Yair Sharkey's decision to publicize that he loves men alongside his love for God is making waves.
Sharkey presented his religious complexity, and explained that his coming out of the closet stems from his desire to start a family.
In my eyes, the significant reading of his words was precisely in what he did not say.
Sharkey talked about the difficulty in the relationship between the gay religious and his parents and community.
Like the poet of the Psalms who said "And from my messenger I will hold God", Sharki testifies that his messenger knows not only God, but also the love of man, the man, the man.
Perhaps he also alludes to the call of the prophet Isaiah "and you shall not be ignorant of your message".
As a public figure, aware that every personal act has a social meaning, he asks that we not understand his announcement as a political act seeking to shape the public's authority, but as a responsible act of sharing, which will allow him to walk safely in his life's ways.
But in dealing with Sharkey's words, one must not forget that he is a person with social capital.
Its value may decrease in parts of the company, but it will certainly not "go bankrupt", and it will find support networks.
The beam of light shows us the figure of the "hero" who goes against the convention of the public among whom he grew up, but as usual - the light is blinding and prevents us from seeing what is happening in the darkness.
Where will a non-heterosexual male or female religious find a relationship?
Who organizes events and spaces for them where they will have the opportunity to meet and get to know each other?
Will communal and institutional publications in the religious public publish a social event that encourages a proud marriage?
The dating apps aren't optimal either.
The nature of the images there is very far from the norms of modesty accepted in society in general, and in the religious one in particular.
The possibility of establishing a relationship with someone who is not religious is also not easy.
A proud religious friend told me that when she tried to integrate into the gay community in the secular public, she did not understand the language and expressions used by her friends.
The limited social space creates the potential for risky behaviors.
Studies show that gray prostitution, payment in favors for various services, is found among the gay community at a considerable rate.
This is a human atrocity that must attract attention.
As a company, we were given the opportunity.
Attention is now directed to areas that the public mind often prefers to ignore.
The conversation is not only about the ideological significance of Sharkey's lifestyle, but about the life experience that involves it or avoiding it.
An LGBT relationship can be seen as positive or negative in terms of values, and the fact that Celeb chose one way or the other does not mean that it is justified. But we cannot ignore the fact that dealing with it involves personal, emotional and social difficulties, and we as a society have the duty to reduce the damages.
The spotlights must be turned on all those who are in the shadows, who are looking for a way and yearnings for dangers.
I believe that if more LGBT people and their families turn to rabbis asking for guidance - a rabbinic discourse will arise, which will examine ways of having permissible LGBT relationships, or at least those that minimize halachic prohibitions.
Religious society and LGBT organizations must collaborate in developing safe dating spaces, modest apps and social spaces for gay religious people. Let's fix it.
Inquiries to Rabbi Hollander by email: aviad.hollander@gmail.com
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