There was a shooting at a gay community center in Tel Aviv and two people were killed leaving 15 others wounded. It’s not like anyone would have expected people to be civil to gays over there but this is obviously taking things too far. These gay hates crimes have to stop.
What did surprise me was that Jewish leaders in Washington held a vigil to show solidarity with the Israeli victims of the attack Rabbis attending the vigil called for an end to these types of attacks and spoke out against Israel’s ultra-orthodox community. They want to see a change for the better in Israel, they want to put a stop to the exclusion of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals.
The vigil in Washington drew some good numbers with over 150 members of the Jewish community gathering to remember the two Israelis killed by a masked gunman as well as those who were injured but not killed.
Those who set up this vigil came from different sides of the Jewish community. There were spokespeople several Jewish denominations as well as plenty of gay and lesbian Jewish activists.
They sang songs, waved banners asking for tolerance and and denouncing prejudice and homophobia. It would be nice if all this effort really did make a difference, wouldn’t it?
Those in attendance cried out for justice in this horrible hate crime. It is clear that those shot were only shot for their sexuality, not for anything else. The gunman opened fire on teenage boys and girls who happened to be attending a support group at the gay community center.
Those killed were a 26-year-old man and a teenage girl. The gunman is still at large.
Jewish community leader Mark Pelavin addressed the vigil on behalf of the North American Union for Reform Judaism. He said, “Despite the feelings of anger, frustration, and sadness that envelop our hearts, we gather here tonight – to mourn, to remember, and above all, to offer our own solemn promise that none of us will rest until all of us are safe.”
Martin Peled-Flax is a representative of the Israeli Embassy in Washington. He spoke to the crowd in Washington and said that Israel regards itself as one of the most pluralistic societies in the Middle East.
“Israel has made major steps over the last two decades so that society would become accepting of people who are different – of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender individuals. Today, there are openly gay career army officers, there are openly lesbian Israeli diplomats,” said Pelde-Flax.
I will admit I am not the best at keeping up with news but I haven’t heard much on the topic of gays in Israel except that they get imprisoned, tortured and hung. Seriously, have you heard anything about Israel and gays besides terrible stories about gay hate crimes? These “major steps” couldn’t be that major now could they?
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