2026-02-03 06:30:PM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #organization #Lobby #LeftwingJewry ![[image-226.png|414x276]] # A Wider Bridge - A Wider Bridge (AWB) was a U.S.-based Jewish pro-Israel organization active from 2010-2026 dedicated to supporting LBGT Jews through activism, funding, and public advocacy.[^1] *When visiting the AWB website, you will be met by an announcement of the end of the organization.* - The frontpage of AWB's website displays the message: "A Wider Bridge mobilizes the LGBTQ community to fight antisemitism and support Israel and its LGBTQ community."[^5] - AWB was founded in San Francisco in 2010 by gay Jew Arthur Slepian. - Organizations like A Wider Bridge are an important PR tool for the state of Israel in their efforts to retain left wing support. - AWB works to portray Israel as a hyper LGBT-friendly country that embraces liberalism. *It is true that Tel-Aviv is one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world.*[^7] - Beyond LGBT issues, AWB is generally a progressive left wing organization favoring feminism, mass immigration, anti-white politics, etc. #### Politics and Programs - Sponsored trips to Israel called "missions" are a signature AWB program.[^10] - AWB funds dozens of Israeli LGBT/pride organizations through its "Impact Grants" program.[^11] - In 2017, AWB partnered with the [[World Jewish Congress]] on an event discussing how LGBT views and Zionism can work together.[^6] - The event was called "LGBTQ n' Z: A Conversation About Pride, Zionism, and Inclusivity." - The event was backed by WJC secretary general [[Robert Singer]] who stated: "it is time to bring Zionism back into the LGBTQ discourse..."[^6] - In 2018, ABW brought Evan Wolfson to Israel for pro-LGBT work.[^8][^9] - Wolfson, a gay Jew, is considered the architect of gay marriage in the United States. - AWB describes Wolfson as "the man who brought gay marriage to the United States." - In 2023, AWB joined a coalition of 90+ Jewish organizations lobbying in opposition to an "anti-transgender sports ban."[^15] - The coalition cited "Jewish tradition" and "Jewish legal text" to bolster their support of transgender children. [*I am not making this up*](https://rac.org/press-room/us-jewish-organizations-letter-house-representatives-opposing-anti-transgender-sports#:~:text=Jewish%20tradition%20teaches%20that%20all%20people%20are%20created%20b%27tzelem%20Elohim%2C%20in%20the%20Divine%20image%2C%20and%20are%20worthy%20of%20dignity%20and%20respect.%20Judaism%20also%20specifically%20recognizes%20the%20diversity%20of%20gender%20identity.%20In%20fact%2C%20our%20Jewish%20legal%20texts%20mention%20at%20least%20six%20different%20genders.) - Co-signatories included: [[Jewish Labor Committee (JLC)]], [[Bend the Arc]], [[J Street]], [[Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)]], [[Jewish Women International]], [[Keshet]], [[Rabbinical Assembly]], [[Jews for Racial and Economic Justice]], [[National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)]], etc. - In 2020, amid the George Floyd uproar, AWB joined 600+ Jewish organizations in taking out a full page ad in the *New York Times* declaring "Unequivocally: Black Lives Matter."[^16] - Other signatories to the ad included: [[ADL]], [[Bend the Arc]], [[Central Conference of American Rabbis]], [[Hadassah]], [[Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)]], [[J Street]], [[Jewish Labor Committee (JLC)]], [[Jews for Racial and Economic Justice]], [[Keshet]], [[National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)]], [[New Israel Fund]]. Nice Jewish Boys SF *(gay Jewish organization)*, [[Rabbinical Assembly]], [[The Workers Circle]], [[Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)]], etc. ![[image-227.png|867x455]] *NYT ad taken out by 600+ Jewish groups including A Wider Bridge in September of 2020.* #### Conflict - In 2012, AWB partnered with [[StandWithUs (SWU)]] to organize an event in Seattle featuring LGBT Israelis called: "Rainbow Generations: Building New LGBTQ Pride and Inclusion in Israel."[^4][^3] - After left wing LGBTQ activists protested the event, AWB distanced itself from SWU. *SWU is considered "right wing."* - In 2015, after considerable left wing backlash in Seattle to AWB for their support of Zionism, the city's openly gay mayor Ed Murray traveled to Israel to deliver the keynote speech at an AWB organized conference.[^3] - Murray resigned in disgrace two years later amid allegations of "child abuse, rape and sexual molestation, including from a family member and his adopted son."[^2] - In 2017, AWB activists partook in the Chicago Dyke March during which they waved pride flags with a Star of David in the center.[^12][^13] - The AWB marchers were asked by the event's organizers to leave for flying the flag. - One response to the altercation came in the form of an opinion article in the *New York Times* authored by Jewish lesbian [[Bari Weiss]].[^14] - Weiss considered AWB marchers victims of antisemitism who just wanted to wear their "shirt that said ‘Proud Jewish Dyke’" while waving "a big Jewish Pride flag — a rainbow flag with a Star of David in the center." - Weiss deploys a common pro-Israel rebuke of progressive intersectionality by arguing that it spawns from a worldview "in which there can only be oppressors and oppressed." - She explains that "intersectionality functions as a kind of caste system," i.e., the more 'oppressed groups' you belong to the higher you rank. - Weiss makes the argument that while Jews are the ultimate victims (Nazis, holocaust, Israel under attack, etc.) they must split from the intersectional left which views Zionism and its symbols as those of the oppressor (Israel). *This argument is used by right wing Jews when they talk about the "BLM-Hamasification of the left." They will explain that Hamas is just like Black Lives Matter, and that their supporters are the same progressive leftists. They explain to their white Christian audiences that these activists see blacks as the oppressed just like they see the Palestinians as the oppressed. They wish you to believe that Israel, just like white people, is being unfairly seen as the oppressor. This framing is used to distort the Israel issue into a simple partisan one.* #### Funding and Donors - In recent years AWB has reported ~$1-2 million in annual revenue.[^21] - This was not enough for AWB to survive as lack of funding was the principle reason for the organizations closure. - [[Paul Singer]] - $100,000+[^17][^22] *Singer is a prolific Republican donor, with the caveat of being pro-gay and pro-immigration. Singer backs Republicans because they will support Israel, then supports far left organizations like AWB.* - [[Charles Schusterman]]'s [[Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation]] - $100,000+[^17][^22] - [[Seth Klarman]]'s foundation - $100,000+[^22] - [[koret Foundation]] - $25,000-$49,999[^22] - [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]] - $50,000-$99,000[^23] - [[Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC)]] - Under $10,000[^22] - [[Jim Joseph Foundation]] - Under $10,000[^23] - [[Jewish Communal Fund]] - $25,000-$49,999[^24] - [[Israel Bonds]] - Under $10,000[^24] - [[Jonathon Jacobson]] - $250,000 in 2024[^25] *Jacobson's One8 Foundation contributes about this much every year.* #### Notable Figures *Every figure listed is a gay Jew.* - Arthur Slepian - Founder and director from 2010-2017 - Tyler Gregory - Director 2018-2020 - Gregory began his career in the political department at [[AIPAC]].[^18] - Alan Schwartz - Board Chair and interim director around 2020.[^19] - Ethan Felson - Director 2020-2024 - In 2024 Felson was charged with lewd and lascivious conduct after an interaction with a Vermont museum employee.[^12][^1] - Rabbi Denise Eger - Director 2024-2025[^20] - Lesbian rabbi and pro-LGBTQ activist. - Former president of the [[Central Conference of American Rabbis]]. #### References [^1]: “A Wider Bridge,” _Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Wider_Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Wider_Bridge). [^2]: “Ed Murray (Washington politician),” _Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Murray_(Washington_politician)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Murray_\(Washington_politician\)). [^3]: Nora Barrows-Friedman, “Israel’s First Trans Officer Helps With Ethnic Cleansing,” _Electronic Intifada_, April 12, 2017, [https://electronicintifada.net/content/israels-first-trans-officer-helps-ethnic-cleansing/20171](https://electronicintifada.net/content/israels-first-trans-officer-helps-ethnic-cleansing/20171). [^4]: Wendy Elisheva Somerson, _“Queering Palestinian Solidarity Work,”_ _Tikkun_ 28, no. 3 (August 1, 2013): 58–61, [https://read.dukeupress.edu/tikkun/article/28/3/58/91582/Queering-Palestinian-Solidarity-Work](https://read.dukeupress.edu/tikkun/article/28/3/58/91582/Queering-Palestinian-Solidarity-Work). [^5]: Home page, _A Wider Bridge_, [https://awiderbridge.org/](https://awiderbridge.org/). [^6]: “World Jewish Congress and A Wider Bridge Lead Discussion Against BDS Move to Exclude Zionists From LGBTQ Discourse,” _World Jewish Congress_, October 30, 2017, [https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/wjc-leads-discussion-on-combating-bds-move-to-exclude-zionists-from-lgbtq-discourse-10-1-2017](https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/wjc-leads-discussion-on-combating-bds-move-to-exclude-zionists-from-lgbtq-discourse-10-1-2017). [^7]: Donald Padgett, “Just in Time for Pride – The 15 Gayest Cities in the World in 2023,” _OutTraveler_, April 12, 2023, [https://www.outtraveler.com/travel-tips/travel-worlds-gayest-cities](https://www.outtraveler.com/travel-tips/travel-worlds-gayest-cities). *I regret having to find a source for this.