blog 3/20

            While living in Jerusalem last spring I was very curious about how accepting a community full of different religious groups were towards LGBTQ.  I knew that in Tel Aviv there was a large LGBTQ population, however I was unsure about Jerusalem.  I found the websites assigned in class extremely informative and I wish I had spent the time to do the research while living in Jerusalem.  It would have been really fascinating to attend one of JOH’s events.

            The first aspect of JOH that caught my attention was the explanation about Jewish Pluralism.  The 2012 annual report stated, “Since so many of our community members are in fact religious, all of our activities are essentially working to navigate the all too familiar divide between religion and LGBTQ acceptance.” This sounds like an extremely difficult task.  I imagine that it must be very frustrating because the majority of religious Jews follow what the torah says in an extremely strict manner without any room for different interpretation or lee way.  I am curious to see how successful JOH will be with achieving this sense of Pluralism in the future. 

            I was also interested in the Open counseling Service JOH has to offer.   It was stated in the 2012 annual report that “A recent UK study found that 1 in 6 therapists have used reparative techniques to change someone’s sexuality. In Jerusalem, a much more conservative city, clients report that number to be much higher. The JOH team offers a group of volunteer therapists and clinical social workers providing various types of therapy, all of whom have been chosen based on their unique competence and understanding of sexuality as a diverse phenomenon.”  I was shocked to hear that there is such a high percentage of therapy that engages in “reparative” techniques in the UK and even more in Israel. While JOH offers therapy that is “understanding of sexuality as a diverse phenomenon” I am curious whether or not it is at all supportive of  therapy that engages in “reparative techniques” or if it is completely opposed.   

         On the website that for the film “City of Borders” I was really awestruck by the quote “When I read the bible that I could be killed by being gay, I understood what it was like to be Palestinian”- Israeli Bar Owner.  In the clip about the film it was stated that the divide of religion and LGBTQ was the second largest issue behind the Israeli Palestinian conflict.  I didn’t realize that this was such a prominent issue in Israel.  I think that this quote really communicated the sophistication and I am interested to learn more by watching this film.