Gretchen Rachel Hammond asks how did a city that gave us one of the nation’s most thriving Jewish communities become ground zero for anti-Semitic agitation? Chicago has long been home to one of America’s largest and most thriving Jewish communities, a vibrant and nurturing setting that gave the nation everyone from Saul Bellow to Julius […]
Josh Sayles, director of the Community Relations Council for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, says that people don’t want anti-Israel outspoken singer Roger Waters in Pittsburgh, but opposed to Waters and his other BDS friends, Sayles recognizes the right of those with whom we disagree to peacefully exist among us and to exercise their […]
Following the Chicago Dyke March incident in June, the staff of A Wider Bridge embarked on a dialogue tour, answered questions and engaged in conversations with leaders from dozens of LGBTQ and Jewish organizations and communities. Midwest Manager Laurie Grauer describes one of the dialogue groups that took place in Chicago. “I invite you to […]
Being pro-Israel at LGBT events has become difficult, LGBT Jewish leaders say, and at times the opposition to Israel has spilled over into making Jews feel uncomfortable about displaying their identity. For years, Laurie Grauer had waved a rainbow flag emblazoned with a Jewish star at the Chicago Dyke March, sometimes marching near activists waving […]
“Linking the gay rights movement to Israel’s geopolitical conflict merely refreshes age-old Zionist conspiracy theories by using one of today’s most prominent social issues.” – Tyler Lopez breaks down the attempt of the anti-Zionism movement to recruit the LGBTQ community against Israel, which results in hurting LGBTQ people, especially in Palestine. It’s June, and Tel […]
A Wider Bridge’s Executive Director, Arthur Slepian, calls out activists of Jewish Voice for Peace for misinterpreting the work of our organization, and comparing their activists to legacy protests like Stonewall and Selma Brave queer youth marching in the Celebrate Israel parade. I want to speak about courage and honesty, two concepts missing from much […]
We must remain critical when the Israeli government co-opts the LGBTQ struggle to divert attention from the occupation. But let’s not minimize the urgency of the situation for many queer people in Israel and across the Middle East. “LGBTQ Against Pinkwash” at Tel Aviv Pride There’s a tendency towards extreme dualism when it comes to […]
H. Alan Scott spent the last week traveling all over Israel with A Wider Bridge and came back with one important takeaway: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict won’t be solved by using Israel’s LGBT community as a scapegoat for a political argument by a handful of groups demanding a boycott. H. Alan Scott in Jerusalem last week. I’m […]
Lina, who will take the stage at Tel Aviv Pride this Friday, is the first ever Palestinian singer to perform at a Gay Pride Parade in Israel, carrying the message of peace and hope. Lina introduces the dress she will wear at her Tel Aviv Pride performance. On Friday June 9th, 2017, over 100,000 people […]
A Wider Bridge’s Executive Director, Arthur Slepian, shared his thoughts following the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund’s Mission to Israel in March: “I hope that we can encourage these voices that see the holiness in the idea of enough.” Susie Sorkin, Arthur Slepian, and Sarah Persitz in Tel Aviv In a recent parsha, we […]