For a religion that’s been around for about 4,000 years, being 50 may make you sound like the new kid on the ecclesiastical block. But for Etz Chaim, it’s a monumental milestone.

The LGBTQ Jewish congregation is celebrating a half-century of service to South Florida. On Saturday, Feb. 22, they are holding their 50th Anniversary Gala.

The event is at the Broward County Police Benevolent Association Banquet Hall at 2901 SW 26th Ter. in Fort Lauderdale at 7 p.m. Classic black and white attire is suggested.

The congregation holds weekly Shabbat services on Fridays at The Pride Center in Wilton Manors. The group started, according to their website, from a group of MCC Jewish, and one non-Jewish, congregants looking to set up a simple Seder.

From there, enthusiasm and community has grown.

“As we grew and became stronger, we noticed a new pride and confidence in what we were doing. [The year] 1976 saw the beginning of our High Holiday services. In November of that same year, we tried to take out an ad in the Jewish Floridian. We never achieved that goal, but received a front-page editorial that was to give us more publicity than we ever expected.”

For tickets and more information on the gala, visit EtzChaimFlorida.org.