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Gay-lesbian synagogue turns hate rally into fundraising event
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel News 

When a predominantly gay synagogue in Manhattan learned that a group of ultra-Evangelical Christians were planning a protest outside their building, the congregation decided to turn the hate rally into a fundraising event.

Parishoners from the Westboro Baptist Church, a Kansas-based institution, gathered on Sunday outside Congregation Beth Simchat Torah with signs reading "God hates fags" and "Jews stole the land."

The synagogue heard several days in advance of the church's planned demonstration and decided to counter the protesters' publicity drive with one of their own, rather than pursuing legal action.
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The congregation encouraged its supporters to donate at least $1 for every six minutes that the demonstration lasted.

Following the 51-minute protest, the synagogue was able to raise more than $10,000 in donations. The congregation, which has been renting the West Village space, hopes to eventually buy a building of its own.

Some 150 people - including members other nearby synagogues and churches - held a counter-demonstration during the fundraising event, where they sang Jewish songs and prayers.

The Westboro Baptist Church is run by Fred Phelps, an outspoken evangelist who claims natural disasters and terrorist attacks are the result of America's "tolerance" of homosexuals. Phelps targeted Congregation Beth Simchat Torah because it works primarily with the Jewish gay and lesbian community.
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  1.   Westboro Baptist Fanatics 16:05  |  Rabbi Jonathan 22/06/09
  2.   Great idea....use it elsewhere 16:35  |  Gilles 22/06/09
  3.   ?Rabbi? Jonathan 17:08  |  Gabriel 22/06/09
  4.   Who stole the Land? 17:12  |  Motic 22/06/09
  5.   Gabe is a bit foolish 17:57  |  BDF 22/06/09
  6.   Re: Rabbi Jonathan and Gabe 22:11  |  Ben 22/06/09
  7.   Equal Opportunity Hate 23:18  |  W 22/06/09
  8.   Re Rabbi Johnathan #1 `Westboro Baptist Fanatics` 23:30  |  Colin Wright 22/06/09
  9.   Well, BDF #5 `Gabe is a bit foolish` 23:33  |  Colin Wright 22/06/09
  10.   What Jews need to believe NOW! 00:46  |  Van Maaskant de Jong 23/06/09
  11.   Where the Lunatic Fringe of the Left and Right Meet 05:29  |  UsedToPostHere 23/06/09
  12.   re: BDF 05:33  |  UsedToPostHere 23/06/09
  13.   G-d be with you Westboro Baptist Church 13:55  |  Yaacov Parimer 23/06/09
  14.   My Brother Yaacov 16:11  |  BDF 23/06/09
  15.   #8 16:15  |  BDF 23/06/09
  16.   BDF has it right. 20:09  |  Ty 23/06/09
  17.   Baptists` ... "protest" at gay synagogue 17:06  |  jarabaa 29/06/09
  18.   Good for the synagogue! 00:43  |  Jacques 30/06/09
  19.   How can you justify... 20:32  |  R 30/06/09
  20.   Vexed Goyim .... 09:56  |  J Doe 03/07/09
  21.   Sin of homosexuality is not from a Holy God 01:30  |  Rev. J.Baker 08/07/09
  22.   #13 18:17  |  Eli 11/07/09
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