Israel sees itself as a Jewish state whose existence is grounded in the Bible, history, and the promises of God. At the same time, Israel sees itself as a modern, liberal democracy that guarantees freedom and equal rights for all citizens. For some, Pride events are an expression of openness, human dignity, and democratic values. For others, they stand in direct contradiction to the biblical standards upon which the Jewish people and their return to the land are based. The real question, therefore, is not what one thinks of a parade or a festival. The real question is: What is Israel? A state that orients itself by the Bible, or a democracy that places individual freedom above all else? The answer is as simple as it is complicated: Israel is both. And therein lies the tension. Between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, between tradition and modernity, between God’s commandments and democratic reality, Israel has been wrestling with its identity since its founding.

The Biblical Side

The Bible speaks unmistakably in several places about sexuality and its boundaries. In...

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