Mark Solomon (rabbi)

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Mark Solomon is a rabbi and chair of the Beit Din of Liberal Judaism in the UK.[1] He is known for his LGBT-affirmative stance.

Solomon left Orthodox Judaism after coming out as gay, and later joined the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues (ULPS; later Liberal Judaism) in the UK.[2] Alongside lesbian rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah, he co-led Shabbat services with the Jewish Gay and Lesbian Group, based in London.[3] He later became the rabbi of Sukkat Shalom in Edinburgh, [4] a Liberal Jewish congregation known for its LGBT-friendly stance,[5][6][7] as well as rabbi of Neve Shalom Liberal Jewish community in Leicester.[8] He remains rabbi of both communities.

In 2014, Solomon was described as a "pioneer" of Rainbow Jews, an exhibition and film at the London School of Economics which was partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and aimed to research, record and archive the historical experiences of LGBT Jews.[4]

In 2017, he led work to produce the world's first ‘inclusive’ Jewish ketubot (marriage documents), covering same-sex and gender-neutral/non-binary weddings. At the time, he described them as a marker of how Liberal and Progressive Judaism "continues to develop Judaism in the most helpful, sensitive, compassionate and forward-thinking way for the needs of our time."[9]

In 2023, he conducted the first Jewish same-sex wedding in Scotland.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ "Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain appointed as new Reform Beit Din Convener". The Movement for Reform Judaism. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  2. ^ Klein, Emma (27 July 2016). Lost Jews: The Struggle for Identity Today. Springer. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-349-24319-8.
  3. ^ Alpert, Rebecca Trachtenberg; Elwell, Ellen Sue Levi; Idelson, Shirley (2001). "5: Being a Lesbian Rabbi". Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation. Rutgers University Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-8135-2916-5.
  4. ^ a b Sarwar, Iram (7 May 2014). "Life Over the Rainbow: LGBT's Jewish Community Record Their History". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Shabbat dinner date for Liberal students". The Jewish Chronicle. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  6. ^ Wine, Gaby (20 July 2023). "UK's first cross-communal yeshivah 'exceeds expectations'". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  7. ^ Meehan, Abbie (12 October 2022). "Glasgow woman to feature on BBC Scotland documentary Being Jewish in Scotland". Glasgow Live. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  8. ^ "About Us". LPJC NeveShalom. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  9. ^ Jewish News Reporter (6 June 2017). "Liberal Judaism launches 'inclusive' ketubot for same-sex couples". Jewish News UK. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  10. ^ Wall, Alix (20 January 2023). "This young American couple had Scotland's first-ever queer Jewish wedding". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  11. ^ Koronka, Poppy (1 December 2022). "History is made with country's first Jewish same-sex wedding". The Times. Retrieved 26 December 2023.

See also

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