For Liana Meirom Asif, The Jewish Agency’s Director of Shlichut (Israeli emissary service) at UJA-Federation of New York, being a Shlichah (Israeli emissary) was not a given thing; but now that she is, she’s relishing the opportunity to build bridges and use her Israeli and LGBT identities to make connections.
In Israel, Liana lived in a Kibbutz near the Dead Sea with her wife and son. For many years, and until she took her current position with The Jewish Agency, she worked for the Israeli nonprofit Israel Gay Youth (IGY), which aims to empower LGBT youth while educating society and fighting for change.
“Through my work with IGY, I got to know Jewish communities in the U.S., and specifically in New York. And that got me to start thinking about doing Shlichut,” shared Liana. “I felt really strongly about helping make connections between American Jewry and Israel and building bridges. And since getting to New York, the Jewish community has been so welcoming. My son through his school is getting entrenched in Judaism in a way he never would in Israel and my wife is teaching Hebrew in a day school… We are gaining a lot here and giving a lot too.”
As the Director of Shlichut in New York, Liana’s typical day varies, depending on what’s happening in Israel and locally. She spends a lot of time on the ground with the Shlichim (Israel emissaries) she oversees so she can understand how best to support them and their activities and helped organize many great and diverse events recently to celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary.
“We designed a beautiful photography exhibition for Israel’s 75th that is running all over New York, to show Israel from 7.5 different perspectives through the eyes of 13 Israeli and New York-based photographers; the half angle is meant to open a door for the connection between Israelis and the Jewish community in New York,” Liana explained. “Also, I and many of the Shlichim marched in the June 4 Celebrate Israel Parade in New York, which was such an amazing experience.”
Some other large important marches are happening throughout June: Pride Parades. While Liana holds that Tel Aviv’s Pride parade is the best, she enjoyed seeing the Brooklyn Pride parade go by her home on June 10, and looks forward to the New York Pride parade on June 25.
“During June, I’m going to speak in different communities about the LGBT community in Israel, using personal stories to make connections,” Liana said. “I really believe that Shlichut is what you make of it so the sky is the limit. I encourage the Shlichim to bring their diverse perspectives and unique experiences into their Shlichut, as I do as a secular Israeli Jew who is a member of the LGBT community, to better emphasize the complexities of Israel.”
“But before the Shlichim say or do anything in their roles, they listen and care about what the community has to say – and from listening, they can better serve the community and its needs, whatever they may be,” added Liana. “They take seriously the responsibility of being living bridges to Israel and put their whole selves into helping build relationships with Israelis and the Jewish State.”
