“Wherever You Go, I Will Go” — Launching Pride Month with Learning, Community, & Belonging

On May 26, Project Kesher Israel, in partnership with the Tel Aviv Municipality, welcomed more than 100 participants to a special Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ community event marking the beginning of Pride Month 2026. Inspired by the tradition of Tikkun Leil Shavuot, the evening explored themes of belonging, choice, identity, and social justice through a uniquely queer Jewish lens. Participants included LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees from Russia, Ukraine, and other countries, as well as family members, allies, and community professionals.

The program featured a panel discussion on equal civil rights with Rabbi Olya Weinstein, attorney Pavel Bitzer Phillipov, and Anna Talisman, Head of Project Kesher Israel’s LGBTQ+ Program, alongside smaller discussion circles led by community leaders, activists, and educators. Participants also enjoyed a photography exhibition on transformation and identity, live music, and a pre-premiere performance by Kesher Petah Tikva—the first Russian-speaking queer theater group in Israel.

Made fully accessible through partner support, the event created a welcoming space for visibility, connection, and meaningful dialogue. As Pride season begins, gatherings like this affirm Project Kesher Israel’s commitment to building a vibrant, inclusive community where Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees can find belonging, support, and the freedom to be fully themselves.