Fundraiser for gay rabbinical student raises over £6,000

Apr 05 2019
Written by Precious Adesina

Daniel Atwood was denied his ordination for being gay.

Daniel Atwood and his fiancé. (JQY/Facebook)

A fundraiser for a gay rabbinical student who was refused his ordination from a liberal Orthodox rabbinical seminary has raised over £6,000.

Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York City denied Daniel Atwood his ordination because of his sexuality.

Despite the school knowing he is gay it only recently came to a decision.

“He came out to us in the end of his first year and we were fully prepared to give him semicha until certain circumstances arose over a few months ago,” the school’s president Rabbi Dov Linzer told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency using the Jewish term for ordination.

Fundraiser raises over £2,000 in first hour

The fundraiser by Jewish LGBT+ group Jewish Queer Youth, which launched on Thursday, raised the funds so Atwood can travel to Israel for his ordination instead.

The charity hoped to raise just under £4,000 meaning but they surpassed their target. Within its first hour of launching the fundraiser had already garnered over half of its goal sum.

“Daniel deserves a Semikha celebration, like the rest of his YCT classmates.”

— Jewish Queer Youth

“Funds raised in this campaign will help pay for a dignified Semikha ceremony that reflects Daniel’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to our community,” the description for the fundraiser states on Facebook. “Daniel deserves a Semikha celebration, like the rest of his YCT classmates.”

daniel atwood says he has always been clear about being gay

In a statement Atwood says he has always been open about his sexuality.

“I have always been fully committed to living my life according to Orthodox halacha [Jewish law]. At the same time, I refuse to live anything but a dignified life,” he said.

Atwood added that he has always been prepared for the challenges he would face for being gay.