| |
Online History of CBST at lgbtran.org |
| 1972 |
While leading gay seder at the Church of the Holy Apostles,
the idea of gay synagogue comes to Jacob Gubbay. |
| 1973 |
Twelve attend a Kabbalat Shabbat service 8PM, Feb 9, at the
Church of the Holy Apostles in Chelsea. |
| 1974 |
First monthly newsletter published in November; 400 copies printed. |
| 1975 |
CBST moves to Westbeth in August. |
| 1976 |
Isaac Bashevis Singer visits CBST. CBST moves to current Westbeth
space. Frank and Leslie hold CBST's first commitment ceremony. |
| 1977 |
201 attend International Conference of Gay and Lesbian Jews held at
CBST. |
| 1978 |
CBST's first Friday Evening Siddur is finished. |
| 1979 |
First CBST chorus begins rehearsals; sings at Rosh Hashanah. |
| 1980 |
New York City Comptroller Harrison J. Goldin at CBST. |
| 1981 |
CBST in joint education program with the Village Temple, the Conservative
Synagogue of First Avenue, Derkh Amuno, and Town and Village Synagogue. |
| 1982 |
"Diseases That Plague Gays," first newsletter article on
AIDS appears in February; 350 attend symposium on gay diseases at CBST.
Member Jeffrey Cortland dies of AIDS on October 29. |
| 1983 |
Tenth anniversary bash drew 275 attendees. Over 1000 attend High Holidays
services. |
| 1984 |
CBST is Jewish Week cover story. |
| 1985 |
Mayor Ed Koch visits CBST. |
| 1986 |
New York City's Stephen Wise Free Synagogue holds community-wide conference
on gay and lesbian Jews. |
| 1987 |
March on Washington, October 11. Attendance at High Holidays outstrips
available space; two sets of services held to accomodate overflow. |
| 1988 |
B'nei Jeshurun Rabbi Marshall Meyer speaks at CBST. Renovations
planned. |
| 1989 |
Israeli Knesset member Shulamit Aloni at CBST. Committees
evaluate hiring a rabbi. Renovations completed; 1400 attend High Holidays
services. |
| 1990 |
Mayor Dinkins speaks at CBST. Board votes to hire rabbi, begins search. |
| 1991 |
Ten synagogues hold joint Yom Hashoah service at CBST. |
| 1992 |
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum installed. Yom Kippur services at
Javits Center; 2200 attend. |
| 1993 |
Twentieth anniversary celebrated. Bereavement group begins meeting.
Rabbi Kleinbaum starts parshat hashavua class and Shavuot
all-night study. |
| 1994 |
New chorus begins with Joyce Rosenzweig as Director. Gift by William
Fern launches Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Internship program. |
| 1995 |
"The Future of CBST," an open brunch for all members, held
in February. |
| 1996 |
First annual Shabbat Shira concert. CBST sponsors trip to
Jerusalem for city's 3000th anniversary. |
| 1997 |
Member deaths from AIDS exceed 100. Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer, Professor
of Theology at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College is Scholar-in-Residence
at first annual Shabbaton. |
| 1998 |
Twenty-fifth anniversary celebration. UJA awards CBST a four-year
adult education grant. Rabbi Benay Lappe launches Lehrhaus Judaica
program. Rabbi Burton Visotzky, Professor of Midrash at the Jewish Theological
Seminary, is CBST's second annual Scholar-in-Residence. |
| 1999 |
Kabbalat Service returns to Church of the Holy Apostles.
Rabbi Roderick Young becomes first assistant rabbi. Ford Foundation
awards grant to enable CBST to hire an Executive Directory. Rabbi Shefa
Gold, renowned musician and mystic, is CBST's third Scholar-in-Residence. |
| 2000 |
Tel Aviv City Council Member and out lesbian activist Mychal Eden
speaks at CBST. More than 3400 attend Yom Kippur services at Javits
Center. Ernie Rubinstein, Ph.D., authority on the life and work of Franz
Rosenzweig, is CBST's fourth Scholar-in-Residence. |
| 2001 |
Amos Gil hired as CBST's frist Executive Director. CBST sponsors solidarity
mission to Israel; meets with Israeli gay rights activists and Minister
of Justice Yossi Beilin. In the wake of the terrorist attack on NYC,
6000 people attend CBST's Yom Kippur services at the Javits Center. |
| 2002 |
CBST dedicates its cemetery in Cedar Park, N.J. Rabbi Ayelet S.
Cohen from the Jewish Theological Seminary joins CBST. |
