Meet Merim Kostynska, Project Kesher Israel LGBTQ Group Coordinator in Haifa

A year ago, Project Kesher Israel (PKI) appointed Merim Kostynska as coordinator of a new Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking LGBTQ group in Haifa, tapping into her combination of professional skills and personal dedication to the LGBTQ community as well as a larger commitment to addressing social inequality and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Born and raised in Ukraine, Merim made aliyah in 2014 at the age of 20. She served in the IDF and later attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 2018, she began working as a chancellor (madricha) in Jewish Agency summer camps, building connections with young people and fostering meaningful experiences. A year ago, she relocated from Jerusalem to Haifa, home to a vibrant Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ community, including many recent immigrants. Over the past year, Merim organized numerous LGBTQ group activities as a PKI coordinator, including social gatherings, study trips, and educational workshops, helping create a safe and inclusive environment.

Merim feels overjoyed that thanks to Project Kesher Israel, group members are able to meet with professionals such as doctors, psychotherapists, social workers, rabbis and prominent LGBTQ+ public figures. These meetings have had a profound impact, empowering the group to learn about equal rights access in so many fields. It is fostering stronger bonds within the group as well as helping participants to adjust to their new life in Israel. 

It makes Merim happy to see how the group members offer mutual help, organize their own gatherings, and actively contribute to a vibrant communal life. For Merim, the PKI LGBTQ support group is not only a job but also a personal call to empower and support individuals who, like her, are navigating the complexities of identity, integration and belonging.