LGBTQ Rights, Israel & Zionism

From Hadassah Magazine

Meet Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum

The spiritual leader of a synagogue that celebrates diversity, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum is spiritual, straight-talking, controversial, inspiring and passionate about Israel. Hear what she has to say about being gay in Israel; challenges within the legal system; and why she is a Zionist.

Continue reading.

Coming Out for Purim

The Purim Superhero, a new picture book for Jewish children, includes gay parents. It’s about time.

By Marjorie Ingall for Tablet Magazine   
Nate has a dilemma: Purim is coming, and the other boys in his Hebrew school class are all going to dress as superheroes, but Nate wants to be an alien. What to do? With the help of his Daddy and Abba, Nate figures out a solution that delights everyone. And his story, The Purim Superhero, draws connections between his problem, the message of the holiday, and the process of coming out.

    “Abba?” Nate asked. “Do you ever just want to be like everybody else?”

    Abba looked at Nate. “You know the Purim story,” Abba said. “Queen Esther saved the Jews because she didn’t hide who she was. She told King Ahashuerus she was Jewish, and that her people were in danger.

    “Sometimes showing who you really are makes you stronger, even if you’re different from other people.”

Continue reading.

For more Purim news, check out our    page.

For more great Purim ideas, check out our Purim Holiday Spotlight Kit

Israel touts gay-friendly climate, but rights fight faces religious firewall

By Ben Sales for JTA

As last Tuesday ended, it felt like Israel’s gay community had taken a major step forward.

On Feb. 23, eight separate Israeli parliamentary committees convened to discuss a broad set of issues facing the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Lawmakers from a range of parties talked about protecting LGBT Israelis in the classroom, at home, in government offices and in the army. That afternoon, the parliament officially recognized “Gay Rights Day in the Knesset.”

But 24 hours later, the atmosphere was markedly different.

Continue reading.

For more LGBT news, check out our    page.

The Small Town Jew Who Pioneered Sex-Change Surgery

 By Zachary Solomon for Jewniverse   

Stanley Biber’s dream was to become a rabbi, so he moved from his birthplace of Des Moines to Chicago, and enrolled in a yeshiva. But then World War II began, derailing his plans. Following the war, Biber lost the clerical urge, went to medical school, became a surgeon, and, before long, turned into a pioneer in the world of gender reassignment surgery. A classic tale.

Continue reading.

For more LGBT news, check out our    page.