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March with Pride – Jewish and LGBTQ Rights Belong Together

The LGBTQ flag. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

This is a call to action for Jews, LGBTQ people, and our allies.

In a world of growing intolerance, the voices of Jewish LGBTQ+ people and allies must rise stronger than ever before. This LGBTQ Pride season, we are called not just to celebrate our multifaceted identities, but to assert them boldly against those who seek to silence us.

This year, show up at Pride events draped in the Magen David, wave Jewish and Israeli Pride flags, and carry signs that shout our dual identities as LGBTQ+ Jews. We are here. We exist. And we will not be erased.

Standing Against Hate 

Recent alerts from the FBI and other organizations have underscored a chilling reality: agitators plan to disrupt Pride events across North America. These disruptors, masking their bigotry under the guise of “pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel, and anti-Zionist” rhetoric, have already marred LGBTQ celebrations. This happened to my group personally last week.

Their hypocrisy in claiming to fight for one marginalized group while attacking another cannot go unchallenged.

To those who spread hate: You will not deter us. The attempts to silence and exclude us, even from within our own LGBTQ+ community, only fuel our resolve. Our pride is our power.

Be Proudly Jewish 

We must be demonstratively Jewish in our celebrations. Wear that Star of David with pride. Let it be a beacon of our heritage, a symbol of our resilience. Our Jewish identity is not a contradiction of our LGBTQ identity, but an integral part of who we are. It is time the world sees us not as divided, but as a beautifully intertwined tapestry of resilience, love, and authenticity.

Our visibility is more than just a statement; it is a lifeline. When we stand proudly in our dual identities, we affirm that we belong. We assert that our rights and our existence are not up for debate. We demonstrate that Jewish and LGBTQ are not mutually exclusive identities but enrich each other in profound ways.

Taking Action 

Beyond the festivities, there is work to be done. Reach out to Pride organizers, mayor’s offices, and police departments. Express your concerns about safety and the need for a welcoming space for Jewish LGBTQ individuals. Our communities must collaborate to ensure that Pride remains a safe haven for all.

Document your experiences at Pride. Share your stories, your joy, and your struggles on social media. Use your voice to highlight both the supporters and the antagonists you encounter. In doing so, we build a digital tapestry of our journey — a testament to our presence and our resilience.

Celebrating Our Identities 

As we prepare to march, let’s embrace the power of our visibility. Let’s dance with the vibrancy of our history and the promise of our future. Let’s celebrate with the knowledge that our Jewish and LGBTQ identities do not dilute each other, but instead create a richer, more colorful fabric of who we are.

See you at Pride, my friends. Shine brightly, not just for yourself but for all of us who carry the weight and the joy of our intertwined identities. Together, let’s make history and remind the world: we are here, we are proud, and we will not be silenced.

Yuval David is an Emmy and Multi-Award-Winning Actor, Filmmaker, Journalist, and Jewish LGBTQ+ activist and advisor. A creative and compelling storyteller, on stage and screen, news and across social media, Yuval shares the narrative of Jewish activism and enduring hope.

The post March with Pride – Jewish and LGBTQ Rights Belong Together first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Dozens of Terrorists Eliminated in Central Gaza, Weapons Seized from UN School in Raid

Some rises after an Israeli strike as Israeli forces launch a ground and air operation in the eastern part of Rafah, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 7, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

i24 NewsIsrael Defense Forces continue to operate in the Shejaiya area at the same time as fighting in the Rafah area and in the center of the Gaza Strip, the army said.

In the Shejaiya area, forces of the 98th Division attacked dozens of terrorist sites with the help of airstrikes from the Israel Air Force.

Over the weekend, Israeli soldiers raided a UN school in Shejaiya, where terrorists hid and stored weapons, grenades and valuable intelligence documents

This is yet another example of how Gazan terrorists use civilian structures to carry out attacks against Israeli forces pic.twitter.com/9oA9KLJehC

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) June 30, 2024

A UN school was raided where terrorists hid and stored weapons, grenades, and sensitive documents. In addition, a Hamas command center was discovered in a clinic.

Since Saturday, division forces located weapons, raided and captured terrorist compounds, and eliminated a number of terrorists.

