Message fom Rabbi Burt Schuman

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Message fom Rabbi Burt Schuman

While I was away in Germany on the deeply enlightening and inspiring “Roots of Reform” study mission this past weekend, more than 8000 people participated in the “Europride Fest” to be held in a former communist country. The demonstration was highly successful in drawing attention to the issue of GLBT rights in Poland and helped those in the Polish GLBT community overcome their feelings of isolation, ostracism and “otherness”. That having been said, the challenges that lie ahead in this culturally and religiously homogeneous society with its powerful and deeply-rooted tradition of social and religious conservatism and its strong nationalist streak are daunting and cannot be underestimated. This not only affects the GLBT community but all religious and ethnic minorities in Poland, particularly the Jewish community. We of all minorities know what it feels like to be “other”, to feel isolated, ostracized , marginalized and the object of nasty jokes , strange folklore and stereotypical comments despite growing acceptance in key segments of Polish society and great strides in Polish-Jewish relations. Much needs to be done in the area of education and strategies need to be found for dialogue with those who can put a human face to the marchers but whose religious doctrines make it impossible to support many of the aims of Europride Fest”. With respect to the issue of GLBT rights, Progressive Jews in this country stand virtually alone even among religiously centrist and liberal denominations in Poland. Moreover, the community needs very much to broaden its base to include a wider swath of Poland’s political ,economic and professional establishment ; that process will take a great deal of time and demand a much patience , self-discipline , and skill. Let us work together to create a society in which differences of all kinds may be truly understood and respected.