Rabbis force Brooklyn kosher eateries to blackball lesbian Jewish entertainer
Two restaurants threatened with loss of kosher certification if they host Orthodox comedian Leah Forster; performer files complaint with rights commission
Two Brooklyn kosher eateries have canceled hosting a sold-out New Year’s Eve show by an Orthodox Jewish comedian who is a lesbian after rabbis threatened to pull their kashrut certification from the restaurants over her sexual orientation.
Rabbis from the Vaad HaRabanim of Flatbush, which grants kosher certification, pressured the owners of Garden of Eat In and Orchidea to cancel because comedian Leah Forster is a lesbian.
Forster talks about growing up in the Orthodox community as part of her act. She does not talk about her sexuality or personal religious observance, she said in a video posted on Facebook.
Forster said in the post on Thursday that the owners of both venues apologized, and offered to help find her a new place to perform her show. The restaurants said that if kosher certification were yanked they would have to close up shop, the New York Daily News reported.
Please read ALL of this : AS ALWAYS- I AM KEEPING IT REAL.Let me be very clear. I know the owners of both venues PERSONALLY. Both of them were sincere. BOTH offered me free food when they were Forced to cancel. .both offered to find me a new place ..both tried their best to accommodate me…THE OWNERS , in a way, are VICTIMS TOO. ITS ALMOST LIKE THEY WERE FORCED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ME BOTH are kind good GENUINE humans and Jews – Its NOT them. Its the system. And there are parts of the system that have deeply hurt me. Simply for being me. DISCRIMINATION. Stop pushing me away because I serve Gd as best as I can and that isnt GOOD enough for those who think that my relationship with GD is their personal business. STOP trying to sabotage me . Ive GRACIOUSLY stepped away from a career, been gracious about being abandoned by family, and always tried my best to take the high road. BUT I am also hurting . For myself and others that are getting the message : we will bully and intimidate you until you become miserable and fail. And MANY out there are forced to hide the best parts of themselves just for a chance to thrive in their own communities. Shame shame. And heartbreaking for those that are just trying to live authentically and must suffer endless consequences. It is my civil right to book a private event. It is my human right to post that event . And my basic rights are being stripped from me because of who people THINK I am. UTTER hearsay. Luckily. I KNOW who I am. Im a GD fearing and loving Jew who does my best to leave the world a brighter place!!! And I will continue to do that!!!! Can i get a wootwoooooot. * the SHOW will go on with awrsome kosher food at a convenient and incredible local Brooklyn spot!!! Were gonna give u da bestest funnest nite❤❤❤❤❤❤Right FlatbushGirl ???? Heres the link!! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nite-out-with-leah-forster-flatbushgirl-tickets-52881873106
Posted by Leah Forster on Thursday, December 6, 2018
Forster said she has filed a complaint with New York’s Commission on Human Rights.
Forster’s New Year’s Eve bash was going to be hosted by Adina Miles, known as “Flatbush Girl,” an Orthodox mother and social media star who decried to the Daily News “the mafia nature of the kosher certification establishment who overstep their power and try to control community discussion and the restaurant owners.”
Publicity for the New Year’s Eve show says that it will be held in a Brooklyn venue to be announced, with kosher food.
