011 Tel Aviv Pride

May 8

Going back to the 1970’s, Tel Aviv, much like the rest of Israel, was deep in the closet. Homosexuality was in violation of the criminal code. Politicians were quoting biblical verses, claiming that being Jewish and being gay is an oxymoron. Society was completely unaware of transgenders, gays, lesbians, etc. barring one or two celebrities, which were considered “exotic” in the public eye. When the first Pride events were held in America and in Europe, it seemed unimaginable that Tel Aviv would one day host such an event.

Indeed, it took years for the Israeli psyche to mature into the simple realization that love is love. The first rally for gay rights was held in 1979 in front of the Tel Aviv City Hall and it was not well received. Only in the late 1980’s was the law changed so that homosexuality was finally decriminalized. The 1990’s saw the first major Pride events in Israel - all of which were happening in Tel Aviv - and starting in the year 2007 the Pride Parade was officially funded by the local government. Since then, the parade grew to be the largest LGBTQ+ event in the Middle East, even in all of continental Asia, with as many as a quarter of a million people participants.

Picture this: The famous beachfront promenade of Tel Aviv - stretching along the Mediterranean coastline - transformed into a sea of rainbow colors with hundreds of thousands of participants marching under the sun. Dress code is minimal, with many coming in bathing suits, showing as much skin as possible and sometimes even more. For many Israelis who come to the parade from places all across Israel, to approximate nudity is perceived as a liberating act. For the visitors from abroad, reaching tens of thousands, Tel Aviv Pride stands out - perhaps because it’s so unusual to have an openly gay culture in what seems to be a conservative country.

As the city released the official date for Tel Aviv Pride 2025, Pride enthusiasts worldwide can now mark Friday, June 13th, and make plans accordingly. It’s amazing to think how a local gathering turned into an international event, an integral part of what makes Tel Aviv Aviv into a global LGBTQ+ destination on one hand and such a warm atmosphere for the LGBTQ+ community year round. This isn't just another Pride parade - it's a cornerstone of Tel Aviv's identity as a progressive enclave in the region.

I was thinking about this turn of events as I was crossing Gan Meir, or Meir Park, where the Pride Parade is set to start. In the park one can see the LGBTQ+ community center - one of its kind in Israel. It was recently renovated and turned into a beautiful four-storey cultural arena, meeting point and safe haven for many Tel Avivians. Right in front of the coffee place that operates on the ground floor is a pink triangle-shaped monument dedicated to those who were persecuted by the Nazis because of their sexual orientation during World War II. It’s one of a few monuments of its kind in the world and the only monument in Israel dedicated to victims of the Nazis who were persecuted for a reason other than being Jewish. Tel Aviv sure has come a long way since the days that homosexuality was considered illegal in Israel, now anticipating one of the largest gatherings seen in Israel - the 2025 edition of Tel Aviv Pride.

My name is Tomer Chelouche and I've been guiding tours in Tel Aviv since 2008. I started out of fascination with my family history - the Chelouche family was one of the founding families of Tel Aviv. My ancestors built this city - and I'm telling its story.

The best way to get to know Tel Aviv better is by purchasing one of my audio tours. Here's one way to do just that -

The O Pod Hotel, situated right on the Tel Aviv Promenade, is one of the first hotels to answer the challenges of the city’s evolution into a tourism magnet, attracting a wide range of tourists, including digital nomads and backpackers on a strict budget. The unique capsule accommodation concept was copied from Japan to offer each and every one the ability to visit Tel Aviv. The sleeping pods are equipped with no more than a mattress, a reading lamp and electric outlets, while everything else is shared - the storage space, the toilets and the showers. Communal spaces, for work or for relaxation, offer wireless internet access and the atmosphere gives you the opportunity to mingle with like-minded guests.

Its prime location overlooking Old Jaffa is just steps away from the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the beautiful Neve TZedek neighbourhood on the other. Make your way to the Suzanne Dellal Centre for the Performing Arts to start my audio tour of Neve TZedek. This one offers you a glimpse into the past, as the neighbourhood was founded in 1887 as the first Jewish settlement outside the walls of Jaffa. Its success later laid the ground for the establishment of Tel Aviv.

During this audio tour I’ll also share with you my family story - coming all the way from Northern Africa in the 1840’s and settling in the Land of Israel. My Great-great-great-grandfather, Aron Chelouche, was one of the founders of Neve TZedek and his sons later took part in the establishment of Tel Aviv. Unfortunately, my ancestors left me with no real estate in the city, but I’m still happy to share their story as I find it amazing - starting something completely new in the sand dunes, which later became a vibrant metropolitan area, home to millions of Israelis today!

As you conclude the tour you’ll also have the opportunity to stroll along Shabazi Street - that’s the main street of Galleries, shops, cafes and restaurants in Neve TZedek - as you head back to the O Pod Hotel.

