Jerusalem is hot property! Have you ever noticed that everyone wants a bite? The Romans wanted Jerusalem, not to mention the Babylonians, Greeks and Crusaders. Let's not forget the 325 million Arabs, in 23 countries, who'd drown us in the sea to get it. And if you read the papers, then you know that for the past few years another visible group has also been lusting after Jerusalem.


As if it were the Olympics Committee, when Jerusalem was chosen by the international homosexual community for their "Gay Pride Parade," the battle for the holy city was on. It has been raging for five years.


It has been an ordeal for Jerusalemites who find themselves guardians of family values and the holiness of their beloved city. These simple folk see the issue of sexual preference as to be confined modestly behind the doors of one's own home.


It has been an ordeal for Jerusalemites...



These novice defenders of Jerusalem faced the slick international propaganda machine of media and entertainment, which has convinced the majority of the Western world that to oppose homosexuality, by conforming to the ancient Biblical probation of sodomy as an abomination, is to be declared "sick," with a pathology all one's own: homophobia.


For years the Orwellian rainbow PR and marketing new-speakers even used their skills to usurp the ownership of a perfectly parve word like ‘gay.' Belonging to all people and meaning "happy" and "cheerful," "gay" has become the politically correct moniker of the homosexual population. (It's similar to the leftists appropriating "peace," as in "Peace Now." As if the rest of us want war?) Like Lucille Ball said in a famous sketch, "little by little, step by step...." Insidious and subtle, before we know it, we accept the unacceptable.


But combating gay pride parades in Jerusalem, or anywhere in Israel for that matter, is not a homophobic issue. Those who uphold family values would equally oppose a heterosexual Mardi Gras, were it to be held here. With dignity, Jerusalem wears the spiritual mantel for the world. Three major religions hold Jerusalem in awe. It is a city of people who walk with, and bend humbly to, their G-d. Jerusalem is not a venue for any type of pride parade.


For Jerusalemites, the city is more than a mere municipality. It is an undefined relationship with a spiritual space, on the ground and in the heart. They share their home base with G-d Himself, who chose to build His own house, the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) here.


Admittedly, it is only a stereotype that suggests homosexuals are especially sensitive people. So, perhaps it is unfair to question where their sensitivity is when insisting on barging into citizens' home base to display offensive behavior.


Noa Sattah, head of Jerusalem Open House, the sponsoring organization for the event, was asked why the parade had not been routed through the Muslim and Christian quarters of Jerusalem. "We don't want to offend them," she explained. Obviously, offending the Jewish population with an in-your-face exhibition is of no consequence to her homosexual and liberal supporters.


The city's earnest plan to protect the expected 5,000 homosexuals from the anticipated angry protesters was an unprecedented security force of 7,000 police, SWAT and Border Patrol officers - to the tune of $500,000.


Baruch Marzel, an anti-parade activist, registered for a permit to conduct his own parade - a march of animals. On the day before the gay parade, a variety of animals were assembled, ready to go, but police stepped in. It seemed that Marzellacked a necessary approval permit from the Agriculture Ministry.


The next day, with Marzel's recent experience of bureaucratic red tape fresh in mind, he created a last ditch tactic to halt the Gay Parade by filing a claim that, because of a current firefighters' strike and the resulting lack of fire department approval, the parade should not be held. Once again, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Parade, saying that water canons manned by police could be used in lieu of fire engines manned by firemen. However, that solution was impossible to institute within the grounds of Liberty Bell Park, where a gay party was planned at the conclusion of the Parade. The authorities were compelled to officially cancel the party.


From early Thursday morning, roads were not only closed in various areas in deference to the march, but, fearing huge protest gatherings, bus service from religious neighborhoods was cut off in an effort by authorities to restrict free movement among the religious. In the heat of summer, it was easy to spot the modest dress of the religious and bar their way, even by foot.


Nevertheless, 3,000 protesters amassed near the entrance of the city. A thousand more courageously lined the parade route with signs, knowing full well that these policemen were trained in the same tactics taught to those enforcing the expulsions of Gush Katif and Atzmona.


The contrast between the 2,000 gay paraders who actually participated and the protesters a mile away was made vivid by the IBA Channel One television news. It had a live split screen showing the revelers celebrating their sexual preferences while 3,000 spiritual Jews sat on the holy ground to cry, recite psalms, and pray for their city and people.


The beauty of the prayer rally was its inclusiveness of all types of Jews - Haredi black hatters, knitted-kippah Mizrachis, Mesoratiim, Breslovers, Chabadniks, and other

The beauty of the prayer rally was its inclusiveness.

Chassidic groups, joined by caring secular parents. It is inspiring the way those diverse groups listened intently to each other's leaders, rather than turning away. If nothing else, an attack on Jerusalem's sanctity draws its defenders together.


So, what is it with Jerusalem that so many covet this place? It's got to be the holiness. I saw it for myself later that day. While the shameful Pride Parade was just breaking up across town, celebratory music was blaring in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood, where I was visiting my little grandson. I picked him up so we could get a better view of what and where the commotion was coming from. 200 little boys, all wearing black pants, white shirts, with tzitzis flying, carried flaming torches and led a motorized, flashing float shaped like a crown. Following was a huge chupah under which men danced, embracing a Sefer Torah. This was a Hachnasat Sefer Torah - escorting a newly written Torah into a local synagogue. Hundreds marched, sang and danced in the parade, while hundreds more watched from windows, balconies and sidewalks.


If this joyous, pure love filling the air could not be described as "gay," then I just don't know what happiness is. My grandson and I watched this parade in honor of the Torah, the love letters G-d Himself wrote to His people Israel. And as I hugged this little kid and enjoyed other children singing and clapping, I thought of the emptiness that sterile, warped relationships can only bring. Once again, the contrasts of the day's events were extreme.


The Torah does say that where there is kedusha (holiness) an equal amount of tumah (impurity) will be attracted. Over the millennium, history has seen the hordes trying to overrun Jerusalem, HaShem's holy city. One day, the keddusha will win out.