Tel Aviv is known as a gay-friendly city for tourists, but few people realize the extent of social and societal action in which Israel’s LGBT community is involved.
One organization that exemplifies that spirit is Adam L’Adam Hizdamnut Latet (Human to Human — An Opportunity to Give). For the last 10 years, it has operated anonymously, providing different kinds of assistance to anyone who asks for it, regardless of sexual orientation, religious observance, ethnic background or age.
“Normally, the LGBT community is perceived as demanding something, such as equal rights, or complaining about something, such as discrimination,” says LGBT activist Avi Soffer. “The idea of Adam L’Adam is that it is all about giving, both within the community and outside of it.”
It is, claims Soffer proudly, “an LGBT endeavor that is unique to the state of Israel.”
Adam L’Adam Hizdamnut Latet is run exclusively by volunteers — 10 full-time staffers, another 100 or so who donate their time when called upon to do so, and hundreds of others who work per project. Donations are spent fully on the charitable work itself, rather than on overhead and salaries.
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