The only remnants of interest left on TikTok and Instagram — amid the horrendous onslaught of social media climbers (a.k.a. influencers) — are the people who still strike a chord, spark genuine interest, and remind me that there’s still community to be found through a simple DM. That’s exactly what happened when I came across a post by Tanya Tsikanovsky whose handle is Highly Jewish. And I’m happy to introduce my Won’t Be Silent community to her.
Seeing Tanya on Instagram had me intrigued because like me — she has little or no tolerance for bullsit. What struck me most is how much we have in common — as out, proud, unapologetically loud, gay Jews. In a world that loves slogans like “love is love” and “no justice no peace,” there’s a bitter irony in how many in the LGBT community are now closing their doors to people like us simply because we are Jews who refuse to disown our heritage, love being Zionists with a connection to Israel.
Tanya embodies a kind of radical honesty that I admire. She’s not just out in her identity — she’s out in her convictions. She talks openly about the rejection she has received in queer spaces that no longer feel like home for her. She’s not impressed with the “progressives” who have purity tests which might sometimes exclude the people who most need community. I know that story too well. So many of us thought the gay community would always be our chosen family. But now, we find ourselves feeling the door close if we dare to speak up for Israel, be proud Zionists, and own our pride.
Thank you for caring enough to hear our conversation.
Peace…ABE
PS…Be sure to tune into Peaced Off!, my new podcast bringing Israeli and Palestinians together to find a new way forward.
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