• Advocate for a Jewish future in which queer Jews are fully seen and valued

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VISION

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To that end, Kehilateinu will:

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Establish a robust, structured, and sustainable social group for LGBTQ+ Jews and allies that will remain financially accessible and integral to the fabric of synagogue life for generations to come.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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QUEER TORAH STUDY

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Monthly on Saturdays at 12:00 pm at Temple Sholom (following the services)

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Upcoming dates:

July 26, 2025 - discussion led by Danny Lybbert

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Our Temple Sholom Queer Torah Study group is an inclusive space to gather together and study Torah through a queer lens. Our discussion topics range from the weekly Torah portion to Jewish holidays to world events. Participants rotate leading the Torah study, and Cantor Cohen is available to meet and help each leader prepare ahead of time.

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If you are interested in learning more, joining one of our events, or leading a Torah study, please email us us at: kehilateinu@templesholom.ca and join our WhatsApp group. Please email us to be added to the group. If you have any feedback from our last event, or ideas for programming you’d like to see, please let us know!