Jewish stars shine bright
"A Jewish presence in the Mardi Gras Festival is important now more than ever..."
DANCING to Hava Nagila, around 40 members of Dayenu were joined by Emanuel Synagogue rabbis Jacqueline Ninio and George Mordechai at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade last Saturday night.
It was the 22nd year that Dayenu – Sydney’s LGBTQ+ group – marched in the parade.
Dressed in silver and black and carrying Jewish Pride flags, the marchers were led by six dancers, each holding a large triangle which came together to form a Magen David. Saul Flaxman and Dune Surf coordinated the parade entry.
“Luckily, the rain stopped on Saturday just for us so that we could all shine in all our fabulousness,” Dayenu president Jonathan David said.
He said it is important to show “that the Jewish community accepts LGBTQ+, and that Jewish and LGBTQ+ identities can co-exist harmoniously”.
“A Jewish presence in the Mardi Gras Festival is important now more than ever, especially coming off the boycotts in the Sydney Festival during the month before, and the rise in antisemitism around the world,” he said.
The previous evening, a special Shabbat service and dinner was held at Emanuel Synagogue.
“The dinner was hosted by long-time Dayenu volunteer David Rosenberg and the one and only fabulous Jewish Drag Queen, Fifi Glamcox,” David said.
“During the whole night, I felt so at home and grateful to be a part of this special community.”
Ilan Buchman and Oscar Schub, the first Jewish gay couple to get married in Australia, were interviewed on stage and talked about their new film Past Continuous, which will be screening as part of the Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) on March 24.
“The couple have been together for 50 years, and their message coincides with Dayenu’s purpose, which is to show that it doesn’t matter if someone is queer, because they can still do all the same things as their straight peers,” David said.
Rabbi Ninio said she and Rabbi Mordechai were “so proud” to march in the parade.
“It was so special to be dancing and celebrating our LGBTQI+ communities, Jewish stars were definitely shining bright this year!” she said.
“We had a wonderful Shabbat service with readings focused on celebrating our rainbow communities and embracing all the diversity in our congregation and community,” she said.
“It was a joyful service filled with song and we spoke about the meaning of the rainbow flag, its colours, its vibrancy and its powerful symbolism.
“And what a blessing to have a full synagogue and a wonderful Shabbat dinner, together with community and special guest host Fifi.”
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