Tag: Jewish

Living Jewishly: A snapshot of a generation

Living Jewishly: A snapshot of a generation.

“Living Jewishly: A Snapshot of a Generation,” an at-times poignant, humorous, challenging and reaffirming collection of personal essays by Jewish 20- and 30-somethings, has just been published by Academic Studies Press.
Edited by Oy!Chicago blogger-in-chief and JUF digital communications manager Stefanie Pervos Bregman, the anthology probes a wide range of topics, including Orthodox dating; same-sex, interfaith relationships; discovering personal Jewish identity; connection — or lack thereof — to Israel; conversion; and what it means to be a young Jew in America today.
“At once confrontational, comforting and hilarious, this is the definitive ‘Who am I? and why am I?’ book for Jews of our generation,” actress and author Mayim Bialik said.

Jewish lesbian group educates the masses | AJN

24 Aug 2012
The Australian Jewish News Melbourne edition

Jewish lesbian group educates the masses

IN celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Jewish Lesbian Group of Victoria (JLGV) is creating a documentary about the life and times of the lesbian Jewish community.

The film will elucidate the group’s groundbreaking achievements in raising awareness for Jewish lesbians in Victoria.

A five-minute trailer – called It’s Who We Are – was put together by the production company Making of Movies, and has been posted online, to fundraise for the making of the documentary in full.

The trailer has already been added to the teaching resources at Deakin University’s School of Health and Social Development, where it will educate students about Jewish culture and cultural diversity.

Hinde Ena Burstin, a founding member of the JLGV, told The AJN that the group offered a “safe, respectful Jewish environment” for Jews struggling with the scourge of marginalisation and stigma, and she hopes the documentary will encourage tolerance.

“This has enabled disenfranchised Jewish women to reconnect with their heritage. At the same time, we insisted that the mainstream Jewish community becomes more inclusive of lesbians and gays. We have been extremely successful in this aim.

“Our achievements are many, but so too is the work that lies ahead. Our film can play a huge role in opening the closet doors wider.”

To make a donation to the documentary, visit: www.pozible.com/itswhoweare.

ABC The Drum – Gay Marriage – Aug 7 2012

In this episode, Geraldine Doogue speaks to ABC Religion and Ethics Editor Scott Stephens, NSW Community Services Minister Pru Goward and Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins from Sydney’s Emanuel Synagogue.

Professor Sidney Bloch shows support for Marriage Equality

Emeritus Professor Sidney Bloch

Emeritus Professor Sidney Bloch (Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne) had the following to say in August 2011 on allowing same-sex couples the right to marriage:

“Scientific knowledge of the mind is expanding all the time. In the past, psychiatry viewed homosexuality as a mental illness. Knowledge of sexuality has improved markedly and we now recognise that homosexuality is not an illness to be cured. Moreover, there is a growing body of research suggesting that gay and lesbian people can experience benefits to their mental health and well-being if their relationships are given the same social and legal recognition as heterosexual relationships. From a mental health standpoint, the benefits of marriage should be made available to all couples regardless of the gender of the partners.”

Australian Marriage Equality: Quotable Quotes

Research into the health and well-being consequences of denying same-sex attracted people the right to marry can be found at the Doctors for Marriage Equality web site.