"Thought Parade" gathering
"Thought Parade" gatheringHezki Baruch

While the Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade marches on, a unique gathering, called the "Thought Parade," convened to discuss the appropriate religious perspective on the LGBT culture.

The evening meeting, held at the "Forum Kahelet" in Jerusalem, was joined by Rbabi Haim Navon, Rabbi Amichai Gordon, Rabbi Nir Manousi, and Yehuda Yifrah.

"We didn't find ourselves this week among the insults of public discourse," explained Rabbi Navon. "Not in the statements of 'perverts' or 'disgusting.' On the other hand, we didn't find ourselves in the statement...that you need to give a 'kashrut certification' to the agenda of the LGBT."

Rabbi Navon emphasized, "We are not here nor there. We are Jews, and we need to respect all people, yet on the other hand we have what to say from the Judaism perspective regarding family values, and how a family has to be. Because of this, we are here, and not at the gay pride parade."

Yehuda Yifrah, the legal advisor of the Makor Rishon newspaper, and one of the initiators of the gathering, said that, "precisely now, when the streets are closed due to the parade, we look with horror on the cannibalization of public discourse. On one side, they are saying 'perverts,' and on the other, anyone who doesn't lock step with the...LGBT message is known as a homophobe."

"We have come here to return the voice to the...majority, which believes that 'Beloved is man who is created in the image [of God],' and on the other hand believe that family values and public discourse are our obligation."

"Because of this, we are here today."

Rabbi Amichai Gordon, of the Har Etzion Yeshiva, emphasized, "We need a lot of sensitivity, gentleness, and balanced though, when we are talking about any person, and particularly about an individual who has an aspect which could divide him from society."

He continued, "Our huge love for each person must not smother our responsibility to God, and on the other hand our complete and utter devotion to God must not blind us from seeing every man, and the needs of men."