Editor’s note: On Sept. 4, the Overland Park City Council heard from members of the community on a proposed non-discrimination ordinance, which would offer legal protections for all sexual orientations and gender identity. Congregation Beth Torah and The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah were represented at the meeting by Rabbi Javier Cattapan and Rabbi Monica Kleinman. (B’nai Jehudah had and education program requiring the rabbis’ attendance that evening.) In addition, the congregations sent the following letter to the council in support of the ordinance.
Dear Members of the Overland Park City Council,
We are writing to you on behalf of the two Reform synagogues in Overland Park. Both our boards have unanimously approved a resolution in support of passing a non-discrimination ordinance in our city.
We are guided by the very basic belief that all human beings are created b’tselem Elohim, “in the Divine image,” as it says in Genesis 1:27, "And God created humans in God’s own image, in the image of God, God created them […]." Each of us, whether straight or a member of the LGBTQ+ community, is created in God’s image and has a unique talent, with which we can contribute to the high moral purpose of tikkun olam, the repair of our world. Excluding anyone from our community lessens our chances of achieving this goal of a more perfect world. Our congregations are guided by this value and our members treasure the celebration all expressions of love.
Finally, as members of a religious minority, we are intimately acquainted with the effects of bigotry. Our ancestors knew both the continuing indignities of second-class citizenship and the constant fear of xenophobic violence; our history teaches us that discrimination against any members of a community threatens the security of the entire community.
We welcome the public expression of our values and the lessons from our history by asking the Council to approve a NDO for our city.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott Franklin
President
Congregation Beth Torah
Jocelyn Fry
President
The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah
Rabbi Javier Cattapan
Senior Rabbi
Congregation Beth Torah
Rabbi Arthur P. Nemitoff
Senior Rabbi
The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah
