The Religious Council of Tel Aviv-Jaffa is set to appoint a lesbian religious woman as a member for the first time, Ynet has learned on Thursday.
Avigail Sperber is a cinematographer and film and television director. She is the founder and owner of Pardes Film Productions. Sperber is also a social activist and the founder of Bat Kol - Religious Lesbian Organization.
"I will be happy to be there, and I believe they approached me because I am religious and feel the need to represent the religious needs of LGBT people," said Sperber. "I am sure that the religious council will understand that LGBT people also have religious needs and not all of them are anti[-religious], the exact opposite."
"One of my goals is to link between the LGBT identity and the religious identity because non-religious LGBT people have religious needs, such as the conversion of children born in surrogacy or adoption abroad."
Tel Aviv-Jaffa City Council member and adviser to the mayor on LGBT affairs Etai Pinkas-Arad, who also nominated Sperber, praised the move.
"The LGBT community is an integral part of the religious public. There are thousands of religious people who are also LGBT and religious services belong to them too," said Pinkas-Arad.
"Avigail Is part of the Orthodox community in Israel and her joining the council is very exciting for us. The LGBT religious community has a voice and it's an integral part of the religious public. I am sure she will have a good influence on Tel Aviv's religious services regardless of the LGBT issue.
Sperber is the daughter of Israel Prize laureate Rabbi Prof. Daniel Sperber who announced lately his opposition to gay conversion therapy, claiming they ineffective and damaging.