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My Big Gay Jewish Conversion

Following Simon Atkins, a gay Catholic man, as he considers converting to Judaism. He travels to Israel to experience views in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, before making a decision.

Is Israel really the best place in the world to be gay? And is Judaism the one mainstream religion that accepts homosexuality? Meet Simon, a gay Catholic man from the west of Ireland on a quest to find out.

Simon has never truly felt accepted by his own church, a problem that Matthew, his Jewish boyfriend from north London, has not had to face. Simon begins to wonder if the grass may be greener, and considers converting.

He starts with a trip to the local rabbi where they chat, among other things, about getting 'snipped', but Simon is itching to get to Judaism's homeland: Israel. He hops on a plane and first hits the streets of Tel Aviv, 'the gayest city on Earth', where he meets gay people from all walks of life, including gay soldiers in the IDF. Then he heads to Jerusalem, but the story here is very different. Extreme views towards homosexuality are rife and Simon encounters this in uncomfortably close proximity.

Then, it's crunch time. Faced with the facts, will Simon jump ship and become Jewish?

47 minutes

Last on

Wed 10 Apr 2019 00:05
±«Óãtv One Scotland & Scotland HD only

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:04

    Foxes

    Let Go For Tonight

  • 00:09

    Eliza Doolittle

    Waste Of Time

  • 00:12

    Klingande

    Losing U (feat. Daylight)

  • 00:12

    Jessie Ware

    Say You Love Me

  • 00:16

    CHVRCHES

    Leave A Trace

  • 00:19

    Eliza and the Bear

    It Gets Cold

  • 00:21

    Tourist

    Too Late

  • 00:22

    Jessie Ware

    Night Light

  • 00:27

    CHVRCHES

    You Caught The Light

  • 00:30

    Jamie Woon

    Shoulda

  • 00:32

    London Grammar

    Hey Now

  • 00:36

    HOLYCHILD

    Money All Around

  • 00:43

    ¸éö²â°ì²õ´Ç±è±è & Robyn

    Monument

Credits

Presenter Simon Atkins
Participant Matthew Waksman
Executive Producer Geoffrey Goodwin
Executive Producer Wendy Robbins
Producer Roeland Doust
Director Roeland Doust
Production Company 40 Partners

Broadcasts

  • Wed 9 Aug 2017 22:45
    ±«Óãtv One except Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD
  • Wed 9 Aug 2017 23:20
    ±«Óãtv One Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD only
  • Tue 9 Apr 2019 23:05
    ±«Óãtv One except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Scotland & Scotland HD
  • Tue 9 Apr 2019 23:40
    ±«Óãtv One Northern Ireland HD & Northern Ireland only
  • Wed 10 Apr 2019 00:05
    ±«Óãtv One Scotland & Scotland HD only

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