How Pink Are Israeli Families? A Study Program for LGBT Family Advocates Tel Aviv - Jerusalem February 2015
PROPOSED DAILY SCHEDULE
Thursday-Saturday February 12-14 Optional
Men Having Babies Conference (Tel Aviv)
Participants arrive in Tel Aviv (Brown Hotel)
Optional pre-program events: food, art & culture!
Saturday, February 14, Tel Aviv
Welcome reception, 7 pm, Brown Hotel
Invited host/speaker: Leon Avigad (gay dads/surrogacy)
Group welcome dinner, 9 pm: Ella & Orna
Sunday, February 15, Tel Aviv
9 am, Brown Hotel: presentations on marriage, relationship recognition
Invited speakers: Prof. Yuval Merin, College of Management School of Law Michal Eden, attorney, private practice Irit Rosenbum (New Family Organization)
Afternoon activities: TA Museum of Art North Port Area
Cocktail reception Brown Hotel
Evening activities: TBD
Monday, February 16, Tel Aviv
9 am, Brown Hotel: presentations on family formation, parentage & surrogacy
Invited speakers: Victoria Gelfand, attorney gay dads other attorneys working on parentage & surrogacy
Afternoon activities: Neve Tzedek Jaffa
Evening activities: film event Possible cultural event with Yoav Shamir
Tuesday, February 17, Tel Aviv
9 am, Brown Hotel: presentations on dissolution, civil & family court jurisdiction, public & private benefits
Invited speakers: Prof. Blecher-Prigat, Professor of Family Law Judith Meisels, attorney, private practice Prof. Zvi Triger, Professor, College of Management Private divorce attorney
1 pm: LGBT Center Lunch gathering with representatives of Agudah, hosted by SF Federation
Evening activities: cultural event
Possible discussion on gay Palestinian issues with filmmaker Yariv Moser
Wednesday, February 18, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
9 am, Brown Hotel: presentations on transgender rights, activism and legislation
Invited Speakers: Ilana Berger & Amit Gefner transgender activists Aeyal Gross, Professor, Tel Aviv University Dan Yakir, Senior attorney, ACRI (civil rights)
2 pm: travel to Jerusalem Check in at Arthur Hotel
Evening activities: dinner and cultural event in Jerusalem
Thursday, February 19, Jerusalem
9 am, Jerusalem Open House: presentations on activism, legislative update, religious issues
Invited Speakers: Elinor Sidi, ED, Jerusalem Open House Ely (Harvruta, lesbian Orthodox group)
Noon: lunch at Tmol Shilshom: discussion of co-parenting
Invited speakers: David Ehrlich, gay dad, bookstore owner Prof. Sigal Gooldin, Sociology professor, Hebrew University
Group dinner:
Evening: cultural activity
Friday, February 20, Jerusalem
Morning activities: tour of Yad Vashem/Israel museum or
Meeting with Daniel Estrin (radio journalist)
Afternoon activities: tour of Old City
Evening activities: Kabalat Shabbat gay Orthodox gathering Dinner with Orthodox group Jerusalem Open House
POST-PROGRAM ACTIVITIES Optional
Saturday-Sunday, February 21-22, Jerusalem
Saturday:
Shabbat activities or Visit to Israel Museum or Green Olive-led visit to West Bank
Sunday:
Religious sites in Jerusalem
Cultural activities in Jerusalem
Culinary adventures in Jerusalem
Meeting with Palestinian lawyers/judges in Ramallah
Possible Jerusalem history tour with Doron Wilfand (or other guide)
Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday, February 23-24-25
Possible: Monday in Ein Gedi/Dead Sea
Monday or Tuesday: drive to Akko (historical sites) & Sfat (hotel in Sfat)
Tuesday or Wednesday: explore Sfat, Rosh Pina, Gallilee (hotel in Sfat)
Wednesday or Thursday: return to Tel Aviv
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES & ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTIONS
Michal Eden: family law attorney , focusing on agreements, dissolution, discrimination, former Tel Aviv city council member, organizer of legal clinic at LGBT Center in Tel Aviv
Judith Meisels: family law attorney, focusing on agreements and dissolution, represented couple getting first civil dissolution as Jewish-Jewish couple, also has handled numerous high profile surrogacy cases
Irit Rosenblum, ED of New Family Organization: non-profit organization focused on promoting civil marriage and cohabitation agreements (rather than religious marriage), works for straight and gay unmarried couples, has been active in politics of civil marriage, also provides low-cost agreements for unmarried couples and “ID” cards as unmarried partners
Zvi Triger: professor at College of Management school of law, gay dad (with child via surrogate in India), written extensively on civil marriage & access to divorce, and on broader social issues for same-sex couples and marriage issues
Yuval Merin: professor at College of Management school of law, gay dad (with adopted kid from Guatemala), written frequently on issues of civil marriage, divorce, and international recognition of same-sex marriages
Victoria Gelfand: attorney in private practice, handling overseas surrogacy issues and surrogacy agreements, active in legislative regulation of surrogacy
Men Having Babies: NY based non profit group helping organize gatherings for gay men and companies/agencies helping them arrange surrogacy
David Ehlich: gay dad with co-parent, owner of bookstore/café in Jerusalem, author
Ayelet Blecher-Prigat: law professor writing on same-sex marriage and divorce (co- author with Zvi Triger)
Elinor Sidi,: ED of Jersualem Open House, social services and advocacy center for LGBT community in Jerusalem
Shae Doitch: ED of Agudah, LGBT political activist group
Havruta: lesbian Orthodox community organization
Dan Yakir: civil rights attorney at ACRI (Israel’s “ACLU”), long history of litigating gay impact cases, straight ally
Aeyal Gross: professor at Tel Aviv University, writer and advocate and journalist focusing on gay civil rights issues, same-sex/civil marriage, pinkwashing, occupation issues
Ilana Berger: therapist, activist, head of the Israeli Center for Human Sexuality and Gender Identity (she said she will organize a group of other activists and experts)
Amit Gefner: Gila Project (legal and social support for transgender community in Israel
Daniel Estrin: journalist (Jerusalem), writes on gay issues, especially re gay Palestinian issues
Yariv Mozer: gay filmmaker, made documentary on gay Palestinians living illegally in Tel Aviv