Israel Anglo Singles To Meet Dating Partners At Sex Festival

By Carole Fradette
Israel News Agency

Jerusalem, Israel ----- January 30, 2008 ....... Israel Anglo Singles, the largest group of Anglo singles living, working and dating in Israel has announced that they will be attending Sextival, a three day sex festival in Tel Aviv.

Sextival will be the first ever sex festival launched in Israel. The three day event will be held in Tel Aviv in February, and will showcase wild and exciting products, strip shows and health related presentations. Both domestic and foreign organizers of the sex festival promise that the event will cater to all tastes and fetishes.

"It appears that Israel is now entering the 22nd century," said Joel Leyden, an international media consultant, journalist and volunteer director of the Yahoo group Israel Anglo Singles. Israel Anglo Singles has over 1,000 Jewish secular and religious members spread throughout Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat and Hafia. These dating Anglos come from the US, England, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

"The Israel government has finally recognized that sex exists and is now using modern marketing methods using images of young and good looking men and women playing on the Tel Aviv beach to increase tourism. The method has worked, tourism has increased as good looks is far more attractive than 5,000 year old walls. Now Israel Jewish society, which is over 70 percent secular, is taking sex out of the closet and recognizing sex as a healthy and normal function. Israel is a free democracy. We can discuss such diverse issues without our lives being threatened as those who live in Syria, Iran or Saudi Arabia."

The Israel Sextival, will be held between February 5 - 7 at Hangar 11 in the Namal or Tel Aviv Port. The three-day sex awareness event promises to bring ordinary Israelis and gay lesbians closer to the wilder aspects of the commandment to procreate through strip shows, innovative sex toy exhibits and presentations on various fetishes including panties, stockings, scent and leather clothing.

The main coordinator behind Israel's first sex festival is not a sex therapist but rather former model Israel Nitzan Kirshenboim, a 32-year-old mother of two and an avid consumer of sex products and shows. Kirshenboim says she got the idea for the event after visiting a sex festival in Berlin.

"I'm actually a real nerd," said Kirshenboim. "I'm just the neighbor's daughter who decided to take the initiative and say, 'Guys, we all have sex, we all enjoy it. Why not get it out in the open? The idea is to get the issue of sex out in the open. It's out there in the world, it's big and beautiful and everyone does it. Why not take it out from behind closed doors, enable people to ask questions, and decrease the fear and darkness surrounding it? Erotica is an integral part of the life of an adult. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. We want to present sex to people in a way that they won't be ashamed, and they'll be able to freely check out what fits them best."

Kirshenboim is producing the festival in cooperation with several local organizations that specialize in sex, including Playboy Israel, the Ego cable TV channel and the Sex Style store chain. She even contacted legendary industry icon Playboy empire creator Hugh Hefner, who has agreed to host in his US Playboy mansion the lucky few who will win a raffle that will be held at the event.

"The Sextival will showcase the wildest things your imagination can come up with," says Kirshenboim. "You know, some people have a fetish for women with really-really big noses, and this will also be represented in the event. Even those into bondage will find very interesting stuff there. Among items on display and for sale will be sexual aids and accessories like lingerie, candles and oils, items that help create an atmosphere," says Kirshenbaum.

"In comparison to those living in Europe, I think that Israel society is relatively closed when it comes to sex. In Europe, the issue is out in the open, there are expos like this all the time, and sex isn't hidden behind unmarked doors," she said.

Vendors will also be selling adult DVDs, there will be displays of erotic photographs and drawings and professional workshops focusing on improving sex life will be conducted.

"AIDS is still a reality. If people can learn to enhance their sex lives with professional, safe advice from sex health experts, the fun use of sex toys, safe drugs such as Viagra and Cialis and other material offered at the Sextival, perhaps Israel will become a more relaxed nation. Not every missile in Israel has to be pointed at Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and Syria."

"The most important element which will come out of the event will be a healthy and realistic respect for our bodies," says Leyden. "Sex education is limited in Israel schools. Many religious institutions totally ignore the subject all together, as many religious men have unprotected sex with prostitutes. AIDS is still a reality. If people can learn to enhance their sex lives with professional, safe advice from sex health experts, the fun use of sex toys, safe drugs such as Viagra and Cialis and other material offered at the Sextival, perhaps Israel will become a more relaxed nation. Not every missile in Israel has to be pointed at Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and Syria."

Leyden concludes: "It is estimated that over 10,000 people will attend the three day sex festival in Tel Aviv. Many will find an excuse for their employers and call in sick for the day. But seriously, if people use the free condoms which will be handed out at the sex festival while dating, it could truly save lives and lower STD."

According to Israel Health Ministry figures, 341 people in Israel were diagnosed as HIV positive in 2004, among them 96 newborns who contracted the virus from their mothers during pregnancy.

The total number of AIDS sufferers in Israel is around 4,300. While health officials in Israel say most are gay men or intravenous drug users, the incidence of AIDS also is on the rise among heterosexuals, especially teenagers. Although it is not law, the majority of prostitutes, call girls, high class escorts and transsexuals in Israel use condoms as they receive free condoms and professional personal sexual hygiene and safe sex advice by local authorities.