You can make sure you've downloaded my Neve TZedek audio tour before you head out, or you can download it on the go if you're set with a data package allowing for uninterrupted internet access. There's a link in the show notes to purchase my audio tour -

Picturesque Neve Tzedek: A Tour around Israel’s Petit Paris

If you have any questions - you’ll find all the ways to contact me on telaviv.tours (telaviv as one word, no space, no hyphen) and there’s a link in the show notes for your digital convenience.

Following up on the previous episode, after recommending you download the Gett app for taxi rides, Moovit for bus rides, Wolt for food deliveries and the Tel Aviv Beaches app for renting beach furniture, I want to continue the list of apps you should download in preparation for your visit to Tel Aviv. Check the show notes for links to easily get the apps I mention either from Apple’s App Store or Google Play for Android.

1) VoiceMap - When I started to ponder the idea of creating audio tours in Tel Aviv, I did some research and eventually came across VoiceMap. It was beyond my expectations and I was amazed by the fact that it had no audio tours available in Israel, let alone Tel Aviv. It was 2018 when I first created an audio tour and I was very proud to be the first to put my hometown on VoiceMap. With six audio tours now in Tel Aviv and one in Jerusalem, having hundreds of people experiencing my audio tours, I am delighted to recommend VoiceMap for people coming to visit. I use it on my trips abroad and enjoy being guided by knowledgeable storytellers at my own pace.

The narration is triggered by GPS as you walk, so you don’t have to constantly look at a map. The voiceover plays automatically as you advance from one stop to the next. When following an audio tour, you’re free to do so on your own schedule, you don’t need to join a group or book a personal guide. Flexibility goes to the max, with you being able to start, pause and continue whenever you want. You can get all of my audio tours on VoiceMap and enjoy a better understanding of Tel Aviv’s history, architecture and culture.

2) Bit - The Israeli monetary system is based on the Israeli Shekel. The name of the coin is taken from biblical stories and archaeologists found coins of the Israeli Shekel that were used in the Jewish kingdom almost two thousand years ago. The advanced banking system in Israel is highly regulated and perhaps this is one of the reasons you don’t see international banks operating in Israel, nor do Israelis use apps such as Venmo, Wise or Paypal. Bit is the Israeli app most used for financial transactions.

This app might prove useful in situations such as paying at the Carmel Market or Jaffa’s Flea Market when the vendor might not have the ability to accept card payment. Much like apps with which you’re probably familiar, you insert your credit card details and then you can send money by putting in a phone number, providing you a way to make cashless payments.

3) Metrofun - with its mostly flat terrain and mostly bike-friendly weather, Tel Aviv is a great place to use bicycles to get around town. The rapidly growing bike infrastructure is complemented with an extensive bike-sharing scheme. I remember starting to use these city-owned bicycles back in 2011, but I’m sure none of them lasted since then. The bicycles are well-kept, frequently replaced, and in recent years some of them were upgraded with an electric engine. This is extra useful for long distances or when you don’t want to put in too much effort so as not to sweat too much, or when trying to break a record getting all the way from Old Jaffa to Tel Aviv’s city center in what feels like the speed of light.

The service has stations throughout the city, making it convenient to take a bicycle, electric or not, and return it wherever you want. The app shows available bikes and docking stations in real-time and the price is quite affordable. Metrofun also offers various rental options, including a daily pass or a weekly pass, but before you purchase such a subscription I recommend to check if your accommodation can loan a bike free of charge - some hotels in Tel Aviv do offer that.

4) Autotel - Autotel is the car-sharing service operating in Tel Aviv. Unlike traditional car rentals, Autotel allows one-way trips, meaning you can pick up a vehicle in one location and drop it off at another within the service area. This means you can take a car one way, when in a hurry, and take a bus for the return, for example. The app shows available cars near your location and you can spot them in designated parking spots coloured with light green.

Autotel could prove useful if you need to get from the city center to Northern Tel Aviv - it’s quite distant for a bike ride, bus rides there could be time consuming and taxi rides are expensive. The service includes insurance coverage and offers some electric vehicle options if you’re trying to minimize your ecological footprint. Registration over the app isn’t very complicated and you’ll get the opportunity to experience driving in Israel - notorious as it is.

Apart from Autotel for cars and Metrofun for bicycles, which are subsidized and overseen by the local government, you can rent electric scooters such as Bird, Lime, Dott and others. Locals love to use these e-scooter schemes, which are privately owned and operated. To unlock a vehicle just scan the QR code and it will lead you to the relevant app. Be mindful that wearing a safety helmet while riding an electric scooter is mandatory, and you can be fined if you’re caught without one, so it’s best to rent a scooter that has a detachable helmet for you to use.

Thanks for listening and you’ll hear from me again when the next episode comes out next week.Until then - I am Tel Aviv tour guide Tomer Chelouche, signing off and hoping to see you soon in Tel Aviv.