Israel – Haredi Activists Visit Parents Of Teen Slain At Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade

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    Israel – A group of haredi activists have paid a visit to the parents of Shira Banki, the young woman who was killed by an ultra-Orthodox man during the Jerusalem Gay Pride parade two weeks ago.

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    The activists, from the Gesher organization that promotes mutual understanding between societies in Israel, visited the Banki family saying that although they were opposed to homosexual lifestyles, they totally rejected violence.

    They insisted that Yishai Schlissel, who murdered Banki, was not representative of the haredi community.

    “We have a difference of opinions, and we cannot agree to the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] way of life, but the way to express our opposition is through dialogue and not through violence,” the activists told the family.

    Banki was not part of the LGBT community, but chose to participate in the march in support of their societal acceptance and rights.

    “It is our responsibility to ensure that our hands did not shed this blood, and that a ‘wild weed’ like Schlissel does not God forbid spring up again tomorrow. At the end of the day, we live in the same country and we have to learn to live together side by side. Otherwise we will not be able to exist here,” the group said.

    Banki’s parents said they were touched by the visit and said that the ultra-Orthodox activists were courageous for doing so.

    Although the haredi media refers to gay pride marches as “Marches of Abomination,” a moniker that was used even after the stabbing attack at the Jerusalem march, senior haredi political leaders publicly and vehemently denounced the attacks.

    Senior United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni said after the incident, “The attempt to kill and injure is something severe that we utterly reject and is something that is opposed by Judaism, morality, Jewish law and our path since we have been a people.”

    Shas chairman and Economy Minister Arye Deri condemned the attack, as did Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau and Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.‎


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    19 Comments
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    Nycnyc
    Nycnyc
    8 years ago

    All the four leaders who condemned the attack are on the payroll of the anti religious government. Let’s see one real rebbe or rosh yeshiva condemn the attack. Yes the guy was a little meshuga but having a toieveh parade in the holy city endangers all the Jews living there. In a way all the marchers are rodfim since they are inciting the Moslem world to hate us even more. I want to see one rebbe not a politico condemn reb yishai shlissel.

    Normal
    Normal
    8 years ago

    There are many comments on VIN agreeing with what Shlissel’s did. They should talk to their own people first. Then they can talk about covering up child abuse.

    shvigger
    shvigger
    8 years ago

    Why doesn’t anybody ask Mr. and Mrs. Banki the obvious–what was a nice Jewish 16 year-old girl doing at a gay pride parade?

    PMOinFL
    PMOinFL
    8 years ago

    Such a shame to have to keep going back to this topic. When will people realize that this parade exists because of OUR actions against homosexuals.

    These parades aren’t intended to celebrate “toieveh”. I’m embarrassed that so many people choose to hate first and understand later. Sinas chinam is much easier than ahavas Yisroel.

    These parades aren’t about the pride these people feel over having homosexual sex. These are people who have been shunned by family, rabbonim, trusted friends, and entire communities over a biological response to something they themselves don’t fully understand. They are tired of being shamed, they are tired of being shunned, they are tired of being treated like outcasts. We did that to them.

    We looked at people with biologically different responses to sexual stimulation than most of us, and decided that they were disgusting and worthless. What did we expect them to do? They all found each other, and they all decided to stand up and shout back at us that enough is enough. They are telling us that they will not be disrespected, shamed or shunned anymore… We failed them, they’re just showing us how badly we hurt them.

    Nycnyc
    Nycnyc
    8 years ago

    To naftush.
    You say your rebbe condemned it. I know you mean moshe rabbeinu. Let me tell you something buddy. Had moshe seen this gay parade he would have stoned to death all of them not just six. No Rav condemned shlissel. Maybe they would tell him it’s not worth giving up your life for a few dead gays but other then the open orthodox baboons in riverdale no respectable Rav would condemn his action.