"Acceptance and support"COMMUNITY INVITED TO CELEBRATE KEY EVENT

Dayenu to mark 25th year

"As Dayenu struggled with media attacks from 'Pride in Protest' leading up to the 2024 Mardi Gras, the support extended to Dayenu was astounding," says David Klarnett.

Dayenu will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. Photo: Toby Evans
Dayenu will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. Photo: Toby Evans

Dayenu will mark its milestone 25th year next week with an event paying tribute to those who have played key roles in advancing the rights of LGBTQ+ Jews.

Rabbi Jaqueline Ninio, community member Dawn Cohen, former NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff and NSW Supreme Court Justice Stephen Rothman will all feature at the event. Cohen was a regular advocate for recognition; Alhadeff campaigned for gay rights while editor of The AJN; and Rothman tabled a motion recognising same-sex marriage at a Board of Deputies plenum.

“It is only through the acceptance and support Dayenu has received from our families and Jewish community that acceptance of LGBTQ+ Jews has occurred, and we would like to celebrate this with the entire community,” said Dayenu president David Klarnett.

“As Dayenu struggled with media attacks from ‘Pride in Protest’ leading up to the 2024 Mardi Gras, the support extended to Dayenu was astounding. We received calls and emails of support from many community members, community groups and associations, all making sure we knew our community supported and loved us. This gave Dayenu and our members courage to face those who sought to put us down and for Dayenu to participate in last year’s parade.”

Despite being attacked by radical fringe group Pride in Protest and being forced to fend off hateful antisemitic attacks since October 7, Dayenu enjoyed its largest ever Mardi Gras parade group last year. Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) Alex Ryvchin even became the organisation’s first leader to march in the parade.

Dayenu was born in 1999 as a cooperation between the local lesbian and gay Jewish groups to enter a combined float in the 2000 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. Next week’s event will feature speakers involved in its establishment and those who have continued to support LGBTQ+ Jews.

“From the first LGBT+ Shabbat dinner, to the first religious union in Australia of same-sex couples at Emanuel Synagogue, this is a story Dayenu looks forward to sharing while also thanking our Jewish community for walking this road with us,” said Klarnett.

“We would be delighted if the community could join us at Emanuel Synagogue on February 9.”

For more information, and to book for the event, visit https://events.humanitix.com/dayenu-25th-anniversary-gala

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