March 11, 2010 Congregation Or Chadash and Emanuel Congregation, both members of the World Congress of GLBT Jews, will be hosting a presentation by The National Association of GLBT in Israel, known as the Aguda. This event is being co-sponsored by Club 1948 and the New Israel Fund. The program will be at 7:30 PM at the Emanuel Congregation.On
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 youth services to an all new HIV-AIDs awareness website along with Project Barak, an 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 their facilities during their Youth-Bar program and opened fire, killing two and injuring dozens more. In the aftermath, a huge problem was brought to light. The government’s 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, 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.
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. Chen and her brother, Nir, were also volunteer Counselors at the Youth Progam 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.
This will be followed by a presentation of an all new video film about the Aguda and their programs along with the framework for the new social service network. The program will be concluded with questions from the audience.
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