RABBI EDELMAN-BLANK: LGBT individuals welcome

Rabbi Steve Edelman-Blank very clearly remembers the interview for his current post at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Des Moines because it was the first weekend in April 2009 – and the Varnum v. Brien decision had just been made by the Iowa Supreme Court.

"They asked me about same-sex marriage," Rabbi Edelman-Blank remembers, "and I told them I'd like to be the first Jewish clergy in Des Moines to perform a gay marriage. But Rabbi David Kaufman at Temple B'nai Jeshurun beat me to it, which is a fine thing."

"I'm terribly excited to be somewhere where the issue practically matters: It's in effect; it's not a theory."

Along with wanting to perform a ceremony for a same-sex Jewish couple, Rabbi Edelman-Blank wants to make sure LGBT individuals know they are welcome at Tifereth Israel Synagogue by doing more outreach in the community.

"When you spend a hundred years telling people or hinting that they don't belong, once you throw open the doors, people won't come flooding in," Rabbi Edelman-Blank says. "I want to put serious effort into this type of outreach; I couldn't shy away from it, nor would I want to. I owe it to the community."

Rabbi Edelman-Blank credits his community in Boston, historically predominantly lesbian, with opening his eyes to the issues facing LGBT individuals and families.

"I knew so many wonderful same-sex couples with healthy, happy children," Rabbi Edelman-Blank says. "Why shouldn't they get married? Why shouldn't they have children?"

The rabbi still wants to do that same-sex Jewish wedding, and he's ready to help with more than the ceremony.

"It's something I would love to do," Rabbi Edelman-Blank says. "And if they are from somewhere else, there's a bed and breakfast right around the corner."