Over the weekend a heinous act of hate and terror played itself out in Tel Aviv at the Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Center, The Agudah. A masked gunman entered the small center on Nachmani Street and opened fire, murdering 3 people and injuring 14 others. There was a youth support meeting for teens in progress. Most of the victims were young people and two of those murdered were Liz Trobishi, 17, and counselor Nir Katz, 26. Our hearts and prayers are with the whole community there.

I have been in touch over the weekend with Mike Hamel, the chair of The Agudah, to express our love, sympathy and concern. The funeral for the victims was held Sunday. As you can imagine, everyone is still in shock. Many of the survivors of the shooting are hospitalized now. Many families will be finding out for the first time that their teen is gay or lesbian.

You are invited to a joint community vigil and memorial service this Wednesday, August 5th at 6:30 PM at BCC (6000 W Pico Blvd, LA). I will participate along with other clergy.

Please consider tzedakah to The Agudah to help rebuild the Center by visiting www.glbt.org.il.

May God comfort those of us who mourn for the lives of those lost on Saturday and bring healing to the shooting victims.

I hope to see you Wednesday night.

Rabbi Denise L. Eger

View the event flyer here.

West Hollywood, CA – May 26, 2009 -- Congregation Kol Ami, a Reform Jewish congregation serving the diverse community of West Hollywood, today declared a day of mourning to mark the State Supreme Court Ruling denying marriage equality to gay and lesbian partners in California. The Court ruled to uphold Proposition 8, passed in November 2008, narrowly defining marriage as between a man and a woman. The decision overturns the Court’s own ruling a year ago that said the state Constitution requires equal treatment of gay and lesbian couples.

Rally for a day of dignity, happening on the FIRST Saturday AFTER the Prop 8 verdicts. Win or lose -- we are hoping to galvanize our movement as we knit a community that cries for FULL Access, Equality & Justice for ALL.
12:00 noon - Rally Warm-Up Begins
Special help from: Youth Today & Equal Action
1:00 p.m. - Rally Begins
Rabbi Eger will be speaking!

Additional information on Meet in the Middle can be found here:
http://www.meetinthemiddle4equality.com

We need a great showing from the congregation at the rally! We'll march together, and will need some folks to carry the banner, too.

Also needed are volunteers to monitor safety at the rally and during the march! If you can help Rabbi Eger and the other planning groups, sign-up to volunteer at VolunteerDOD@gmail.com.

--Selection Demonstrates that Common Goals Can Trump Divergent Beliefs -- Serves as a Model for Political and Religious Cooperation in Society at Large —

West Hollywood, CA – May 6, 2009 -- Congregation Kol Ami, a Reform Jewish congregation serving the diverse community of West Hollywood, today congratulated its Rabbi, Denise L. Eger on her selection as president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. The board is comprised of rabbis of all denominations, Reform, Orthodox, Conservative and Reconstructionist, who work together on interdenominational and interfaith issues. Rabbi Eger’s selection as president is a double milestone as the first woman and first openly gay or lesbian rabbi to become president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. It is also a history-making achievement because some of the denominations do not recognize either women rabbis or gay clergy; they were able to support her selection as a matter of mutual respect. She will be formally installed on May 11th.

Love, Not Laws releases PSA “Weathering the Storm” in support of same-sex marriage, in response to National Organization for Marriage’s recent “Gathering Storm” video.

LOS ANGELES, April 21 – Ugly Betty actor Alec Mapa, Broadway actress Shoshana Bean and well-known out actor Wilson Cruz have joined Love, Not Laws, a California-based group of friends, co-workers and families who decided to come together – by donating their time, talent and resources - to create a serious response, “Weathering the Storm” (www.youtube.com/lovenotlaws), to the misinformation and bigotry expressed in the National Organization for Marriage’s (N.O.M.) recent “Gathering Storm” video.

More than 50 people gathered at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills on Tues., April 7 to celebrate Birkat HaHammah, and unveil one of a dozen "solar ner tamid" lamps that have been installed throughout Southern California as part of a joint project by the Board of Rabbis of Southern California and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem. The city is preparing for Shabbat as the last minutes of the afternoon close. Jerusalem is quieter this Friday afternoon. Most summer tourist have deserted Israel after more than two weeks of nonstop rockets and missiles that have rained down upon the Gallilee and Israel's northern cities. Hezbollah is ruthless and the conventional wisdom here in Israel is that Syria and Iran are calling the shots. (They supply Hezbollah with rockets, missiles, arms and money.)

Featuring Hale Porter (Vocalist), Ayana Haviv (Vocalist), Alma Mara (Vocalist), Cantor Mark Saltzman (Vocalist), Neal Brostoff (Pianist) and David Kasap (Accordionist), the concert is a humorous and passionate presentation of the songs that have so enriched Jewish culture in the last two centuries.

The concert begins with a delightful bouquet of Yiddish folk songs, accompanied by renowned Russian accordionist David Kasap, followed by Dimitri Shostakovish’s “From Jewish Folk Poetry, op. 79, premiered in 1948. This music is a provocative metaphor of the composer’s solidarity and compassion for the Jewish people. This extraordinary song cycle is performed using the original Yiddish poems, as reset by Israeli musicologist Joachim Braun with Anya Haviv, Alma Mora, Cantor Mark Saltzman, and pianist Neal Brostoff. “Mamaloschen” is completed with Hale Porter’s wry and poignant journey through the music and stories of the Yiddish Theatre.

The concert will take place at Congregation Kol Ami, 1200 North La Brea Avenue, West Hollywood . Tickets are $15 for Kol Ami members and $20 for non members and guests. Reservations can be made by calling the Temple office at 323-606-0996.