CBST - Congregation Beth Simchat Torah

Eric Rosenbaum Ilene Sameth Rabbi Ayelet S. Cohen Cantor David Berger Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum
CBST and Israel
CBST Thanks the Jerusalem Open House
Through a grant by the UJA Federation, Partnership 2000, CBST welcomed a delegation from the Jerusalem Open House in April 2004. Guests included JOH board members and activists from the Jerusalem Open House who are working on the cutting edge of the struggle for tolerance, diversity and pride in Jerusalem, as well as staff from the Palestinian Outreach Program and volunteers from the advocacy committee who have successfully argued cases for LGBT rights in the Israeli Supreme Court.
Throughout the delegation's stay, we organized many activities to allow our members to meet and get to know the JOH group. We thank the Jerusalem Open House for enriching our community!
Read about the Jerusalem Open House visit in the Gay City News, the Jewish Week, and the New York Blade.

First Arabic-Language LGBT Portal, alqaws.org, Launched by the Jerusalem Open House

Jerusalem, August 11, 2005 - The Jerusalem Open House (JOH) has launched Al-Qaws (www.alqaws.org; "the rainbow" in Arabic), a groundbreaking Arabic-language Website for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) people. Al-Qaws is the first Jerusalem-based Arabic portal providing contents on sexual and gender identity, as well as offering safe discussion forums and other features. Its chief goal is to open up dialogue on LGBT issues by creating an attractive, accessible and interactive virtual safe space for unbiased information. Israel Minister of the Interior, Ophir Paz-Pines, welcomed the portal's launching, calling it an "essential resource."

 
CBST Trip to Israel in December 2003
Share the experience by viewing the group's day-by-day web log and slideshow.
CBST member Arthur S. Leonard wrote about the congregation's trip to Israel in two articles in the Gay City News: Embracing a Nation’s Complications and Legal and Political Frontier.

Israel Press
Ha'aretz
The Jerusalem Post
Israel Politics
Israel Policy Forum
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)
Likud Party
Meretz
Social Justice

Rabbis For Human Rights

Association for Civil Rights in Israel

New Israel Fund
Israeli Union for Environmental Defense
Israel Religious Action Center
New Family Organization
Israel Women's Network
Israel-GLBT Online

Jerusalem Open House

GayMiddleEast.com
Agudah
Gay.org.il

Al-Qaws - for Sexual & Gender Diversity in the Palestinian Society

(LGBT Arabic Speaking)

Palestianian Gay Women

Israel-GLBT Books
Independence Park: The lives of Gay Men in Israel ISBN: 0804736197
Brothers and Others in Arms: The Making of Love and War in Israeli Combat Units ISBN: 1560233656
Lesbiot: Israeli Lesbians Talk About Sexuality, Feminism, Judaism and Their Lives ASIN: 0304331589
 

 
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