Archive | Gay
VIDEO: Behind the scene of issue 01 of FOD (Tel Aviv’s new Gay Magazine)
F.O.D Magazine is an international lifestyle magazine for the Tel-Aviv gay male community. The magazine is unique in the region, being the only one with up-to-date information on a wide variety of issues of interest to the Israeli gay man.
Online @ http://www.fodmag.com
Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/FODmag
Madonna to Party at a Tel Aviv Gay Club
Tel Aviv nightlife personality Shimon Shirazi (photo below), who founded ‘FFF,’ the most successful gay-party-line in Tel Aviv, is producing the official Madonna world tour opening party, which will occur during her stay in Israel.
According to Tel Aviv sources, the party is planned for Friday May 25, at the Oman 17 in Tel Aviv harbor, as a special FFF party, and will host the tour’s production people, the dancers, the backup singers, and looks like also queen M herself will be smuggled to the VIP room to watch all of Israel’s leading drag queens perform her songs from throughout the years. Dress code for the party: White.
Shirazi told Israeli media this week: “Madonna is an icon beyond time, and every time she visits our country is a reason for celebration to us. I’m proud to take a part with warming engines before the big show, and it’s going to be an unforgettable party.”
Source: Abbanibi.com
Israeli Conservative Movement approves ordination of gay rabbis
’A very important development in Jewish law,’ says President of the Israeli Conservative Movement Rabbinical Assembly.
Israel’s Masorti (Conservative) Movement decided to approve the ordination of homosexual rabbis, in a dramatic vote on Thursday.
The Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, affiliated with the movement, will admit gay and lesbian students for training as spiritual leaders as of the upcoming school year.
In doing so the Israeli Conservative Movement is joining the American branch of the movement, whose rabbinical seminaries have been admitting gay students for some years.
The question whether or not to ordain gay and lesbian rabbis has been rattling the Conservative Movement in Israel and the U.S. for the past decade. Unlike the Reform movement that took to the question with ease, deciding firmly on the acceptance of gay rabbis. The Conservative Movement, whose rabbis see themselves bound to Jewish law, has been caught up in heated debate over the subject.
Years of discussion led to two contradictory religious rulings in 2006, one requiring the ordination of gay and lesbian rabbis and another banning any such act. The two rabbinical seminaries affiliated with the movement in the U.S. move the ruling allowing the ordination, while the seminaries in Jerusalem and Buenos Aires adopted the ban on ordination. The issue nearly caused a rift in the movement.
The debate continued to wage at the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, with two female rabbis quitting the institute, one in opposition to the ordination of gay rabbis; the other over the hesitation shown by the organization in accepting gay and lesbian students into its ranks.
On Thursday, the institute’s general council held another vote on the subject. Out of the 18 rabbis that attended, all voted to admit homosexual students, with one rabbi abstaining.
Rabbi Mauricio Balter, President of the Israeli Conservative Movement Rabbinical Assembly expressed his support of the move.
“I see it as a very important development in Jewish law,” Rabbi Balter told Haaretz, adding: “It is the right thing to do. We were all made in the image of god, and as such we are all made equal. For me this is a very important value. I always said we should admit gay and lesbians into our ranks.”
“I’m glad we had the vote and that it went the way it did,” Rabbi Balter continued. “The decision to hold a vote was correct as can be seen by the fact that there wasn’t a single dissenting vote,” he said
The seminary’s rabbinic program – a two year study program incorporating a MA in Jewish studies that ends with an examination by a council of conservative rabbis, who authorize the ordination, similar to the examination exams in Orthodox Judaism.
As of next year the students will select their testers, as long as their choice is authorized by the school’s dean, thus avoiding the possibility that rabbis that opposed the integration of homosexual students will thwart the ordination of candidates based on their sexual orientation.
The Schechter Rabbinical Seminary stressed that the students ordained as rabbis will continue to meet the institute standards and will be committed to a moral, Jewish, and Zionist lifestyle. In addition, applicants are expected to have a extensive background in Jewish studies including the Talmud, Jewish law, bible studies, rabbinic teachings, and Jewish philosophy, as well as an express willingness to participate in public works, such as working in the community, in Jewish education or spiritual counseling.
People working at the seminary admitted that over the years, members of the American Conservative Movement have been applying pressure to accept gay and lesbian students, as the American seminaries have been doing for some years now.
The institute also stressed that the decision was mostly a formality since it had never checked for the sexual orientation of its applicants.
Source: Haaretz.com
Tel Aviv picks up “Hottest International Grindr Guys” award… Full List here
We here at Grindr are making our bow into the jet-setting world of gay travel today as we announce the winners of our first annual Grindr Gay Travel Awards.
GRINDR 2012 Travel awards go to:
Gayest U.S. City: New York
Gayest International City: London
Best U.S. Gay Beach: Miami
Best International Gay Beach: Rio de Janeiro
Best U.S. Gay Resort: Palm Springs, Calif.
U.S. City With the Best Gay Festivals: San Francisco
International City With the Best Gay Festivals: Sydney
Hottest U.S. Grindr Guys: Los Angeles
Hottest International Grindr Guys: Tel Aviv
SDM gets up close and personal with Israeli YouTube sensation Idan Matalon (Briefs, Enrique and Beyonce)
His Lip-Sync production and innocent looks have made Idan an overnight YouTube sensation. He’s covered the likes of Madonna, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj etc…, Idan is the face of My Gay Trip in the latest TETU magazine and was featured in Gay.net, Winq Magazine and various Israeli newspapers. He’s talented, good looking and charming, seems like a winning formula! Check out our One-on-One with Idan… ENJOY
Who is Idan Matalon ?