* [^8]: “Evan Wolfson,” _A Wider Bridge_, [https://awiderbridge.org/evan-wolfson](https://awiderbridge.org/evan-wolfson). [^9]: “Evan Wolfson,” _Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Wolfson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Wolfson). [^10]: “Missions,” _A Wider Bridge_, [https://awiderbridge.org/missions/](https://awiderbridge.org/missions/). [^11]: “Impact Grants,” _A Wider Bridge_, [https://awiderbridge.org/impact-grants/](https://awiderbridge.org/impact-grants/). [^12]: Asaf Elia-Shalev, “A Wider Bridge, a pro-Israel advocate in LGBTQ spaces, is shutting down,” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, December 19, 2025, [https://www.jta.org/2025/12/19/united-states/a-wider-bridge-a-pro-israel-advocate-in-lgbtq-spaces-is-shutting-down](https://www.jta.org/2025/12/19/united-states/a-wider-bridge-a-pro-israel-advocate-in-lgbtq-spaces-is-shutting-down). [^13]: Ben Sales, “LGBT Jews Say It’s Increasingly Difficult to Be Pro-Israel and Queer,” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, June 27, 2017, [https://www.jta.org/2017/06/27/united-states/lgbt-jews-say-its-increasingly-difficult-to-be-pro-israel-and-queer](https://www.jta.org/2017/06/27/united-states/lgbt-jews-say-its-increasingly-difficult-to-be-pro-israel-and-queer). [^14]: Bari Weiss, “Opinion: I’m Glad the Dyke March Banned Jewish Stars,” _The New York Times_, June 27, 2017, [https://web.archive.org/web/20251119143814/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/opinion/im-glad-the-dyke-march-banned-jewish-stars.html](https://web.archive.org/web/20251119143814/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/opinion/im-glad-the-dyke-march-banned-jewish-stars.html). [^15]: Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. “U.S. Jewish Organizations’ Letter to House of Representatives Opposing Anti-Transgender Sports Ban.” _RAC.org_, April 17, 2023. [https://www.rac.org/press-room/us-jewish-organizations-letter-house-representatives-opposing-anti-transgender-sports](https://www.rac.org/press-room/us-jewish-organizations-letter-house-representatives-opposing-anti-transgender-sports). [^16]: “Over 600 Jewish Organisations in the US Say: Black Lives Matter,” _Jewish Voice for Labour_, September 5, 2020, [https://jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/article/over-600-jewish-organisations-in-the-us-say-black-lives-matter/](https://jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/article/over-600-jewish-organisations-in-the-us-say-black-lives-matter/). [^17]: Stephanie Skora, “A Wider Bridge: the ‘gay rights’ group funded by homophobes,” _The Electronic Intifada_, February 25, 2019, [https://electronicintifada.net/content/wider-bridge-gay-rights-group-funded-homophobes/26726](https://electronicintifada.net/content/wider-bridge-gay-rights-group-funded-homophobes/26726). [^18]: “Tyler Gregory,” _Jewish Public Affairs_, [https://jewishpublicaffairs.org/team/tyler-gregory/](https://jewishpublicaffairs.org/team/tyler-gregory/\). [^19]: Jews of NY, “Alan Schwartz, CEO and Board Chair of ‘A Wider Bridge,’” _Jews of NY_, June 22, 2020, [https://www.jews-of-ny.com/post/alan-schwartz-ceo-and-board-chair-of-a-wider-bridge](https://www.jews-of-ny.com/post/alan-schwartz-ceo-and-board-chair-of-a-wider-bridge). [^20]: _A Wider Bridge_, “Meet our new leadership,” A Wider Bridge, [https://awiderbridge.org/meet-our-new-leadership/](https://awiderbridge.org/meet-our-new-leadership/). [^21]: _A Wider Bridge – Nonprofit Explorer_, ProPublica, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/452643886](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/452643886). [^22]: A Wider Bridge, _2023 Annual Report_, pp. 16, [https://awiderbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2023-Annual-Report-FINAL.pdf](https://awiderbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2023-Annual-Report-FINAL.pdf). [^23]: A Wider Bridge, _2022 Annual Report_, pp. 17, [https://awiderbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-Annual-Report-V12-2.pdf](https://awiderbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-Annual-Report-V12-2.pdf). [^24]: A Wider Bridge, _2024 Annual Report_, pp. 11 [https://awiderbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-AWB-Annual-Report_Final.pdf](https://awiderbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-AWB-Annual-Report_Final.pdf). [^25]: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, _One8 Foundation — Full Filing (202533089349100108)_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46836735/202533089349100108/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46836735/202533089349100108/full). *AWB is the first listing under part XIV beginning on page 11.*