Los Angeles Prime Timers Newsletter

September, 2010

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Rosh Hashanah

Happy New Year to our Jewish members.  We Love you and respect your HOLY DAY.

Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year."  Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in the synagogue.

There is one important similarity between the Jewish New Year and the American one:  Many Americans use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making "resolutions." Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year.

Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of their wish for a sweet new year. Also bread is dipped in honey for the same reason.

Gay Men’s New Years Ball

Each year Prime Timers of the Desert hosts the New Year’s Ball.  Mark your calendar for the New Year’s Eve Ball in Palm Springs December 31, 2010.  We will give you the details, with a reservation slip, in our October Newsletter.

CONTRIBUTIONS

Gay Pride in Jerusalem

By Michele Chabin    Religion News Service

JERUSALEM — Thousands of Israelis marched calmly Thursday in Jerusalem's longest gay pride parade despite opposition from anti-gay demonstrators.

The subdued march from Jerusalem city center to the parliament building contrasted with flamboyant gay pride parades elsewhere in the world. Organizers said they were adjusting to the city's religious character and using it to promote their political agenda.

Carrying rainbow banners, several thousand demonstrators walked along the 1.5 mile (2.5 kilometer) route. Absent were standard features of many such parades – multicolor floats carrying scantily and provocatively dressed participants, loud music, wild costumes and explicit public examples of homosexual activity.

Even so, a few dozen black-suited ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters at the beginning and end of the route held signs denouncing homosexuals, with slogans like "Gays Play in Hell, Not Jerusalem." Many ultra-Orthodox Jews consider homosexuality to be an abomination.

Marchers said such opposition has forced Jerusalem's gay community underground in most parts of the city.

"In a religious society, a lot of people still don't realize we actually exist," said Sarah Weil, 26, who helps run an organization for lesbians who are also Orthodox Jews.
The march marked the one-year anniversary of a shooting attack at a Tel Aviv gay youth center that killed two.

"This is first of all a march of mourning," said organizer Yonatan Gher, "and at the end we will try to put the mourning behind us and look forward to the coming year, and declare tonight the beginning of gay rights year."

Thousands of Israeli police guarded the marchers and parade participants say there are signs the climate in Jerusalem is changing.  "I don't think it's dangerous anymore," said Yair Lieberman, 23. "But even if there's danger, that shouldn't stop us from walking."

Jerusalem is generally a more subdued city than Tel Aviv, but this is not the first time that there has been a gay pride event in Jerusalem. In fact, there is a very active and visible gay community center in downtown Jerusalem. It has been there for at least a decade.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Los Angeles Prime Timers exists due to the generous contributions of its members.  Please remember LAPT and consider a donation of your own so that others may continue to enjoy what you have now.

Rome – Jerusalem – Gay Pride

JERUSALEM (RNS) The Catholic Church's highest official in the Holy Land sharply criticized Israeli authorities for permitting a gay pride march on Thursday (July 29) through the streets of Jerusalem.

In a statement issued Friday following the city's 8th Annual Gay Pride Parade, which attracted 3,000 marchers, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal said the event seeks to "defy family and marriage."

Catholic Church Embarrassed By Gay Priests Revelations

A gay priest sex scandal has rocked the Catholic Church in Italy today after a weekly news magazine released details of a shock investigation it had carried out.

Using hidden cameras, a journalist from Panorama magazine - owned by Italian Prime Minister and media baron Silvio Berlusconi - filmed three priests as they attended gay nightspots and had casual sex.  Panorama added, “By day they are regular priests, complete with dog collar, but, at night it’s off with the cassock as they take their place as perfectly integrated members of the Italian capital’s gay scene.”

Schwarzenegger calls for same-sex weddings

By PAUL ELIAS Associated Press    08/06/2010

SAN FRANCISCO—California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger(R) and Attorney General Jerry Brown(D) filed motions Friday calling for resumption of same-sex weddings in the state.The officials filed the motions after U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker previously overturned Proposition 8, California's voter-approved gay marriage ban.Resuming gay marriage "is consistent with Californias long history of treating all people and their relationships with equal dignity and respect," Schwarzenegger said in his legal filing. California voters passed Proposition 8 five months after the state Supreme Court legalized same-sex unions and an estimated 18,000 same-sex couples already had tied the knot.

Currently, same-sex couples can legally wed only in Massachusetts, Iowa, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Washington, D.C.

CHUCKLES

Heartwarming Lawyer Story

One afternoon a lawyer was riding in his limousine when he saw two men along the road-side eating grass.  Disturbed, he ordered his driver to stop and got out to investigate.  He asked one man, "Why are you eating grass?”  The poor man replied, "We don't have any money for food. We have to eat grass”

"Well, then, you can come with me to my house and I'll feed you," the lawyer said.  "But sir, I have a wife and two children with me. They are over there, under that tree,” said the poor man. "Bring them along," the lawyer replied. Turning to the other poor man he stated, “You may also come with us.” The second man said in a pitiful voice, "But sir, I also have a wife and SIX children with me."  “Bring them all as well," the lawyer answered.

They all entered the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as large as the limousine.  Once under way, one of the poor fellows turned to the lawyer and said, "Sir, you are too kind.  Thank you for taking all of us with you.”

The lawyer replied, "Glad to do it.  You'll really love my yard.  The grass is almost a foot high."

The Veterinarian

One Sunday, in counting the money in the weekly offering, the Pastor of a small church found a pink envelope containing $1,000. It happened again the next week!  The following Sunday, he watched as the offering was collected and saw an elderly woman put the distinctive pink envelope onto the plate. This went on for weeks until the pastor, overcome by curiosity, approached her.

"Ma'am,” he said, “I couldn't help but notice that you put $1,000 a week in the collection plate."

"Why yes," she replied, "every week my son sends me money and I give some of it to the church.  He is a veterinarian."

"That's an honorable profession, but I had no idea they made that much money," the pastor said. "Where does he practice?”

The woman answered proudly, "In Nevada. He has two cat houses, one in Las Vegas and one in Reno.”