JERUSALEMHavruta, a social and cultural home for Jewish gay men from religious backgrounds, was started here about five years ago out of a need from and for those the group would serve.
That's because, quite simply, it can be a challenge living within the religious community here and also being gay.
Havruta was, at first, a project developed and run by the Jerusalem Open House, the city's gay community center.
Organizers expected, oh, maybe four or five to attend its first meetings. However, instead, 20 or 30 were attending.
"It became very clear, very quickly that there were a lot of people looking for something like this," said Aryeh, 40, who has lived in Jerusalem for 15 years, works as an architect and been a member of Havruta for several years. He is not completely out, so asked that only his first name be used.
Havruta, which strives to provide a sense of belonging, empowerment and creative opportunities in an accepting environment, has since expanded to branches in Tel Aviv and Haifa.
"It continues to grow and grow," said Aryeh, who noted that, 10 years ago, the only outlet for religious gays in Israel was Internet forums. "Havruta has been a great vehicle and catalyst for a lot of people to, first and foremost, realize that they are not alone. Being gay in the religious community can be very alienating; a lot of people feel that they don't really have anywhere to turn. The religious communityits leaders, educators, parents and family membersis not equipped to having to deal with, or handle someone who is gay, someone who does not fit into the mold. I think Havruta has worked hard to help change that. It helps break down barriers and stereotypes, making religious gays more noticeable, more prominent in society."
Havruta broke away from the Jerusalem Open House almost three years ago, becoming an official non-profit organization. It is run by a five-member board and receives financial support from Google Israel, Teva Pharmaceuticals and private donors.
The organization has, for the past two years, held monthly meetings and gatherings, often attracting 80 or more.
Havruta works alongside and supports multiple organizations in the religious gay community, such as the gay youth group known as Israel Gay Youth, as well as IGY's Shoval, for religious gay youth.
Shoval is an education and outreach program where members of the religious LGBT community meet with religious leaders and educators, Aryeh said. "Through personal stories we stress to the educators and leaders the importance of creating a tolerant and accepting society, for their members and students."
Havruta is an all-male organization, with 60 dues-paying members, although its mailing list has 300 names. Some Havruta members, or meeting attendees, are still in the closet. Other have left religion entirely.
Monthly meetings are held in a discreet location.
"We want to continue to grow, and as we grow, we will be able to provide more services, provide more of a sense of a community, of a home," Aryeh said. "We want to push for greater tolerance within the communities that we came from, so we can find our place there, be treated with respect, dignity and equalityand just be a part of the religious communities that we grew up in."
Havruta participated in the 2011 Tel Aviv Pride Parade and the 2011 Jerusalem Pride Paradeand plans to be part of each again this summer.
"Since I've been involved, I've met so many people, heard so many fascinating storiesand I truly have been inspired by the courage of others, their determination," Aryeh said. "I feel a lot of my coming-out was, and still is, a result of this group."
He went to his first Havruta meeting years ago, which happened to be a wine-tasting, after only being out to one other person.
"For a lot of people in the religious world who are in the process of coming-out, the biggest fear is that they are going to lose that sense of their religious self," Aryeh said. "It's important that there be a safe environment, so they don't feel that they have to chose, [ either their religion or their sexual-orientation. ] Back when I was in my 20s, that basically was the choice."
For more information about Havruta, visit www.havruta.org .il.