The speech at the French Embassy reception was made by Daniel Jonas of Havruta. Havruta- Religious Homosexuals in Israel was founded by graduates of Hesder Yeshivas and Religious Pre-Military Preparatory Programs. The organization includes an internet site which is updated on a weekly basis and monthly meetings and activities.
His Excellency The Ambassador, members of the French Embassy, my dear parents, colleagues from all organizations and friends,
Maimonides writes in his Hanukkah laws: “A candle that has two ends, counts for two people. Bowl filled with oil surrounded with candle wicks (PTILOT)- if covered the instrument, all wick and wick is counts as one candle; did not covered the instrument – is like a bonfire, and even as one candle it does not count. “
Next week we celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah, also known as a festival of lights. Each of us will light a candle and relieve, if only slightly, the darkness around us. We can see something interesting in Maimonides’s law – there is no problem that some candles will draw burning material from the same source, so long as each remains unique and distinct from the rest of the candles. We, like the candles, draw from the bowl that is called the ‘people of Israel’, Judaism – although we are different from the society in our sexual orientation and gender identity.
But, religious people who identify themselves as LGBTs in many of our communities are faced with many hardships and challenges. Many live in fear of harassment, humiliation and of being denied by their communities and families. Those who are out of the closet often fear verbal and physical abuse.
For this reason, Bat-Kol, Havruta, Shoval, The Pride Minyan and the religious groups of IGY (Israel Gay Youth) were founded. We are here to assist religious LGBTs respectively. Our organizations offer a social network and support for religiously observant LGBTs. Beyond being a safe haven, our organizations also actively work to inform and educate the religious public about LGBT issues in their communities. Through the work of these organizations, some religious leaders are now speaking, publicly and freely about LGBT issues. Educators and counselors now turn to our religious LGBT organizations for guidance and information. Through outreach and education, we aim to break down stereotypes, and encourage a religious culture that is tolerant and understanding for all who are different whether by gender, race or religion. We are spreading light around the world.
These processes were possible only thanks to the existence of religious LGBT organizations. The most prominent among these are the organizations ‘Bat-Kol’ and ‘Havruta’, which together hold public conferences, meetings with members of the Knesset, religious leaders, educators and intellectuals, promote media appearances, participate in the Gay parades, creating strong communities and most importantly – meeting, through Shoval, with students, teachers, counselors and religious leaders to tell them our personal stories. In this way, bringing more tolerance, understanding and acceptance to our society.
For being able to continue and operate, if not to expand our activities, we need some affection, because we are all volunteers.
When Laura from the French embassy first approached me five months ago, I did not truly believe that we would merit reaching this success today. I of course believed in our work and its importance, but I wasn’t certain that our young organizations would be able to meet the high standards of this prize. Furthermore, I was skeptical that an Israeli organization would merit this recognition, in light of the fact that often the international community does not positively acknowledge Israel’s human rights situation.
In the past months, I have been fortunate to hear things of a different nature – not from formal authorities, but more importantly, from “simple” people. One rabbi approached me for advice in dealing with a student of who told him that he is gay. The rabbi knew to approach me because of the exposure that Havruta has received. Another person recently told me that it is to Havruta’s credit that he today feels alive. Many others have said that they once again feel they have a home, a community, and relationship with God. These testaments only make clearer that even if we are not a large organization, there are those who need us. As our sages have taught us, “כל המקיים נפש אחת, מעלים עליו כאילו קיים עולם מלא” – Whoever saves one soul, should be treated as if they saved an entire world.
But then I was informed about the acknowledgement by the French Republic, and I realized who we truly are:
From a small discreet group started by the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, we have, in only four years, become one of the leading and most influential organizations in the Israeli Pride Community. Together, through participation with other organizations, and our natural partners – Bat Kol, Shoval, The Pride Minyan, and religious groups of IGY, we have not only helped bridge the great divide between the gay community and the religious Jewish public (which until recently was seen as an impossible task), but we are also bridging between Israel and the rest of the world.
This precedential recognition, awarded here today, reminds us once again that our work is significant and cannot be taken for granted.
I sincerely thank all the people involved – members in Havruta, Bat-Kol, The Pride Minyan, Shoval and the IGY. Together we create reality, make history and provide a hopeful future to our friends and our religious gay community. This significant recognition is emotional, historical and acknowledges the efforts of all of us.
I will conclude with this well known blessing, which is traditionally recited at special and joyous occasions such as this, which unfortunately many could only dream to say:
“בא”ה אמ”ה שהחיינו וקיימנו והגענו לזמן הזה”.
Translated as: “Thank God for letting us reach this time”
Thank you.
Meetings
Havruta organizes meetings once a month. These do not function as a support group but rather as a social gathering. The majority of participants are religious, while some are “datlash” (previously religious) and some come from traditional backgrounds. The majority of participants are in the closet and are of all ages from 18 and upward. The turnout to meetings is quite large, making Havruta the biggest organization for religious gays in Israel. The content for meetings changes from month to month and include prominent speakers, films, discussions, activities and hikes.
Our Vision
We built the Havruta web site in order to serve as a central site for all members of Havruta and to be a home for the larger religious gay community and their families. We also aim to promote education, tolerance and acceptance by the larger religious community and encourage rabbinical and public discourse on the subject with the hopes of raising awareness within religious society so that religious gays and their families will be a part of the religious community.
To learn more, please check out two news articles written about us in English:
– Ha´aretz in English wrote about our First Year event – Click here
– The Canadian Globe and Mail wrote about the 2009 Purim Party in Jerusalem – Click here*
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