(Jewish Group) Young queer Israelis build bridges with American peers in Bay Area

Ofer Newman and Liana Meirom Asif know how divisive Israel can be for some American Jews, especially young adults. But they also know there’s a bridge narrowing that gap when it comes to queer identity.

While in Israel that bridge brings together LGBTQ members from disparate communities, such as Israeli Jews and Arabs, or people from diverse economic classes, for American Jews “it can really bring a different perspective, or a different way to look at Israel,” Asif said.

Newman and Asif are the CEO and vice president of Israel Gay Youth, an organization that supports LGBTQ young people from across the religious and ethnic spectrum. They’re in the Bay Area, finally, after a year and a half of Covid restrictions, to meet with American Jewish partners including JCRC and San Francisco synagogue Sha’ar Zahav, where they were scheduled to speak on Friday.

Newman said queer Israelis and Americans have a lot in common.

“The connection between Israel and American Jewry must stand strong on values of openness and liberalism, and the ability to accept each and every one,” said Newman. “And I think, in both societies, American Jewry or Israeli society, those values are being attacked in the last few years.”



more...