Gay-lesbian synagogue turns hate rally into fundraising event

[oberliner]

Source: Ha'aretz

When a predominantly gay synagogue in Manahattan 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.

The congregation encouraged its supporters to donate at least $1 for every six minutes that the demonstration lasted

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1094771.html

[xchrom]

1. i'm surprised the westboro folks didn't burst into flames just being in manhattan. nt

[primavera]

2. I love it!

Now that's the way to turn adversity into opportunity! :applause:

:kick: K&R!!

[AsahinaKimi]

3. "Following the 51-minute protest"

the synagogue was able to raise more than $10,000 in donations.

:thumbsup: Cha~ching! :party: Woohoo!:fistbump:

[gratuitous]

5. 51 minutes? They're getting more staying power

The times I've dealt with the good folks from Westboro, they've hung around for about 20 minutes, max, then dispersed as soon as the local TV stations had gotten their footage for the evening news report.

[polmaven]

4. What a PERFECT response.

This congregation really rejected the Westboro hate right back in their faces, in a calm, peaceful and productive manner....Good for them. :thumbsup:

[Captain Hilts]

6. Being served lemons - and making lemonaid! Good on 'em! nt

[Tim01]

7. Oh hell YEAH!

That's fucking awesome. Those folks ROCK!

I hope somebody makes sure WBC knows they caused this synagogue to collect this much money.

[JerseygirlCT]

8. Good for them!

And glad to see them as the story instead of the other idiots.

[Vidar]

9. Good response.

[TrogL]

10. It's time to start picketing Walmart and Red Lobster

Walmart's selling mixed fabrics.

Red Lobster is selling shellfish.

[oberliner]

11. I don't get it

Can you explain what you mean?

[TrogL]

12. Check out Leviticus 11 and 19

Leviticus 11

9 " 'Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales.
10 But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to detest.
11 And since you are to detest them, you must not eat their meat and you must detest their carcasses.
12 Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you.

Leviticus 19

19 " 'Keep my decrees.
" 'Do not mate different kinds of animals.
" 'Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.
" 'Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

Walmart sells balls of mixed wool and acrylic fibre.

See also http://www.evcforum.net/cgi-bin/dm.cgi?action=msg&f=6&t=586&m=1

[oberliner]

13. The church members were the ones protesting the synagogue

The Jewish congregants just turned their protest into a fundraiser.

[MadMaddie]

14. Brilliant!!

Yes, turn their hate against them. Ha..ha..ha..