Above is video from last night’s vigil in Washington, D.C. Below is an update from David Taffet. After the jump, read a full press release from Resource Center Dallas.
By David Taffet
A candlelight vigil for victims of the shooting at the LGBT community center in Tel Aviv, Israel, will be held at Resource Center Dallas at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The theme of the vigil is safety for LGBT youth, and it is sponsored by Resource Center Dallas, Congregation Beth El Binah, Fuse and the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas.
“We are both saddened and angry that the GLBT Community Center in Tel Aviv was attacked this past weekend,” Resource Center Executive Director Mike McKay said in a statement. “As one of the largest GLBT community centers in the United States, Resource Center Dallas mourns the deaths of these young people and joins our colleagues around the world in calling for an end to violence against GLBT people everywhere.”
On Aug. 1, a masked gunman opened fire inside the Tel Aviv center during a youth group meeting, leaving two people dead and at least 11 injured.
A vigil in San Francisco on Monday night attracted about 100 people, according to organizer Lisa Geduldig. A vigil was also held at Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. on Monday night.
In Israel, the Masorti (Conservative) Movement is conducting an evening of “learning, song and reconciliation” in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheba. Using Jewish texts and melodies to encourage discussion, the themes are unconditional love, tolerance and bridging the divides in society, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post.
The Post is reporting that three of four victims still being treated at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv are in stable but serious condition, and that one remains in a coma. Because they are minors, no names are being released. The reports of the number of people injured vary, but most say 11. Either the other seven have been released or they were sent to other area hospitals.
This week, many LGBT youth in Tel Aviv have had to come out to their parents because of the attacks — not only those injured, but also friends who heard of the attack, rushed to the hospital and spent the night there with their friends.
The Post reports that few parents were at the hospital that night because most did not know their children were gay. Although they had heard about the attack, they didn’t know their children might be among the victims.
Dallas GLBT community holds candlelight vigil/memorial August 5 for gay teens murdered in Tel Aviv
Dallas – Resource Center Dallas, the Reform synagogue Congregation Beth El Binah and the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas will hold a candlelight vigil and memorial August 5 (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. to remember the young Israeli victims of a mass shooting at a community center and pray for the wounded. The safety of LGBT youth is of utmost concern – this could happen at any center anywhere in the world.
On August 1, a masked assailant dressed in black from head to toe opened fire on a gay teen center’s support group meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel, killing two members of the group: 16 year-old Liz Trubeshi, and the support group leader, 26 year-old Nir Katz. At least ten others were wounded. The gunman managed to find the secret location of the support group’s meetings, and many of the kids were not yet out to their parents before the shooting. Thousands in Tel Aviv protested the senseless murders on Sunday, and crowds gathered in other Israeli cities as well.
Several speakers will talk about the need for the safety of LGBT youth. Diane Litke, president of congregation Beth El Binah, will lead Kaddish, the traditional Jewish prayer for the dead, and Mishaberach, a prayer for healing. Congregation Beth El Binah and the Jewish Federation will announce a fund for the needs of the victims, their families and the center. Representatives from Youth First Texas and Resource Center Dallas are also expected to speak. The group will then walk in a candlelight procession from the Center to the corner of Cedar Springs and Throckmorton. Similar vigils have also been held in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
I live in Fort Worth. I think it would be nice to also hold a candelight vigil in Fort Worth, even it’s small.
Not to compete with the Dallas event, but just to show solidarity from the Fort Worth community. Also for those who can’t make the drive to Dallas.
I would suggest Sundance Square on Wednesday night. Maybe 8 or 9pm? The corner of 3rd and Houston (I think?) on the square across from Caravan of Dreams where the other recent events have been held.
If you would be interested, I setup a new email account. Let’s see if we have enough people interested.
Israel_LGBT_Memorial@yahoo.com