Orthodox Jewish lesbians will have a new online home

American Sarah Weil, 20, emigrated to Israel and threw herself into studying Jewish law through the lens of strict chasidic rebbetzins in Jerusalem. Ms. Weil wants to keep the Torah and mitzvot and live in the Orthodox world. Yet, she is gay and that practice is considered an "abomination" in the eyes of many in the Orthodox community.

However, with the assistance of another "American olah," Talya Levy, as well as a grant from a major Jewish contributor, Weil is readying to launch an English version of the Bat Kol website. Bat Kol ("Daughter of a Voice") lobbies for gay rights in the Jewish world. For religious lesbians, Weil characterized the new site as a "life-net," which is a cross between a lifeline and a safety net.

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