French President’s Chef Teaches Gay Arabs and Israelis Rejected by Families How to Cook
February 5, 2018
The head chef of the French presidential palace was in Israel on Feb. 5, 2018 to teach Jewish and Arab gay people rejected by their families how to cook for themselves.
A dozen excited young people were on hand at the French ambassador's residence in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, waiting timidly for Guillaume Gomez's instructions.
 |
| Guillaume Gomez, head chef at France's Elysee palace, answers questions during a cooking class for teenage members of an Israeli NGO that supports LGBT rights, at the French embassador's residence in Tel Aviv on February 5, 2018 AFP / THOMAS COEX Posted with permission from AFP |
One of those listening intently was a young man from an ultra-Orthodox family who has had no contact with them since he announced his homosexuality at the age of 16.
"Meeting this chef is an extraordinary experience," said the young man who asked to be named only as "O".
O lives at Beit Dror, an organisation which supports gay people in Israel, while attending cooking classes at a school in the centre of the country.
Gomez taught the young people to make cannelloni spinach gratin and apple pie.
"What a chance to cook alongside a chef of this level," said O, who speaks French and thus helped others in the class to understand Gomez's instructions.
Gomez is taking part for the sixth year in a row in the "So French, So Food" festival in Israel, which brings around 20 prominent French chefs to work with Israeli counterparts.
"Every year I support a charitable cause and put my name at the service of an organisation," Gomez said.
He was the youngest person to win the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France award for chefs in 2004, when he was just 25.
"It's good for them to participate in this workshop. This moment of happiness for these young people is not insignificant," said Yael Doron, director of Beit Dror.
Beit Dror has 14 beds for young people rejected by their families who are homeless and sometimes even forced into prostitution, Doron said.
Most come from religious Jewish or Muslim families.
"Beit Dror saved my life," said an 18-year-old referred to as "L" and wearing ripped jeans and a black T-shirt.
His father is Muslim and his mother Christian and he said he was a victim of physical violence during his adolescence.
"I don't believe in religion any more; I believe in myself now," he said.
Link to Beit Dror: http://bethdror.org/english
About Beit Dror
"Dror" (Freedom) – the first therapeutic emergency center for GLBT youth in Israel
"Dror" is a unique center for
gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender adolescents who have been
rejected and alienated because of their sexual orientation.
The center is one of the unique solutions of the "Hassut HaNo’ar"
authority of the Ministry of Labor and Welfare, in cooperation with
"Shahal", of the Tel-Aviv-Jaffa Municipality."Dror" is a temporary shelter providing basic home conditions for nine adolescents (male or female), for a period of no longer than six months. Besides offering a safe home, a warm bed and meals, it also provides psychological and moral/social support, direction in finding future longer-term solutions, as well as enrichment and educational activities. Crisis intervention and counseling are provided in a safe and welcoming environment by a professional, approachable and supportive team.
Source: http://www.towleroad.com/2018/02/guillaume-gomez/
No comments:
Post a Comment