If you’re not new to the LGBTQ Jewish events and retreats in New York, then you’ve probably met Justin Rosen and his partner Avi Smolen. Justin is one of those guys who couldn’t help but devote his life to Judaism.

So what wonderful news it was when these two announced that they were getting married. And, as a good Jewish couple, they were doing it young so they can undoubtedly start a family. Pure speculation. But the point is, if you’re looking for model Jewish families, this is one that if they were straight more of the Jewish world would celebrate.

Even more exciting was that their announcement was carried in The New Jersey Jewish Standard. One of the fun things about being a young LGBTQ Jew is that a lot of what we do gets to be the first or among the first of its kind.  In this case, the first announcement of a same-sex couple in that paper.

Long story short, some Orthodox leaders objected, the paper said it would no longer publish such announcements of same-sex couples, and then they reconsidered and said they would continue to publish same-sex marriage announcements.

There is plenty of coverage but I think the initial response, even though it has since been retracted, is worth looking at:

A group of rabbis has reached out to us and conveyed the deep sensitivities within the traditional/Orthodox community to this issue. Our subsequent discussions with representatives from that community have made us aware that publication of the announcement caused pain and consternation, and we apologize for any pain we may have caused.

The Jewish Standard has always striven to draw the community together, rather than drive its many segments apart. We have decided, therefore, since this is such a divisive issue, not to run such announcements in the future.

I’ll simply say this, is it not astounding that anyone, even for a moment, in this day and age, in this area, could think that the way to draw the community together is to exclude part of it?

JTA has good coverage, with a video of the couple:

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What:   Celebrate Me Home: The NYGMC 2009 Holiday Spectacular.  The concert includes tunes in English, Latin, Zulu, and Basque from genres including country (Kenny Loggins), pop (Moriah Carey, Paul Simon), spirituals, 16th century English carols, 15th century French plain song, South African folk, Basque carols, and some traditional American Christmas fare (Irving Berlin), and more.  As always, they’ll be some dance numbers, surprises and plenty of good cheer.

When:  Tuesday, December 9 – 8:00 pm

Where: Carnegie Hall, New York City

Tickets:  Reduced price tickets are available through members of the chorus until Sunday, November 2. After the November 2 deadline, tickets can be purchased via the Carnegie Hall website:  http://www.carnegiehall.org/SiteCode/Events/MonthCalendar.aspx

Section:   Regular price  /  Advance purchase reduced price until November 2
Prime Parquet:    $88 / $79
1st Tier Box:    $88 / $79
Parquet:    $66 / $60
2nd Tier Box:    $66 / $60
Dress Circle:    $50 / $45
Front Balcony:    $39 / $35

A diagram of Carnegie Hall can be found on the Carnegie Hall website.
Please disregard the rest of the pdf including the erroneous order deadline in October.

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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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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I have received this video from four differnet people now. so I guess it needs to be posted. Gay Israeli Music Video. Need I say more?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFwYsz0-UEk[/youtube]

Juddy Gold turned her life experience into a project to disccuver what it means to be a Jewish mama, and then turned that into a one-woman show called “25 Questions for jewish Mother” (my Jewish mother has seen it twice.) Now The Upper West Side Jewish Lesbian Comedian Mother has turned the show into a book.

Exploring dual identities - Washington Blade:

Judy Gold’s new book “25 Questions For A Jewish Mother,” adapted from her one-woman show of the same name, attempts to shed some light on one of the most storied and misunderstood social archetypes: the Jewish mother. A lesbian with two children, Gold’s struggle for acceptance from her own mother led her on a quest to understand Jewish matriarchs.

Who says olim aren’t making a tremendous contribution to the State of Israel and the state of gay Israel?! Enjoy this great animation. And rumor has it LOGO just ordered 10 episodes of Lizzy the Lezzy…

The video: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1654867907

Here’s the first four episode from YouTube:

Jay Michaelson sent over this video from Gay Israeli Pop Star Ivri Lider. 
Jay says:

“Even with the accent, Ivry Lider makes me cry.  Maybe because of the accent.

And of course, the gay Jewish Ivry Lider singing the gay love song by the probably-gay Jewish George Gershwin (Jacob Gershovitz) is another of those “why exactly are we not told about our heritage” moments…”

YouTube - עברי לידר Ivri Lider - The Man I Love:

Haven’t seen the movie but hoping to soon.  Our sources tell us that it’s been picked up by an American distribution company and should be released here soon.

Have you seen the movie?  Know anything about it?

Our friend and scholar Jay Michaelson has come out with a fantastic book that we just had to recommend.  OK, I have to.  God in Your Body is an informative, meaningful, and fun read.  It really is.  Surprisingly conversational (in a good way), Jay brings you into a growing discussion about one’s relationship to the divine, self, and spirituality.  The volume combines scholarship and anecdotes to illuminate the path.  For newcomers and seasoned practitioners alike this is a very comfortable and engaging book.  Bravo!