Idan Matalon is 23 yo boy that moved from Gan Yavne villige to the big city (AKA Tel Aviv) 2 years ago. While I enjoy the Tel Aviv Nightlife, during the day I work in education with teenagers from Bat Yam, a city south of Tel Aviv.
You are known for your Lip-Syncs, please explain what they are…
I basically create my own rendition of famous clips with Tel Aviv (in most cases) as a background. The Music is the same, but the background is original with me Lip Singing. My latest clip is a Lip-Sync of “Stay” by Tooji who will represent Norway at the next Eurovision
You became an overnight Youtube sensation, did you expect that ?
I never Expected all the attention … even now I dont feel it…it feels virtual, not real. One day I decided to make a video as a hobby and of course, like anyone would, I uploaded it to youtube to get feedback as an artist…but never thought it would become so big!
You’ve become somewhat of an icon within the online Gay community, how do you feel about that ?
wow…” icon within the online Gay community”…sounds awesome. haha now seriously – It’s great for the ego. In Israel, the gay community is taking over the media, from hosts in reality shows, to music and dance and of course, YouTube sensations lol- it helps me GROW! Many people from the community are very excited to participate in my projects…so its Win-Win!
You were featured in TETU, how was that ?
It was freaking awesome being in TETU (as the face of MyGayTrip)
I’m working on a new video in Paris next week…The first thing I will do when I arrive is look for a copy of TETU, open it and then it will all become more real.
Tel Aviv’s reputation as an LGBTQ destination is at its all time high, do you think Social Media is partly responsible?
I’m sure that Social Media is partly responsible for Tel Aviv’s reputation! I can see it from the letters that people around the world send me all the time…they keeping saying “I just search for the song of lady gaga and found your video… I never thought Tel Aviv was such cool/tolerant place… I want to go there… seems like a fun place with beautiful people ”
Actually I think that Most people do not intentionally look for “Israel” on Google or YouTube … and the fact that through popular songs and singers they are suddenly/unintentionally exposed Israel (not Gaza, and rockets and soldiers like you would see on CNN) – My project is a great way to showcase the real Israel.
We’ve noticed more and more Professional photos of you, are you considering modelling?
hahaha not modeling… but I think that these pictures are good way to build the ‘Idan’ brand. I would like to become a spokesperson for different brands through my productions. Product placement is something I am interested in, I think my videos are a great way for brands to sell their products.
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(Photos by Shay Galanti)
Let’s get a little more personal
Boxers or Briefs? Boxers
Boyfriend/Girlfriend? Boyfriend
First Kiss ? Rather not talk about it lol
Beyonce or Rihanna ? Beyonce of course
Enrique or Adam Levine ? Enrique
Now back to being a little more professional…
What are you favorite spots in Tel Aviv ? What would you recommend to Tourists coming for Pride ?
Dizengoff Center
Hilton Beach
Rothchild Roads
Ben Gurion Roads
My recommendation for Pride:
EVITA BAR – Wednesday night. I promote a party with Barak Krips called “KEN-TLV” – It’s a new line – HipHop&Dance Music all NIGHT! and of couse I recommend BigBoys Party and take some sun in Hilton Beach
What are you plans for the future ?
For the future – I wanna be the one who changes the Rules of Israeli and European Media. I want to show people that you can succeed without selling out to the world of television…I believe that when you’re doing creative things in your own way – your Passion is a lot more prevalant …not just a fake smile. So that’s MY big Dream…to be a spokesperson for Brands and to stay the same….(Innocent)
And of course, Does Size Matter ? (in relations to Israel of course)
SIZE DOESN’T MATTER!!!!!! and as Israel..I’m little too…just 1.65 m….
Want More of Idan ? Check out his: BLOG, YOUTUBE CHANNEL, FACEBOOK PAGE
VIDEOS: In Case you’re in Tel Aviv.., or heading there: Tel Aviv’s Top Parties for Spring (GayTravel.com)
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Spring is coming and it’s time to store yours coats, wear your shorts and get wild in one of Tel-Aviv’s top 5 parties!
Arisa- If you’re planning on visiting Tel-Aviv soon, make sure that ARISA party is going on.
The first oriental gay party takes place once a month, generally at the Comfort 13 club, attracts gays from all-over the country and hosts a different oriental artist each party. Lately, they have started combining a colorful ceremony taken from the Israeli’s wedding culture- The Henna- which makes this night totally unforgettable.
FFF – Shirazi’s eternal line usually happens every second Friday at Haoman 17, and plays house music till the sun rises. The FFF is being named as Tel-Aviv’s best gay party almost every year – with magnificent decoration, breath-taking performances and muscular guys and it just keeps getting better. No wonder it owns the throne.
Dreck- Great electro-pop music and gorgeous guys are the reason why Tel-Aviv’s weekend starts on Wednesday night. The party-line became the city-talk almost overnight hosting different DJ’s who makes the dance floor moves.
Forever Tel-Aviv – 6 years had passed since “Forever Tel-Aviv”’s first party, and its still considered as one of Tel-Aviv’s finest parties. “Forever Tel-Aviv” hosts the well-known Israeli DJ, DJ Offer Nissim, who produces house music in mostly tribal, hard and progressive styles, and who had remixed a large repertoire of artists. These parties’ productions are always shiny; combining local artists and talents and makes the night larger than life.
PAG – This electro-house music party line started his way 8 years ago, and moved between 5 different clubs, till today, when it’s finally located at the ZIZI club. The party line usually happens every second Friday. The party owners always put all their efforts to turn every party to a night-to-remember; Different DJ’s from all over the world , spectacular and unique production in each party, and sleazy-underground feeling that words definitely cannot tell makes the PAG a must try, even if you’re straight.
Written by Liron Levy, travel agent at “Gayway”- gay Tel Aviv travel agency