Gay Pride in Jerusalem: The March of the Secular Fundamentalists

Jerusalem is not, and has never been, a bastion of secularism. It is, to this day, a predominantly religious city – religious in the classic sense, of strict adherence, and not in the modern, “spiritual� sense, of picking and choosing – and justifying it as “evolution� or “change�.

Jerusalem is not the last bastion of tradition, but rather, the most famous bastion of tradition. It represents who we were, and who we still are – not who we would like to be or become.

It is for this reason that a small portion of Israel’s gay community insisted on marching there.

Just as few cities (not to mention suburbs) are safe from corporations remaking them into a strip mall; so too ancient cultures are not free from being remade into multi-cultural civilizations.

It is not that different than if Starbucks or Trump decides to open a franchise or build a large glass building on the Lower East Side or in Williamsburg. In theory, there is no reason the new can’t coincide with the old – real estate developers and corporations will scream there has to be a “balance�, but in fact, these new stores and buildings create a deleterious affect on the culture of historic neighborhoods which defines these neighborhood’s sense of place. (It should be noted that Starbucks has NOT opened in either neighborhood – they have shown sensitivity to these concerns.)

So too with those forces determined to foist multi-culturalism and diversity of all sorts on the Holy City. The goal of these forces is to gain recognition from protected presence that only Jerusalem will afford, and to create cracks and crevices in Jerusalem’s traditional culture in the process. They are activist secular fundamentalists – intent on leaving their mark of progress. No city shall be spared.

But this is not about being a “part� of the City. It is about disrespecting all it represents, for political, instead of material, gains.

Instead of money, narcissism is the motivating force. Instead of a “balance�, it is a call for “tolerance�. Instead of economic growth, it is inclusion.

But whether a gay pride march in Jerusalem or the “Women at the Wall�, or building a mall immediately outside its walls - the city- because of its status, is a prime target for Jewish proponents of the New World Order and progressive “isms� of all sorts.

Jews have a right to resist such a push for a place in the city where prototype movements were always most passionately resisted, and should refuse to look sympathetically at any group or movement outside the primary lens of its intensely traditional culture when confronted with activists intent on redefining its character.

The Holy City represents that which does not change, or that which changed tragically.

There are more appropriate cities for the march of the progressives. Jerusalem marches to a more ancient beat.