Swedish Jews hold first gay wedding

JTA — Sweden’s first Jewish gay wedding was held at the Great Synagogue of Stockholm.

Ruben Ben Dor and Stefan Gustafsson, who have been living together for 28 years, were wed Sunday at a ceremony conducted by Rabbi David Lazar and attended by some 50 guests.

“We were lucky to have four good friends who came from abroad to be our witnesses, and four other friends to hold up the huppah,” Gustafsson said, adding that he and Ben Dor were “recovering from a great day and wonderful celebration.”

The online edition of the Swedish magazine QX reported Tuesday that the couple have been members of the Great Synagogue of Stockholm, a Conservative congregation, since 1990, when Gustafsson returned to Sweden after living for some years in Israel.

Lena Posner-Korosi, president of the Council of Swedish Jewish Communities, attended the ceremony.

“They only invited close friends because it was their wedding and they didn’t want it turning into a political event or something of the sort,” she said.