Don't Be Fooled by the Name.

Gay Shabbat is a community for all LGBTQ+ Jews, offering so much more than just Shabbat dinners. From mixers and happy hours to holiday celebrations and more, we create spaces where Judaism and LGBTQ+ identity thrive together.

Alongside our events, we've built a digital platform that serves as a global umbrella for LGBTQ+ Jewish life. Our app makes it simple to find, host, and discover events, connect with people, and bring the community together across cities worldwide.

But how did this all start?

It was 2022. Blake met Julia through a mutual friend, the way these things happen. A nice conversation, a “we should hang out sometime,” and then life went on. They didn't think they'd ever see each other again.

Then, in June 2023, Blake was working for a company hosting a gay Pride party. He thought of Julia and texted her, “You should come.” She did.

A couple of weeks later, Blake was feeling something a lot of us know too well. A void. He could find a dating app. He could find a synagogue. He could find a Pride party. But he couldn't find a space where LGBTQ+ Jews could just exist. No explaining the Jewish part. No explaining the gay part. Just a community where you already belong.

So he did something a little crazy. He made a Hinge profile and told people to match with him if they wanted to come to a Shabbat dinner. Thirty strangers said yes. They packed into his apartment, and they walked out as friends.

A week later, Blake's phone rang. It was Julia.

“If you're going to do this, you have to do it right.”

What started with one Shabbat dinner has grown into a global community where LGBTQ+ Jews can find belonging, both in person and online.