The National Association of GLBT in Israel announce their North American Public Awareness and Social Networking Tour
Tel Aviv, Israel, February 19, 2010
The National Association of GLBT in Israel, known as the Aguda, will be celebrating their 35th year of service and support of GLBT rights and issues and providing social services to the GLBT community in Israel. The Aguda has been the founding father of many of the GLBT organization in Israel and is the only national GLBT organization offering programs ranging from our youth services to our all new HIV-AIDs awareness website along with Project Barak our educational program. The Aguda is presently trying to build an all new national social services program that will stretch from border to border and encompass all of Israel regardless of religion, origin or sexual orientation.
On August 1, 2009, a masked gunman burst in our facilities during our Youth-Bar program and opened fire killing two and injuring dozens more. In the aftermath, a huge problem was brought to light.. The governments social services and social workers have not been trained or educated in dealing with GLBT issues. Without intent, they caused additional heartache and traumas to the wounded and their families.
In recent meetings with the ministry, the Minister of Social Services issued a mandate to the Aguda to build network of national network of social services to deal with the GLBT community. This new project will be funded by a private public effort.
Mike Hamel the Chairperson of the Aguda, since 2004, who is considered the leading expert on GLBT issues in Israel and has been involved in social reform and the protection of human rights for his entire life will be visiting the United States and Canada in March 2010.
Mike will be accompanied by Chen Langer, a young volunteer with the Aguda youth program who was shot during the recent tragedy and Chen Katz, who along with her brother Nir were also volunteer Counselors at the Youth Program and Nir was killed in the shooting.
Mike will share the history of the Aguda and the GLBT movement in Israel. Followed by Chen’s story about the shooting and the aftermath.
And this will be followed by a presentation of an all new video film about the Aguda and our programs along with the frame work for the new social service network.
This will be a very exciting evening with many new things to report from Israel. Chen and Chen are very enthusiastic speakers and Mike is an authority on Human Rights in Israel. The program will be concluded with a question from the audience.
Sponsored by New Israel Fund-Canada -New Israel Fund-USA-World Jewish Congress for GLBT-MyClub1948
The events listed below are OPEN To The PUBLIC at no charge. Anyone wishing to attend is welcome
5-Mar New York Congregation Beth Simchat Torah Chelsea: 296 9th Ave at 28th 7pm www.cbst.org 212-929-9498
7-Mar New York Congregation Beth Elohim 274 Garfield Place, 11:30 AM www.congregationbethelohim.org 718-768-3814
9-Mar Montreal Congregation Dorshei Emet 18 Rue Cleve www.dorshei-emet.org 514- 486-9400
11-Mar Chicago Congregation Or Chadash 5959 Sheridan Rd 7pm www.orchadash.org 773-271-2148
14-Mar Chicago To Be Determined 16-Mar Ft Lauderdale Congregation Etz Chaim 1881 Northeast 26th Street 7pm www.etzchaimflorida.org 954-564-9232
17-Mar Miami To Be Determined 19-Mar Los Angeles Congregation Kol-Ami 1200 North La Brea 8pm www.kol-ami.org 323-606-0996
23-Mar Toronto First Narayever Congregation 187 Brunswick Ave 7:30pm www.narayever.com 416-927-0546
24-Mar Toronto New Isreal Fund New Generation To Be Determined 7pm www.nifcan.org 416 781 4322