Newly Designed Israel Trip for the Gay and Lesbian Community
israelJewish Americans can visit Israel on an organized trip with a whole new focus – the gay and lesbian community in the Jewish homeland. Pride in Israel will spend 10 days touring Israel with a concentration on the daily lives, special events and societal nuances of the gay and lesbian community in Israel. The trip was organized by YJ Impact, the largest Zionist youth movement in the United States.Pride in Israel is a unique opportunity for American Jews to see how gays and lesbians in Israel mesh their personal and Jewish lives, a chance that has never been offered before by a Young Judaea Israel trip. By touring the Jewish homeland, visiting historic sites and integrating tradition with the modern gay and lesbian culture, participants will leave with a new perspective about Israel and on living there as an openly gay Jew.
“This trip partners a pilgrimage trip with the specific issues of the lesbian, gay and bisexual populations of America and Israel,” says Linda Rosenblatt, coordinator of Pride in Israel. “YJ Impact has created a 10 day itinerary that will not only take participants on a Jewish tour of Israel, but will allow them to experience the gay lifestyle in Israel.”
Israel is at the forefront of gay rights, both legally and culturally; they are the only country in the Middle East that permits all citizens to marry and are overall accepting of the gay community. Recognizing this, YJ Impact created a trip for American Jews to experience Israel from a gay and lesbian perspective and learn about the country’s gay community.
Pride in Israel offers a visit to all of Israel’s classic sites, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada and the Dead Sea, while at the same time taking a deeper look at Israel’s gay and lesbian community. Highlights include meeting with gay soldiers in the Israeli army, attending the Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, speaking with activists and community leaders and learning about the many issues going on in Israel’s gay and lesbian community today.
Registration is now open. Pride in Israel is open to anyone interested regardless of previous trips to Israel. Singles, couples and groups are welcome. For an application, visit www.youngjudaea.org/pride. For more information, contact Linda at 212-303-7462 or pride@yjimpact.org.
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 05/09/2008 - 8:44am.
