Finchley Reform Synagogue (FRS) celebrated the spirit of Succot last week with a rainbow flair. Raymond Zachary, who also goes by the name of “Miss Livinya Karr”, joined the FRS congregation for a night of music, learning and queer celebration, bringing their Rainbow Shabbat programme, which fosters LGBTQ+ inclusion in Jewish institutional settings. Blending tradition with entertainment, countertenor and performer Zachary led the congregation through a workshop on the role of queer people in Judaism, from biblical times to today and offered tools “to make Finchley a more accepting place for queer Jews”.
“Rainbow Shabbat is about making sure that queer people not only feel represented, but also that allies know some common mistakes to avoid and how to make everybody feel included,” they said. Miss Livinya Karr, aka Raymond Zachary, performing at Finchley Reform Synagogue for Succot last week. Among such measures is the use of what Zachary calls “inclusive Hebrew”, offering children at the beginning of their bar or bat mitzvah journey the non-binary option to be a b’mitzvah or b’net mitzvah.
According to Zachary, Rainbow Shabbat has been implemented in 26 synagogues in the US, and the latest event at FRS in London marks the organisation’s international debut. Miss Livinya Karr, aka Raymond Zachary of Rainbow Shabbat, with Cantor Zöe Jacobs at Finchley Reform Synagogue (Photo: Raymond Zachary) Cantor Zöe Jacobs, principal clergy of FRS, expressed her gr.