Kamoha

Kamoha, whose Hebrew name כמוך is commonly translated as “like you,” is an Israeli organization for Orthodox Jewish homosexuals. Its principal audience is the Religious Zionist community, although the organization is also open to people from the Haredi sector. The organization emerged from a split with Havruta, another organization associated with religious Jewish gay men, and developed a more conservative public and religious approach than Havruta. Kamoha’s stated outlook is shaped by an attempt to reconcile Orthodox Jewish religious practice with same-sex attraction. Its publicly described positions include support for conversion therapy and for marriage between gay men and lesbians. The organization has said that some gay men may develop opposite-sex attraction through such treatment and might consequently pursue what it describes as a fulfilling heterosexual lifestyle. At the same time, its reported position acknowledges that these interventions do not guarantee success and cannot provide a sufficient answer for every gay man. The organization has also supported Anachnu, a matchmaking initiative intended to connect Orthodox gay men and lesbians. The initiative is associated with Rabbi Areleh Harel, a former head of the yeshiva at Yeshivat Hesder Shilo, who promoted the matchmaking effort together with Kamoha. Critics have argued that such arrangements may produce unhealthy relationships or conceal the continuing existence of LGBT people within religious society. These criticisms have been voiced by Bat-Kol, an Orthodox lesbian organization, and by Havruta. Rabbi Harel Aviner has also been cited in connection with criticism of the approach. Kamoha formally opposes participation in pride parades. Its reported rationale is that a sexual orientation involving numerous halachic questions should not be treated as something for which people are specifically expected to feel pride. Kamoha and Hod criticized Havruta’s participation in the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem pride events, making the organizations’ differing approaches to visibility and public advocacy particularly apparent. Kamoha states that it maintains contact with Orthodox rabbis. Publicly identified supporters have included Rabbi Menachem Borshtin, head of the Puah Institute; Rabbi Yuval Sherlo, head of the yeshiva at Yeshivat Hesder Petah Tikva; and Rabbi Yechiel Paust, a former head of the yeshiva at Yeshivat Moreshet Yaakov. Because publicly available reference material provides limited information about the organization’s legal structure, finances, staffing, membership, and current activities, Kamoha is best understood as a religiously oriented Israeli community organization rather than a conventional consumer brand.

Kamoha is an Israeli organization created for Orthodox Jewish homosexuals. The organization’s Hebrew name, כמוך, can be rendered in English as “like you.” It is primarily associated with the Religious Zionist community, while also presenting itself as open to people from the Haredi sector. Kamoha developed after separating from Havruta. The split reflected a difference in organizational orientation: Kamoha adopted a more conservative approach to homosexuality, religious life, public visibility, and possible family structures. Rather than emphasizing LGBT identity and public participation, it framed its work around the possibility of maintaining Orthodox religious commitments while addressing same-sex attraction through religiously acceptable means. A central and controversial part of Kamoha’s reported position is its support for conversion therapy. The organization has offered or promoted subsidies intended to help finance such treatment and has stated that some gay men may develop opposite-sex attraction and live a fulfilling heterosexual life. Its position has also been described as acknowledging that treatment cannot guarantee a result and cannot serve as a universal solution. The subject has attracted criticism because conversion therapy is widely disputed and is rejected by many professional and LGBT organizations. Kamoha has supported Anachnu, a matchmaking project for Orthodox gay men and lesbians. The initiative is linked to Rabbi Areleh Harel, a former head of the yeshiva at Yeshivat Hesder Shilo, who promoted it in cooperation with the organization. The concept has been described as a route through which Orthodox men and women could form marriages while accommodating the participants’ same-sex attractions. Bat-Kol, an Orthodox lesbian organization, and Havruta criticized the initiative, arguing that it could lead to unhealthy relationships or function as a way of concealing LGBT existence within Orthodox society. Rabbi Harel Aviner has been cited as supporting criticism of this approach. The organization’s public stance on pride differs sharply from that of more visibility-oriented LGBT groups. Kamoha formally opposes participation in pride parades, arguing that an orientation associated with numerous halachic questions should not itself be treated as a source of pride. Kamoha and Hod objected to Havruta’s participation in pride events in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, illustrating a broader disagreement among Israeli religious LGBT organizations about public identity, communal advocacy, and the relationship between religious law and LGBT politics. Kamoha has stated that it is in contact with Orthodox rabbis and has received public support from several religious figures. Those identified in reference material include Rabbi Menachem Borshtin of the Puah Institute, Rabbi Yuval Sherlo of Yeshivat Hesder Petah Tikva, and Rabbi Yechiel Paust, formerly of Yeshivat Moreshet Yaakov. The available reference material does not establish Kamoha’s founding date, formal legal status, current leadership, membership size, budget, or present program activity. Its contemporary status and operations therefore require further verification from the organization’s own publications or authoritative Israeli records.

