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The Christian Science Monitor is reporting a rise in Gay tourism in Israel, and its repercussions for the economy and religious tourism in the holy land.

Rise in gay tourism stirs unease in Israel

So-called ‘pink dollars’ are flowing into the economy, but may deter traditional pilgrims.

By Danna Harman | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
from the August 13, 2008 edition

Tel Aviv - There is something incongruous about the stretch of beach just under the Hilton Hotel’s high perch. For there, below the bluff, are two so-called “specialty beaches.” (more…)

Not sure how, but I am apparently on a Chabad email list. And it worked. They’re raising money to feed poor Israeli families this Passover.

Here’s another alternative: Israel La’ad

Technorati Tags: Chabad, Passover, Israel, Poverty, Hunger

I get a lot of links to Videos.  Many of which I enjoy, few of which I share.  This one is worth sharing.  It’s a mocumentary on the Arse phenomenon in Israel.

The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday that the Schechter Rabbinical School in Jerusalem, the Israeli seminary of the Conservative Movement, opposes the American Conservative movement’s decision to ordain Gay and Lesbian Rabbis and Cantors. This week, 35 American Rabbinical students wanted to celebrate the one year anniversary of the movement’s decision. But Machon Schechter wouldn’t allow it unless they also discussed the opposing view, the other teshuva that maintained the status quo.

I had the pleasure of speaking at Machon Schechter about 8 years ago, and though the students brought me, they weren’t allowed to make it an official event, or even use the space. We did it on their lunch hour outside on the lawn. It was a beautiful day, but that’s not the point.

So things have come a long way, and there’s still a long way to go.

This week also saw an official day of celebration and learning at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. It was the work of some dedicated students, most notably Aaron Weininger, one of the first 2 Queer students to enter the seminary for rabbinical school. I’ll try to get some photos and video to post about that great event.

Here’s the original article on the Jerusalem Post and the post on Queerty

I had a meeting this morning with a woman from Young Judea that’s working on their upcoming “Pride In Israel” program. I have to say, the trip sounds great. It’s a quickie (10 days) full of a lot of the usual stuff (Climbing Massada, visiting a Bedouin tent, Jerusalem, etc.) but also lots of LGBTQ specific events, including meeting activists, discussing LGBTQ issues with members of the Knesset, and partying in Tel Aviv. And it’s all in four star hotels. It sounds like more of a packed organized vacation package.

There’s some info at their site.

Here’s their FaceBook page.

And here are the two events on the GayGevalt calendar: June 16th, 2008 and August 11th, 2008

If you’re thinking of going, tell us why. And if not, why not?

Last Friday Israel experienced a 5.3 earthquake, the strongest earthquake in Israel for a decade.  Apparently Gay Israelis have more power than we may have thought.  According to MK Shlomo Benizri of the Shas party,

“the Gemara refers to earthquakes as disasters, but you are searching only for the practical solutions how to prevent and repair.

But I know of another way to prevent earthquakes; the Gemara mentions a number of causes of earthquakes, one of which is homosexuality, which the Knesset legitimizes.”

This comes after Israel decided to let same-sex couples adopt.  See that story here.

As usual, towleroad.com has it best.

The Israeli version of “WIFE SWAP” is searching for an American gay family.  “WIFE SWAP” is a prime time documentary show that is watched throughout Israel.

We would like to swap a gay family from the U.S. with a family from Israel.  We would like the family to be a married gay couple with children.  Keep in mind that one partner will be swapped and flown to Israel for a week and the Israeli partner will be flown to the States to take his/her place.

Our ultimate goal is acknowledging the gay family as an accepted family unit in the Israeli establishment, which is a relatively new occurrence.  Therefore, it is important for us to show gay families as a known and accepted thing in progressive countries — something that will set an example for our viewers.  The show is very popular and has influence that could lead to changes in public opinion.

Those participating in the show could consider themselves ambassadors for gay family rights.  We would love for the participants to be Jewish and have an emotional connection to Israel, and perhaps even have a basic understanding of Hebrew.

For more details about this important project, please contact wifeswap.israel@gmail.com.

Working with the Jerusalem Open House (well, with Dror, over at the Jerusalem Open House) we’re not experimenting with Israeli events (in Israel) on GayGevalt.com  Israel has been added as a State and, as Dror pointed out, that’s not necessarily so far from the truth.  So, our first event is Israel has been posted!  Just look for Jerusalem in the Cities list when you’re narrowing your view of the calendar.

We hope this will lead to an upgrade that will more easily (and more organized) add events around the world.

On another note, GayGevalt.com has now past 775 events!!  We atarted the week at 703!!!

“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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