"I pinch myself sometimes and thinking, wow, there are so many of us!"

LGBTQI+ Jews navigate two identities that can sometimes conflict. Each identity, even by itself, can feel isolating at times. Jarod Rhine Davis, a gay Jewish man, recognised this need and founded a community for LGBTQI+ Jews called Jewmos.

Joshua Finn speaking at the Rainbow Shabbat Dinner, November 2025. Credit: Dekel Nevo Eizenberg

Jewmos - which was created post Oct 7th - is an organisation that supports Jews who identify as LGBTQI+. It includes hosting talks, film nights, community events, and also Shabbat dinners with the Progressive Jewish congregation and synagogue “Temple Beth Israel”.

Image provided by Jewmos

For LGBTQI+ Jews - some of whom have drifted away from Jewish life but have found refuge within the broader rainbow community — it offers a space where both identities can feel a sense of belonging.

We are alone together, we've had a shared experience of loneliness and there's something incredibly powerful about that

Jarod Rhine Davis

A key part of Jewmos’ Shabbat dinner tradition is sharing personal stories. That evening, two members shared their stories - Joshua Finn shared his experience as a gay Jew and his first visit to Israel as part of a unique initiative.

Jarod shares his views on why stories are an important part of the evening: "Why do we tell stories? To not feel so alone and to walk in someone else's shoes for a bit and hopefully break down some barriers between the Jewish and queer communities and hopefully make everyone feel a little less alone."

Dassi Herszberg, who grew up in an ultra-Orthodox community, shared her story and reflected on her feelings when she first attended a community event: "In my wildest dreams I didn't think there would be a community of LGBTQI+ people and Jews."

This story was part of our series about loneliness and how community initiatives help bring people together. If you have a story about loneliness you’d like to share with us please message us on Facebook