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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 565

Benny Lau

Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie dressed in drag, as his alter-ego, the Rebbetzin Hadassah Gross, as seen in 'Sabbath Queen,' a film by Sandi DuBowski. (Courtesy)
February 8, 2025, 2:46 am
From radical drag queen to rabbi, film depicts journey of a Jewish law breaker
‘Sabbath Queen’ follows gay scion of rabbinic dynasty Amichai Lau-Lavie for two decades as he challenges traditional Judaism’s norms and becomes a respected communal leader
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Moshe Oyahon. (Courtesy of the family)
November 1, 2023, 5:24 pm
Moshe Ohayon, 52: Social activist, CEO of 929 Torah project
Described by 929 founder Rabbi Benny Lau as ‘the essence of good,’ Ohayon, was murdered with his eldest son Eliad; also chaired board of Shaharit Institute
By ToI Staff
Yael Rashlin (R) a transgender woman, poses for a photo with her partner Hadar and and their children Yarden and Hillel, at their home in the town of Tzur Hadassah in central Israel, on December 1, 2022. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
February 23, 2023, 1:35 pm
Israel’s transgender Jews struggle in Orthodox circles
New hardline government is raising disquiet among LGBTQ people, with subject of transgenderism already taboo for much of the religious community
By Delphine Matthieussent
Benjamin Lau
December 11, 2020, 1:54 pm
Benjamin Lau
On same-sex couples in the Orthodox Jewish community
’It is not good for a person to be alone’ – regardless of their sexuality. On coming out, finding a partner, tying the knot, and having children
Nadiv Schorer, right, married Ariel Meiri in 2020 with Orthodox rabbi Avram Mlotek officiating. (David Perlman Photography via JTA)
November 6, 2020, 12:45 am
Small but growing number of US Orthodox rabbis officiating same-sex weddings
They’re breaking ranks to perform ceremonies unthinkable until recently in the Orthodox Jewish world
By Josefin Dolsten
Israelis and tourists wave flags as they participate in the Gay Pride parade in Tel Aviv, June 8, 2018. (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)
October 13, 2020, 2:05 am
Israeli Orthodox rabbi: Judaism doesn’t ban same-sex couples building families
Rabbi Benny Lau, known for progressive positions within Religious Zionist camp, issues guidlines to help observant LGBTQ Jews manage their family lives within religious communities
By Josefin Dolsten
The women's siyum HaShas in the Jerusalem Convention Center on January 5, 2020 (Courtesy)
January 6, 2020, 2:04 pm
In Jerusalem, the world of Talmud study fetes its newest superstars — women
An event marks the culmination of a 7.5-year daily gemara cycle — and a crescendo in decades of efforts by teachers to wrest Jewish texts from men’s-only clubs
By Marissa Newman
Michael Ben Ari (right) and Itamar Ben Gvir of the Otzma Yehudit party outside the Central Elections Committee office in the Knesset on February 21, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
February 24, 2019, 12:17 pm
Extremist Otzma Yehudit threatens to sue prominent rabbi over Nazi comparison
Ben Gvir demands apology and compensation from Benny Lau, who said vote for party was akin to backing Nuremberg Laws
By ToI Staff
Rabbi Benny Lau. (Courtesy)
February 23, 2019, 11:54 pm
Prominent rabbi likens vote for Otzma Yehudit to backing Nuremberg Laws
Benny Lau, whose uncle was Holocaust survivor and ex-chief rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, says he’ll fight to ensure ‘the doctrine of Kahane doesn’t enter the Knesset’
By ToI Staff
Rabbi Benny Lau. (Courtesy)
July 15, 2018, 2:16 pm
Launching in English, chapter-a-day project looks to bring Bible back to masses
Rabbi Benny Lau says 929’s daily study program intends to build bridges between Diaspora Jewry and Israel using their common heritage
By David Sedley
MK Rachel Azaria speaking at a panel discussion at the Schecter Institute on April 30, 2018 concerning the need for Israel to still find its' Jewish identity. (Eyal Weiss/Schecter Institute of Jewish Studies)
May 1, 2018, 6:59 pm
Event meant to build bridges between Israel and Diaspora goes up in flames
A panel discussion hosted by JTS and the Schechter Institute on the religious divide between American Jewry and Israel becomes a microcosm of the widening rift
By Tracy Frydberg
Lior Yisraelov displaying both sides of his character. (JTA/Katya Borodin)
November 19, 2016, 2:24 pm
Israel’s favorite drag queen is this former yeshiva boy
Lior Yisraelov, who grew up in a religious Zionist community in south Tel Aviv, now performs as Suzi Boum — fake eyelashes, blond wig, and glittering clothes included
By Andrew Tobin
Rabbi Rahamim Berachyahu, newly appointed chaplain to the Israel Police. (Screen capture: YouTube)
October 11, 2016, 10:38 am
Female MKs object to new police rabbi over his views on women
Rahamim Berachyahu also banned same-sex couples from his community and supported rabbi who called LGBT ‘deviants’
By ToI Staff
Naftali Bennett, left, at an ultra-Orthodox school in Tel Aviv on May 10, 2016. (Yaacov Cohen/Flash90)
September 13, 2016, 11:24 am
Education minister says Torah learning trumps science, math
Months after reluctantly dropping demand that ultra-Orthodox teach core subjects, Naftali Bennett warns against ‘solely being startup nation’
By ToI Staff
Rabbi Yigal Levinstein speaking at the 'Zion and Jerusalem' convention, July 2016. (Screen capture: YouTube)
July 19, 2016, 4:38 pm
IDF mulls cutting ties with rabbi who called gays ‘deviants’
Yigal Levinstein, head of a prestigious premilitary academy, claimed the gay rights movement has ‘infiltrated the army’
By ToI Staff
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