1. Rachel,
Great speaking with you today. Thank you for continuing to share with me the interesting findings from your
experiences with the LGBT Birthright Trips. It is very interesting to learn about the issues that come up from not having
the expected outcomes with speakers (from Neal Lazarus to Lizzy the Lezzy) to a participant having a hard time using a
gender-specific restroom in Jerusalem. I look forward to hearing from others at our upcoming meeting about issues,
concerns and possible ideas for solutions that have come up for them.
As we spoke about films are a fantastic medium to help train staff about the everyday issues that occur in the lives of
people outside of the social normative we are familiar with. Films can also help start conversations on how to prepare
for issues that may come up in the future, like how to be proactively accommodating for gender nonconforming people.
You mentioned the 1999 film, Boys Don’t Cry and although it is an excellent film and easily accessible it is long, violent
and deeply heartbreaking.
When anyone starts to search for ‘Gay’ ‘Jewish’ ‘Israeli’ film one can find about 75+ mainstream films including 2009’s
Gay Days, 2009’s Eyes Wide Open, 2008’s Antarctica and 2002’s Yosssi and Jagger. Yet, when it comes to ‘Jewish’ or
‘Israeli’ films that have an angle of transgender and gender variance the scope becomes much less accessible. Older
films like, 2001’s It's A Boy! Journeys from Male to Female by Marla Leech is a good short as well as 2010’s
documentary about the life story of Gila Goldstein in, That’s Gila That’s Me. Yet the best
two films I recommend for transforming the way we as a community understand the lives of
FTM/MTF/Gender NonConforming Jews are 2009’s short film Door Prize about the unique
challenge for one individual (a trans, two-spirit, butch boi lesbian) to use the public
restroom and 2007’s documentary capturing a FTM Transition in Israel called Mom, I didn’t
Kill Your Daughter.
Los Angeles based Jewish Director, Zsa Zsa Gershick stars in the short 15 minute film, Door
Prize and can be easily contacted to request a screening at gayoldgirls@hotmail.com or
www.Facebook.com/zgershick. To see (Mom, I didn’t Kill Your
Daughter) I have been told by Dr. Donny Inbar, Cultural Director of the Israel Center, that I
can request a copy from the local Jewish Film Festival if you are interested in seeing it too.
Additionally, resources to utilize for teaching about gender diversity in Judaism to brochures
on how to Make Your Jewish Community Transgender-Friendly can be found on a site
created by a group of active Bay Area Trans Jewish leaders
http://www.transtorah.org/resources.html. Lastly, my favorite Transgender Activist and
Allies resource guide is attached called, Peeing in Peace which I recommend that you skim
and see if anything may resonate with preparing for you future group trips to Israel.
The resource of my LGBT position here at Federation is always available to talk out an
immediate issue if one should arise or brainstorm on solutions to potential concerns
regarding the participants on the Birthright LGBT Trips to Israel. Please feel free to reach out anytime.
Best,
Lisa Finkelstein
LGBT Alliance Director
415.369.2863 (direct), 415.730.2150 (cell), www.qjew.org
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin & Sonoma Counties
121 Steuart Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
100 years of giving...
Tuesday, January 18, 2011