Gathering of meaningful words in face of meaningless murder at the LGBT Center in Tel Aviv

On Saturday, 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 2 members of the group: 16 year old, Liz Trubeshi, and 26 year old, Nir Katz, the support group counselor, and wounding 10 others. The gunman managed to find the secret location of the support group’s meetings; many of the kids were not yet out to their parents before the shooting. On Sunday, thousands in Tel Aviv protested the senseless murders, and crowds gathered in other Israeli cities as well.

An ad hoc group of San Francisco-based Jewish and gay organizations and individuals is organizing a candlelight vigil/memorial for tonight, Monday night, to memorialize the young Israeli victims. The safety of LGBT youth is of utmost concern; this could happen at any center anywhere in the world. Organizers are calling for LGBT centers around the country and world to also hold vigils on Monday.

Please join us tonight for a San Francisco memorial in honor of those murdered at the LGBT Center in Tel Aviv.

We will gather at Congregation Sha'ar Zahav at 290 Dolores Street at 5:30 pm, and walk from there to the San Francisco LGBT Center at 1800 Market Street.

When we arrive at the LGBT Center at 6:30 pm, Rabbi Camille Shira Angel, Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Ruby Cymrot-Wu, and others will offer meaningful words.

For more information on the shootings and on tonight's vigil, please visit: http://bit.ly/lgbt-vigil

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this attack, their families, friends and communities.

l'Shalom,

Lisa Finkelstein, LGBT Alliance of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin & Sonoma Counties

Samuel Strauss, LGBT Alliance of the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay