Aleph Melbourne

Aleph Melbourne

Established	January 1995 (1995-01)
Location	Melbourne, Australia
Manager	Michael Barnett

Aleph Melbourne is a Jewish LGBTQ organization located in Melbourne, Australia.[1][2]

History

Aleph Melbourne was founded in January 1995 for gay Jewish men. In the late 1990s bisexual men were also welcomed as members.[1][2][3][4] In 2007 the group became inclusive of LGBTIQ Jews, families and allies.[5]

Aleph attempted to join the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) in 1999, but was denied acceptance when Orthodox synagogues threatened to quit the JCCV if Aleph was permitted to join.[6][7][8]

In 2015 the group celebrated their 20th anniversary by creating a documentary about themselves called "Aleph Melbourne- Celebrating 20 Years."[9][10][11] The documentary was screened at the St Kilda Film Festival, the North Brisbane Film Festival, the Respect Belfast Human Rights Film Festival, the Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival, and the Brooklyn My True Colors Festival.[9][10][12][13]

Events and services

Religious services

Aleph Melbourne is primarily secular, but has hosted services and dinners for major Jewish holidays like Passover and Rosh Hashanah.[2][14] The group has also celebrated Hannukah with other members of the Melbourne community.[2]

Aleph Melbourne and its coordinator Michael Barnett also speak out to end homophobia in the Jewish community across Melbourne and Australia.[15][16][17][18]

Pride March

Aleph Melbourne has participated in Melbourne's Pride festival "Midsumma" every year since 1997.[19] In 2016, the group excluded themselves after the festival made a financial partnership with News Corp, which Aleph Melbourne believed had supported homophobic journalists.[20][21][22]

Political involvement

Aleph Melbourne created and distributed Voters Guides for the 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022 federal elections,[23][24][25][26][27] the 2018 and 2022 Victorian state elections[28][29] and the 2020 Melbourne City Council election,[30] covering voting areas with large Jewish populations. These guides presented political candidates' views on LGBTQ issues, including same-sex marriage.[31]

References

1. "Aleph Melbourne". QGroups. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
2. "Community Directories". Out Community. Archived from the original on 16 October 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
3. Drinnan, Neal (2001). The Rough Guide to Gay & Lesbian Australia. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781858288321.
4. "Michael B's Story · Staying Negative". stayingnegative.net.au. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
5. mikeybear (20 December 2017). "Aleph Melbourne – Championing LGBTIQ inclusion and advocacy in the Jewish community". Aleph Melbourne. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
6. "Shul support for Keshet JCCV bid - The Australian Jewish News". The Australian Jewish News. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
7. "Keshet triumphant in JCCV bid - The Australian Jewish News". The Australian Jewish News. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
8. ʻAner, Nadav (2005). The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute Planning Assessment, 2004-2005: The Jewish People Between Thriving and Decline. Gefen Publishing House Ltd. ISBN 9789652293466.
9. "May-21 Melbourne: Aleph Melbourne – Celebrating 20 Years". J-Wire. 26 April 2017. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
10. "20 years of Aleph". J-Wire. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
11. "Crowd-funding for Aleph's documentary". J-Wire. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
12. Wesson, Alynne (14 June 2017). "Aleph Melbourne". The New York Blueprint. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
13. "Film Trailers | Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival". sbjewishfilmfestival.org. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
14. "Community Organisations". Jewish Australia. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
15. "Jewish leaders accused of ignoring homophobia". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
16. Riley, Benjamin (27 February 2014). "Jewish community group makes landmark anti-homophobia message". Star Observer. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
17. Riley, Benjamin (6 November 2013). "Jewish Council says it is Okay to be Gay". Star Observer. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
18. Riley, Benjamin (5 July 2013). "Progressive Jewish body applauds DOMA repeal". Star Observer. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
19. "Pride March in Melbourne". J-Wire. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
20. "People Are Mad About News Corp Sponsoring An LGBTI Pride Festival". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
21. "Rupert Murdoch's News Corp Banned From Pride After Gay Nazi Cartoon". LOGO News. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
22. Wade, Matthew (7 December 2016). "Midsumma to keep controversial partnership with News Corp". Star Observer. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
23. "Melbourne marriage equality political guide". J-Wire. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
24. mikeybear (26 August 2013). "Voters Guide to Marriage Equality in Jewish Melbourne". Aleph Melbourne. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
25. mikeybear (21 June 2016). "Media Release: Aleph Melbourne Voters Guide for Marriage Equality". Aleph Melbourne (Press release). Retrieved 14 July 2017.
26. mikeybear (14 May 2019). "Aleph Melbourne launches 2019 Federal Election Voters Guide for LGBTIQ Equality". Aleph Melbourne (Press release). Retrieved 14 May 2019.
27. mikeybear (16 May 2022). "Aleph Melbourne launches 2022 Federal Election Voters Guide". Aleph Melbourne (Press release). Retrieved 31 December 2022.
28. mikeybear (18 November 2018). "Aleph Melbourne launches 2018 Victorian State Election Voters Guide for LGBTIQ Equality". Aleph Melbourne (Press release). Retrieved 22 April 2019.
29. mikeybear (13 November 2022). "Aleph Melbourne launches 2022 Victorian State Election Voters Guide for LGBTIQ+ Equality". Aleph Melbourne (Press release). Retrieved 31 December 2022.
30. mikeybear (5 October 2020). "Aleph Melbourne launches 2020 Local Council Election Voters Guide". Aleph Melbourne (Press release). Retrieved 31 December 2022.
31. "Same Sex Marriage candidates". J-Wire. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2017.