Fed up with hatred

Attempts to fan flames over Jerusalem pride parade doomed for failure
Yonatan Gher

The humiliating polls apparently prompted Arcadi Gaydamak and his advisors to resort to the old trick that Mayor Lupolianski has grown tired of a while ago – let's prevent the Gay Pride Parade. This is an issue that includes everything: Jerusalem's holiness to the three religions, tradition, stateliness, and most importantly – a common denominator of hatred.

Holy City

Gaydamak: I'd die before allowing pride parade in Jerusalem / Ronen Medzini

Israeli-Russian businessman explains homosexuals cannot march on streets of holy city. 'The streets of Jerusalem are a symbol, and parading on them is an aggressive act against tradition,' he says

Full Story

The problem is that this trick no longer has any effect on Jerusalem's residents, as we saw by the tranquility and respect that accompanied the pride and tolerance parade in 2008.

This trick no longer works because Jerusalem's residents know, as opposed to Gaydamak apparently, that Jerusalem's mayor does not have the legal authority to approve or prevent rallies in the city. Perhaps it would be good for Mr. Gaydamak to learn the relevant laws for the post he's competing for, after he finishes learning a few chapters about democracy.

This trick no longer works because Jerusalem residents are fed up with the kind of politics that fans the flames. They are fed up with the violence and incitement of politicians who draw their power from fear and hatred for others.

This trick no longer works because Jerusalem residents are familiar with the pride and tolerance parade in the capital, and they know that it is very different than what politicians of Lupolianski and Gaydamak's type try to portray it.

The pride parade in Jerusalem this year is called "Ahavat Chinam" (baseless love) to counter the "Sinat Chinam" (baseless hatred) that has been directed at the rally in the city in past years. Ahavat Chinam is not just a slogan, but rather, it's a worldview. Based on this worldview, in the months ahead of the parade a series of quiet meetings was held with Orthodox and national-religious leaders in order to promote the understanding for the parade.

This approach worked: The parade marched quietly and proudly, the protests remained a vague memory, and Jerusalem became holier because of the celebration of pluralism in its midst.

As noted, this is only a trick, and it won't work. Arcadi Gaydamak won't be Jerusalem's next mayor, and his recent declarations are the reason for it. Gaydamak apparently doesn't really know Jerusalem – neither its holiness, nor its uniqueness or its residents.

Jerusalem residents are fed up with the game of incitement, and in the upcoming elections will seek a responsible and dignified leadership that recognizes that Jerusalem is one of the world's most heterogenic cities. Yet if Mr. Gaydamak still insists on lying down on the ground and stopping the parade with his body, the same parade which the High Court ruled is "worthy of becoming a part of Jerusalem's routine" – well, we'll try not to step on him.

Yonatan Gher is the director of the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance