Last Monday, Amir Ohana was sworn in the Knesset as the first openly gay MK to be elected via an open primary.
Ohana is a man dedicated to the State of Israel, having spent six years in the IDF and another six years in the Shin Bet security service. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was present at the swearing-in ceremony to welcome Ohana as a representative of the Likud party in this history- making moment and stated, “Ohana has a rich past in security and is the head of the Likud (Gay) Pride Group. I accept him with appreciation and pride.”
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Absent from the swearing-in ceremony were the MKs from the ultra-Orthodox parties. After the event, Ohana said in an interview, “During my swearing-in speech I didn’t even notice that the MKs were absent. After, when I heard they were not present, I thought that with regard to the issue of LGBT rights, it would be wonderful if their absence would continue.”
These representatives from the ultra-Orthodox parties said their absence was due to their decision to skip a coalition vote against a motion of no-confidence.
But was the fact that this man who has dedicated and risked his life to defend the Jewish state not enough of a reason to be present?
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Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, “America’s Rabbis, ” whom Newsweek and The Washington Post call “the most famous Rabbi in America, ” is an award winning columnist and the international best-selling author of 30 books, including his most recent, “Kosher Lust.” He is founder of This World: The Values Network, the world’s leading organization defending Israel in the media. Follow him on Twitter @RabbiShmuley.
