JPride Baltimore is pleased to announce its 2024 support for The Rainbow Circle at Beth Am is for our LGBTQ+ individuals and families. Beth Am has been working hard to create opportunities to come together and deepen their relationships. The Circle is congregant-led and supported by staff.

The following is written on behalf of the Circle members. The Circle has come up with a variety of events planned across the year for which we ask for financial support. Without it, we couldn't fully realize our vision and support for our community.

Program Goals

The goal is to create monthly events that focus on the LGBTQ+ community. Some of our events are geared towards adults only, but most of them also try to include a full range of ages and stages in our programming. Some of our events that were quite popular last year are being brought back with greater support this year.

• Last year we hosted a Queer Purim party for adults and this year we have modified the program to include programming for all ages including several tzedek projects that support Beth Am, our neighborhood, and the LGBTQ+ community in Baltimore. We are partnering with over 10 community partners to assist in presenting this event. Our largest costs are the DJ and food and beverages.
• … We also host an annual picnic in the early summer at a congregants home with kayaking, swimming, and BBQ.
• … In June, we plan to hold our second annual Pride Shabbat which was attended by over 180 community members and included 12 community partners supporting this event.
• ….In the fall, we will host our second annual Karaoke in the Sukkah…
• Last year we had such a wonderful turnout and hope to make it even more fun this coming year.
• We also host a Friendsgiving…
• In December we will have a latke party
• [We request funds] towards pride decorations that could be used throughout our programs and into the future.

These are just a few of our programs that have enriched the community here at Beth Am. We have created a LGBTQ+ Circle WhatsApp Group to help continue to connect our members to each other outside of our events. We hope it will help notify congregants of upcoming events, but mainly to allow for spontaneous connection between our LGBTQ+ family here at Beth Am! We coordinate there and talk with one another then share the word on the Baltimore Jewish LGBTQ+ Group.