Will there ever be a time where Jews and Arab Muslims will work together in harmony for the same goal? In light of the avowed hatred Muslim Clerics have been preaching aginst Jews since the advent of Modern Zionism, it would seem highly unlikely. And, frankly, the very thought of it turns my stomach. How could we? Muslim Religious leaders are almost single handedly responsible for all the suicide bombings. It is they who preach Jihad and martyrdom in the madrosses and mosques. It is they who use publications like “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” as historical textbooks.
But that is precisely what is happening. Not only is it Jews who are working with Muslims it is Charedi Rabbanim.
As repugnant as the idea seems, I find it interesting that there can be any common ground between these two groups. But of course if one really thinks about it, there is a lot of common ground. The two religions share a great deal of religious values. One of those values is the Issur of performing homosexual acts. And this is the area that has drawn Charedi Rabbanim and Muslim clerics together.
On November 10th of this year, the World Pride Gay Parade is scheduled to take place in Jerusalem.
This event is an abomination. It should be protested. All efforts must be made to prevent it from taking place. And there is no better time for a joint effort between Muslims and Jews to join forces. Who knows? Maybe this can lead to something… like a better understanding of each other and acceptance and tolerance. Maybe Muslim clerics will see that the dangers posed to them by secular-humanist agendas are greater than the dangers posed to them by Torah Judaism. Who really knows?... But what is most important at the moment is the prevention of this parade in the holy city of Jerusalem.
Most people who read this blog regularly know my position on homosexuality. Briefly stated, I am opposed to the sin and not the sinner. Furthermore I have great sympathy and understanding for those who have a physical attraction to the same sex. And I support their right tom live with dignity and respect. I do not judge their sexuality. I only judge their actions. Homosexuals who do not act on their inclinations are no different than heterosexuals who do not act on their own forbidden inclinations. It is not our job to follow our fellow human beings into the bedroom and see whether they follow the Torah’s laws on sexuality. That is between man and God. Certainly in our day we have no recourse to do anything about it even when it is witnessed and the perpetrators are properly warned. All that we can to do is live by the laws of the Torah. We are not required to hate a fellow human being because of his inclinations. In fact, that would be entirely Assur.
So why am I opposed to the gay parade? After all, isn’t the parade precisely about their wanting respect and to be able to live in dignity? Well… the answer to that is no. It isn’t.
This parade is not about being left alone to do what ever one will in the privacy of their own bedroom. It is about the desire to change the absolute values of the Torah. It is about changing the Torah’s clear characterization that homosexual acts are an abomination. The organizers of this parade do not want acceptance of the proclivity. They want acceptance of the act itself. This is why a Jerusalem location is so important to them. They know frm where the religious objections stem. They stem from Torah MiTzion. And it is Tzion that they want to make their stand. They want the imprimatur of Yerushalyim Ir HaKodesh. And we must do everything we can to prevent it.
Not that they will ever get God’s imprimatur. God is very clear about homosexual acts in His Torah. And parading in His holy city won’t change that. But they know the symbolism of a massive, well organized and well attended parade there. It will be seen by them as a sort of biblical approval of their lifestyle. The thought of Jerusalem hosting the flamboyant “flaming” behavior this type of parade generates on the part of its participants is disgusting! The prospect of Jerusalem’s children inadvertently seeing these people “act out” in the streets of Jerusalem is nauseating. This must be fought with everything we have. We must not allow it to happen.
But what if it does? What if all of our best efforts are for naught and the parade takes place? What are our options then?
The one thing that is even worse than having this parade in Jerusalem is to create a Chilul HaShem in the process. It is one thing to try and prevent it by all legal means. And it is proper and right to protest it loudly and clearly if it can not be prevented. But it is not OK to do it violently. This cannot be emphasized enough. Last time a parade like this happened, blood flowed; people were stabbed. The the propensity for this to happen again is very great, it cannot be allowed to happen again. It is a clear Issur to injure anyone participating in the parade and it is a Chilul HaShem. And it will undermine any legitimate protest.
With all the exhortations by religious leaders about the abomination of a parade this taking place in the holy city of Jerusalem I do not believe enough has been said about peaceful protest. Yes, there should be demonstrations across the city. Speakers of all segments of Orthodoxy which should include those Muslim clerics who have joined us as well should take place on that day all over the city. But any violence should be completely rejected. And should it occur, it needs to be swiftly dealt with. It would be wise, in my view for the rabbinic leadership and the police to meet beforehand and organize a coordinated effort to deal with violent protesters effectively. Those who are violent on that day should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and the rabbinic leadership should be first in line to see that it happens.
The stakes are high. Kavod Shamayim demands a response. But it also demands that it be done in ways that will generate a Kiddush HaShem and not a Chilul HaShem.