IDF strikes Hamas target in Gaza

Israeli forces continue to operate in the Shejaiya area while continuing to push in Rafah and in central Gaza

The IDF attacked and destroyed a mortar launch position located within a tunnel shaft in Rafah pic.twitter.com/JqTACvuMys

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) June 30, 2024

The 162nd Division meanwhile continues in the Rafah area, eliminating a number of terrorists in various encounters and destroying tunnel shafts in the area.

The 99th Division 99 the center of the Gaza Strip carried out raids and destroyed terrorist infrastructure in the area.

Also on Saturday, an airstrikes destroyed a mortar launch position located inside a tunnel shaft in Rafah.

The post Dozens of Terrorists Eliminated in Central Gaza, Weapons Seized from UN School in Raid first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Israeli Government Approves Danny Danon as UN Ambassador

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon at a briefing on Iranian aggression on May 6, 2020. Photo: Screenshot.

i24 NewsThe Israeli government unanimously agreed on Sunday to appoint Likud lawmaker Danny Danon as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, succeeding the current ambassador, Gilad Erdan.

Danon, who previously held this position, will soon serve a second term. Danon’s appointment to this important position comes at a particularly crucial time, as he is expected to represent Israel on the international stage as the country faces challenges at home and abroad.

“I am proud to return to serve the State of Israel as Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations during this critical period,” he said on Twitter.

“As Israel faces battles on numerous fronts, each and every one of us must do his utmost within his skills and experiences,” he said in an earlier statement. “This is how I have behaved in the past, and this is how I will continue to behave in the future.”

I am proud to return to serve the State of Israel as Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations during this critical period.

With Israel confronting challenges on multiple fronts, it is imperative for each of us to contribute to the best of our abilities and experiences. This…

— Danny Danon דני דנון (@dannydanon) June 30, 2024

“In the face of the diplomatic terrorism that is rearing its head these days, I am forced to present the truth and hold my head high for the people of Israel and our common future here,” he concluded.

It is expected that Avihai Boaron, a former member of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, will enter in place of Danon.

The post Israeli Government Approves Danny Danon as UN Ambassador first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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‘Los Angeles Is Becoming Unsafe for Its Jewish Residents” Says Israeli Minister

Governor Newsom speaking at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. Photo Credit: Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.

i24 NewsAmichai Shikli, Israel’s Minister of Diaspora and Antisemitism, has urgently called upon California’s governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles’s mayor Karen Bass to address a concerning escalation of antisemitic incidents in the city.

In a strongly worded letter sent following a surge in antisemitic activities since October 7, 2023, Shikli expressed deep apprehension about the safety of Jewish residents in Los Angeles.

“Los Angeles is becoming more and more unsafe for its Jewish residents,” Shikli stated, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive measures to combat the rising tide of antisemitism.

He highlighted recent violent demonstrations on campuses that endangered Jewish students, alongside two serious incidents that he believes were mishandled by authorities.

One incident he pointed to was the tragic murder of Paul Kessler in November 2023 during a pro-Israel demonstration. Shikli criticized the court’s failure to classify the attack as a hate crime, stating, “It is shocking to see that the court did not recognize this as a hate crime. Paul was attacked for the sole reason that he was a Jew and a Zionist.”

Additionally, Shikli referenced an incident earlier in the week where an anti-Israel group disrupted an event at Adat Torah synagogue, resulting in an attack on Jewish attendees. Despite prior knowledge of the demonstration, law enforcement allegedly failed to take preventive actions to ensure the safety of Jewish residents.

Concerned about the city’s largest Jewish community in North America, Shikli urged immediate steps to enhance security around Jewish institutions and to ensure law enforcement is adequately trained to handle antisemitic crimes effectively. “At a time when antisemitism is at an all-time high, I urge you to implement measures to combat it,” he asserted.

The minister concluded his letter by proposing collaboration with local authorities and inviting the Los Angeles Police Department to participate in an international training program aimed at equipping security forces worldwide to combat antisemitism effectively.

The post ‘Los Angeles Is Becoming Unsafe for Its Jewish Residents” Says Israeli Minister first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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