At the Israel Day Parade I rejoiced with the Bride

Many years ago, I learned a gemara (passage of Talmud) from my teacher Rabbi David Hartman z’l.  If three processions reach a crossroads at exactly the same time, which takes precedence?

The three processions are: a bridal procession, a sad funeral procession and the procession of a king.

The Talmud in tractate Ketubot 17a ponders this question at length.  Finally, with a great deal of discussion, it is determined that the bride goes first, followed by the sad funeral procession and finally the king, the head of state,  (although some argue that the king actually should go first but he waives his right).

This passage of Talmud came to mind as I learned that in the Israel Day parade yesterday, in which I participated, Bezalel Smotrich, Amichai Chikli, and Amir Sofer, officials from the current administration in Israel, all participated as invited and honored guests.

Make no mistake, for many Zionists, including me, these three are some of the most problematic persons in the current government.  Their  actions against non-Orthodox Jews, civilian Arabs, and LGBTQ Jews as well as Israeli citizens simply wishing for a democratic process are well known and do not merit repetition.  Now that many Jews who marched are becoming aware of their participation (most of us had no idea) there is a lot of soul searching.

But now we do know.  Many of us are asking, “If I knew I was marching with these individuals who represent so many things that I oppose, would I have still participated”?

I have marched several times (all pre-October 7) in Jerusalem against the actions of the current Israeli government.  I am a passionate Zionist, and I believe in a democratic and just Israel, as described in the Israeli Declaration of Statehood.  These men stand for everything that I oppose, and indeed, that most of the Founders of the State would have opposed.

So, again the question.  If I had known of their participation and indeed their place of honor, would I have joined in?  I rely on the Talmud from Ketubot as  a guide to my answer.  The bride takes precedence.  In other words, rejoicing in the Jewish homeland takes precedence over “mourning” the behavior of a few of its leaders, and honoring the “head of state” the current government of Israel.

The Bride comes first.  So on Sunday May 31 I joined tens of thousands to rejoice with the bride, the State of Israel, national homeland of my people.  I will always be a proud Zionist, and always dance with the bride.  The other processions, namely the king, the current government of Israel, and the sad procession, the problematic  and anti-democratic policies of that government, all have their places to be addressed  But on Sunday, we reached the crossroads, and as it is stated in Tractate Ketubot, I will always choose to rejoice with the bride. Am Yisrael Chai!