Gay Parade in Jerusalem June 2007

Holding a parade such as this here in Jerusalem is a touchy issue because of the biblical prohibition on homosexuality.

It has been pointed out that there are biblical prohibitions on murder, theft and many other matters that do not arouse the same public displays of strong feelings. Of course, in the eyes of some, flaunting forbidden matters in a parade might be seen to bring shame upon the holy city.

Indeed some people we have spoken to, say they would rather not see the parade here. Others think there are more serious issues that should incite strong feelings - government corruption, child poverty, and the very divisions between factions that require the presence of 7,000 policemen in order to maintain order.

Whatever the feelings, 7,000 policeman were drafted in to keep the opposing groups apart. For the time we were there, both sides were peaceful in the main, with one or two distasteful exceptions.

The news reported that there were very few incidents of any kind on the day.


The roads were blocked by the police and almost no traffic could enter the city centre



For many in the army and the police it was a relaxing time - but then, the army has made a national badge of honour out of being relaxed



On one side of the barrier soldiers stood guard and on the other side of the barrier, those in the parade enjoyed themselves



The rainbow banner



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A man looks on thoughtfully from a respectful distance

Teddy Kollek

Teddy Kollek, Mayor of Jerusalem for 28 years (until 1993), died on Tuesday, January 2nd 2007, aged 95. He was buried today and before that his body lay in State in Safra Square outside the Municipal offices in Jerusalem so mourners could pay their respects. Everyone I heard there and elsewhere, had only good things to say about him. He was obviously a dynamic man, who achieved a lot for the city of Jerusalem, both while he was mayor, and afterwards. From the way people speak of him, he had a stature well beyond that of simply being described as a mayor.



Mourning Cards
As mourners came close to where his coffin was lying, we were handed small cards with a peel-off back. Mourners stuck them to the front of their jackets or coats and soon there was a sea of mourning cards in front of the coffin. The card reads "We will remember" and then below that, Teddy kollek's name and the years he lived according to the Hebrew calendar.





Notice Boards
The public notice boards, of which there are many around the city, were covered in death notices lodged by various organisations, including the municipality itself. This one is on Jaffa Road, just a short distance from Safra Square.





Safra Square
Safra Square was marked off with barriers so mourners could file past his coffin.





Lying in State
Jewish law requires that unless there is some supervening reason, a person is buried as soon as practicably possible.
Accordingly, Teddy Kollek's body lay in State for part of this morning and then was buried in the Mount Herzl cemetry.





Mourner





Procession

After Chanukah

During Chanukah, people light candles to honour and celebrate the miracle that took place during the rededication of the temple, when the Maccabeean Jews led a successful revolt against Hellenised, assimilated Jews and against the Selucid Greek opression. It is customary to show the outside world that one is lighting the candles, and so they are often placed on a windowsill or outside. Of course it might rain or the wind might blow out the candles, and so they are placed in a glass-walled box. This box is still hanging by a doorway after Chanukah. There is no glass forming the walls of the box and the lights have been taken away, but the box is there.





And here is the doorway where the box was hung. The doorway is a remnant of what it once was and no longer gives out into an enclosed courtyard, but now leads into a street and further into the neighbourhood.