• Kamoha separates from Havruta

  [1]Kamohaen.wikipedia.org

  Kamoha emerges as a distinct organization after splitting from Havruta and adopts a more conservative approach to Orthodox Jewish homosexuality.

• Kamoha supports Anachnu

  [1]Kamohaen.wikipedia.org

  The organization supports Anachnu, a matchmaking initiative connecting Orthodox gay men and lesbians.

• Kamoha opposes pride participation

  [1]Kamohaen.wikipedia.org

  Kamoha publicly rejects participation in pride parades and criticizes Havruta’s involvement in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem pride events.

A conservative Orthodox Jewish organization seeking to address homosexuality within a religious framework, with an emphasis on religious conformity, heterosexual marriage options, opposition to pride participation, and controversial support for conversion therapy.

• Community organization

  Community and religious support

  Kamoha’s primary offering is organizational and religious support for Orthodox Jewish homosexuals, especially within the Religious Zionist community and, more broadly, among some Haredi participants. Public reference material does not provide a detailed catalogue of counseling, events, educational programs, or membership services.

• Matchmaking initiative

  Anachnu

  Anachnu is a matchmaking initiative supported by Kamoha and associated with Rabbi Areleh Harel. It seeks to pair Orthodox gay men with Orthodox lesbians. The initiative is presented as a possible framework for participants seeking marriage while remaining within Orthodox religious society, but it has been criticized by other Orthodox LGBT organizations.

• Religious and behavioral intervention

  Conversion-therapy assistance

  Kamoha has been described as promoting conversion therapy and offering subsidies to help finance it. The organization’s reported position is that some men may develop opposite-sex attraction, while also stating that success is not assured and that the approach cannot meet everyone’s needs.

• Anachnu

  Israel

  A matchmaking initiative supported by Kamoha and promoted with Rabbi Areleh Harel, pairing Orthodox gay men and lesbians.

  Outcome. The initiative became a focus of criticism from Bat-Kol and Havruta, which questioned its effects on relationships and LGBT visibility.

  Source

• Adoption of a conservative organizational approachStrategy

  Background

  After separating from Havruta, Kamoha positioned itself around a more conservative interpretation of the needs of Orthodox Jewish homosexuals.

  Action taken

  It emphasized conversion-therapy support, heterosexual marriage possibilities, religious engagement, and opposition to pride participation.

  Aftermath

  The approach distinguished Kamoha from more LGBT-affirming or visibility-focused organizations and generated criticism from other Orthodox LGBT groups.

  • Havruta — Havruta criticized the Anachnu matchmaking model and opposed the concealment of LGBT existence that it believed the model could encourage.
  • Bat-Kol — Bat-Kol criticized the pairing of gay men and lesbians as potentially leading to unhealthy relationships.

  Source

• Opposition to pride participationStrategy

  Background

  Kamoha takes a religiously conservative view of sexual orientation and public LGBT identity.

  Action taken

  The organization formally opposed participation in pride parades and criticized Havruta’s participation in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem pride events.

  Aftermath

  The position reinforced Kamoha’s distinction from organizations that prioritize public LGBT visibility and pride advocacy.

  Source

1. 1Kamohaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Kamoha official websitekamoha.org.il