Thanks for your comment, EN! Your post got me thinking about how differently this issue is framed in other parts of the world. After reading about the Haredi rioting in Jerusalem, I thought about how bizarre and amazing it is that last year (when I lived in Poland), nearly every single person in the Jewish community of Warsaw -- including the Israeli ambassador, the entire Israeli Embassy, a bunch of ultra-Orthodox individuals, Chabad, and the Chief Rabbi of Poland (who is actually American and Orthodox) -- *all* supported and/or marched at Warsaw Pride. They totally understood that the same bigots in Poland who hate gays and lesbians happen to hate Jews just as much (if not more). I suppose victimization breeds compassion.
The Meah Shearim community in Jerusalem might as well be living on another planet. They've never experienced the threat of living in close proximity to skinheads, but Jews in Poland certainly have.
Interestingly enough, Poland's Kampania Przeciw Homofobii (Campaign Against Homophobia) partnered with local Jewish constituencies to start a campaign called "Anti-Phobia" that combats anti-Semitism and homophobia in a variety of Polish institutions and, more generally, fights to protect freedoms for sexual and religious minorities. There is currently a documentary film being made about the Jewish and the GLBT experience in Poland. It documents a series of organized dialogues between the Jewish and GLBT communities and also features members of Israel's Jerusalem Open House who visited Poland to meet with leaders of Kampania Przeciw Homofobii. I'll keep you posted as to when the film will be released. I happen to know many of the people in this film.
Thanks for your comment, EN! Your post got me thinking about how differently this issue is framed in other parts of the world. After reading about the Haredi rioting in Jerusalem, I thought about how bizarre and amazing it is that last year (when I lived in Poland), nearly every single person in the Jewish community of Warsaw -- including the Israeli ambassador, the entire Israeli Embassy, a bunch of ultra-Orthodox individuals, Chabad, and the Chief Rabbi of Poland (who is actually American and Orthodox) -- *all* supported and/or marched at Warsaw Pride. They totally understood that the same bigots in Poland who hate gays and lesbians happen to hate Jews just as much (if not more). I suppose victimization breeds compassion.
The Meah Shearim community in Jerusalem might as well be living on another planet. They've never experienced the threat of living in close proximity to skinheads, but Jews in Poland certainly have.
Interestingly enough, Poland's Kampania Przeciw Homofobii (Campaign Against Homophobia) partnered with local Jewish constituencies to start a campaign called "Anti-Phobia" that combats anti-Semitism and homophobia in a variety of Polish institutions and, more generally, fights to protect freedoms for sexual and religious minorities. There is currently a documentary film being made about the Jewish and the GLBT experience in Poland. It documents a series of organized dialogues between the Jewish and GLBT communities and also features members of Israel's Jerusalem Open House who visited Poland to meet with leaders of Kampania Przeciw Homofobii. I'll keep you posted as to when the film will be released. I happen to know many of the people in this film.