I love stand up comedy, and one of my favorites is Judy Gold, the Jewish Lesbian Upper West Side Mother.  I wanted to see who else was out there and found Kenny Altman from San Fransisco.  You judge.

Kenny Altman
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=eTM7Mc6VLXQ[/youtube]

And of course, Judy Gold
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=8CCx7qSRLwU[/youtube]
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=QzVcqgdtk-c[/youtube]
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=3kgMpgvGTwA[/youtube]

Gay Rights groups have concluded that New Jersey’s civil Unions for LGBT citizens aren’t providing the same rights as Marriage. The Requirement to provide equal rights was court ordered. Can we start with the name? It’s not the same if the name is different…
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Just when you thought Gay and Lesbian Characters were starting to become routine on television, a new study shows that this season our presence has actually declined!
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Resource Guide Promoting Inclusion Includes Prayers for Jews Changing Genders

Halfway through a newly revised manual promoting inclusion for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in Judaism’s Reform movement are two short blessings written by a rabbi who was raised Eliza and now goes by Elliot. (more…)

“Come for the Falafel”

Rabbi David Dunn Bauer, Yom Kippur 5768 / 2007

I am clearly striving for the “Bad Rabbi” award. On a day of fasting from food, drink, and intimate touch, I want to talk about falafel, art, and sex. Eros.

I want to talk about Israel.

Many of you may have heard me joke that my real reason for traveling to Israel is the falafel.

After an extraordinarily full and beautiful 11 days of travel there with 15 members and friends of the JCA, this summer not only do I no longer mean it as a joke, but I mean it passionately and sincerely. I mean it as a powerful advertisement to everyone in the community for travel to Israel as soon and as often as possible.

Falafel, if done right, comes in a pita bread that is so crammed full of things that it can’t close, most likely tears, and leaks tehina down the front of your shirt. In the pita are the falafel balls themselves, but also cucumber and tomato salad, hummus, hot sauce, pickles, slaw, and french fries. There is a combination of hot, cold, crisp, creamy, soothing, piquant, pungent, and fiery. They all sort of slop together, but each element retains some measure of its unique texture, taste, or heat. As you munch your way further into it, there is always an opportunity to add more of almost any spicy, sour, or creamy condiment on top, potentially doubling the volume and nutritional content of your original sandwich, and exponentially increasing the likelihood of tehina stains down the front of your shirt.

Ok. I’ll stop.

More….

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So much went on this week I just can’t get it all on this post right now.  But the internet is hopping with articles and posts about LGBTQ Jewish related topics.  Here aare just a few - the directly related.

Have a great Rosh Hashana.  There are a number of service options on the calendar.

Ivri Lider discusses his recent blacklisting.
By gay TLV(gay TLV)
Israeli pop star Ivri Lider’s fame in Israel has climbed steadily over a decade-long career, only increasing after he came out in 2002. As proud of his country as he is of being gay, the singer even did double duty during his US tour…
http://gaytlv.blogspot.com/2007/09/ivri-lider-discusses-his-recent.html

Rabbi speaks out on same-sex ceremony
DesMoinesRegister.com - Des Moines,IA,USA
… I was going to do one for two gay friends of hers and let the press know about it, BUT NOT ME or Temple B’nai Jeshurun. Neither of the men was Jewish. …
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070901/NEWS/70901013/1001/NEWS

Big Brother: Big Brother Thy Name Is CBS
Reality TV Calendar - Prescott,Canada
There have been homophobic (anti-gay) remarks. There have been Anti-Semantic (anti-Jewish) remarks as well. That’s a whole lot of controversy for one little …
http://realitytvcalendar.com/shows/bb8/commentary/crd-9317-p1.html

Trail blazer
Bay Windows - Boston,MA,USA
Max Feldman, who wrote and recorded the first song that proclaimed a lesbian identity, died unexpectedly at home in Albuquerque, NM, on Aug. 17. …
http://baywindows.com

Lesbian trail blazer Maxine Feldman dies
EDGE Boston - Boston,MA,USA
Those who knew Feldman offstage described a person who was alternately sensitive and gentle or loud, proud and, in the words of Tyler, “very Jewish. …
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=22667

Anti-Semitic symbols scrawled on LI synagogue, high school
Newsday - Long Island,NY,USA
“This was an act against Jews, but it could be an act against people of color, or people who are gay,” said Rabbi Lee Friedlander, of the synagogue, …
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny–synagoguedefaced0902sep02,0,7583959.story

SF Democrats Promote Anti-Semitic Jesus Band in Wash Sq Park
Bay Area Indymedia - San Francisco,CA,USA
This noisey band also showed up at Washington Square Park during Gay Pride weekend in June, and were called Jews for Jesus and openly promoted not only the …
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/09/01/18445287.php

Today’s the day for the Jewdas film fest
By Levi9909(Levi9909)
From gay rights to comic books, from vegans to the Middle East, all issues for modern Jewry will be explored on screen. The screening includes the European premiere of American doc Young, Jewish and Left and the UK’s first cinema …
http://jewssansfrontieres.blogspot.com/2007/09/todays-day-for-jewdas-film-fest.html

JTA.org — Gay, lesbian Brazilian Jews want acceptance
A group representing Brazilian gay and lesbian Jews focuses on how to reconcile homosexuality with Judaism and how the various streams of Judaism relate to …
http://www2.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/article/InBrazilgayandl.html

Israeli filmmaker makes ‘invisible years’ clearer
Israel 21C - Cupertino,CA,USA
In terms of the Israel’s aging gay population, he sees similarities, differences and universal themes as compared to the New York and other scenes. …
http://www.israel21c.org/

Eytan Fox’s ‘The Bubble’: a gay love story in Israel - San …
By zer0
Eytan Fox’s ‘The Bubble’: a gay love story in Israel San Francisco Chronicle, USA - 31 minutes ago There isn’ta Castro, but maybe it means we’re in a more advanced place, where gay people are all over and part of mainstream society. …
http://zer0s.net/2007/09/02/eytan-foxs-the-bubble-a-gay-love-story-in-israel-san-francisco-chronicle/

Hungarian gay groups condemn radio station’s Nazi photomontage
UX.TV - Maastricht, Netherlands
The creation of the Magyar Garda by the extreme-right party Jobbik has raised fears among the Jewish community both in Hungary and internationally. …
http://www.eux.tv/article.aspx?articleId=13602

Eytan Fox’s ‘The Bubble’: a gay love story in Israel
San Francisco Chronicle - CA, USA
“She was an American Jewish lady who moved with her husband and three children to Israel in the mid ’60s, and after the initial shock - Jerusalem was such a …
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/30/PKE8RMNR6.DTL&type=movies

The show may go on for canceled student play
Orlando Sentinel - Orlando,FL,USA
Both the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando and the Orlando Gay Chorus said they would help find space, actors and anything else the teens need this …
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/stage/theater/orl-play0207sep02,0,2536649.story

Rosh HaShanah (The beginning of the Jewish Year)
By gay TLV(gay TLV)
In two weeks from now, the Jewish world will celebrate the begining of a new year (Rosh HaShanah ). By the tradition, Rosh HaShanah is the day on which God created Man, Adam, God’s final and most precious creation. …
http://gaytlv.blogspot.com/2007/09/rosh-hashanah-beginning-of-jewish-year.html

Last night I went to see the New York premier of The Bubble, the newest film from Israeli director Eytan Fox.  It was incredible.  The film, though long, is extremely well done and poignant.  The characters are real, and scenes will tug at your heart strings, and the storyline is thought provoking and humbling.

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