Tel Aviv Pride ‘a living, breathing celebration of identity and freedom’

• All photographs by Harold Silber.

Music echoed through the city, rainbow flags lined the streets and tayelet (promenade), and more than a hundred thousand people from Israel and abroad gathered in Tel Aviv on Friday, 12 June, for the city’s annual Pride Parade. 

This year’s celebrations carried particular significance as participants gathered not only to celebrate LGBTQ+ visibility and equality, but also to reaffirm a sense of unity and hope after a difficult two and a half years. 

Jaime Boolkin, a South African oleh who has been living in Tel Aviv for four years, explained that this Pride festival felt extra special. 

“In previous years, Pride felt like a celebration. This year, it also felt like a declaration of resilience. It reminded us that despite uncertainty, despite division, and despite those who may oppose us, we refuse to let negativity define our future. We chose joy. We chose community. We chose to dance, sing, and celebrate life together,” he said. 

For many like Boolkin who have chosen to build lives in Israel. “Pride felt like a celebration not only of identity, but of the incredible community we have become part of. There was something incredibly powerful about seeing hundreds of thousands of people come together with optimism, energy, and hope,” he said. 

For him, it’s not only about celebrating LGBTQ+ rights; it’s about celebrating a society that believes people should be free to be themselves. “Seeing people from different backgrounds, religions, nationalities, and identities standing side by side reminds me why I love this country. It’s proof that even in a complicated world, people can still choose hope, unity, and love. That’s what Tel Aviv Pride represents to me,” he said. 

Similarly, photographer Harold Silber, who has been living in Israel for more than 16 years and been to every single Pride Parade in that time, explained that this year’s festivities were among the best he’s experienced. 

“It was great to see people from every single denomination, all the colours of the rainbow, having such great fun. Not one incident, also on one of the hottest days of the year, always. But the people, the happiness, the smiles, the love and peace. It’s an unbelievable experience,” he said. 

New olah Sydney Wohlman said her first Tel Aviv Pride brought some complex emotions. 

“Celebrating Pride in general is incredible, but then you throw it into a Middle Eastern country, kind of in the middle but also kind of at the end of an intense war with Iran, and on one of the hottest days of the year so far, is a special mix on its own. 

“It goes without saying that witnessing and being an ally to my LGBTQ+ friends, lives, freedom to love, and freedom to live out authentic lives is beautiful. Tel Aviv Pride taught me something very specific: A life lived authentically is simply a happier life,” she said. 

From the moment that South African oleh Dean Elin arrived at the tayelet, he was swept up in a sea of rainbows and people. 

“Flags of every shade fluttered in the breeze, outfits shimmered with creativity, and smiles were everywhere, genuine, unfiltered, and contagious. It wasn’t just an event; it felt like stepping into a living, breathing celebration of identity and freedom,” he said. 

Boolkin explained that he had wanted to celebrate every moment of the day. His morning started with a Pride-themed spin class led by an olah from Miami. “For 45 minutes, everyone was united by music, energy, and happiness. We were waving flags on our bicycles, wearing bracelets, and celebrating before most people had even finished their morning coffee,” he said. 

Afterwards, he met friends for a small gathering before they headed to Gordon Beach and joined the march towards Charles Clore Park. “Along the way, thousands of people filled the streets, singing, dancing, and celebrating together. There were huge floats, drag queens, performers, families, tourists, and lifelong friends all sharing the same space,” he said. 

“Walking through the streets with my partner, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of people celebrating openly and proudly, was something I’ll never forget. By the time we arrived at Charles Clore, with thousands of people dancing together by the sea, it felt as though the entire city was moving to the same heartbeat,” said Boolkin. 

What stood out most for Elin was the sense of belonging. No matter how people identify, there was a space to celebrate. “Pride created a space where everyone was welcome exactly as they are. No judgement, no hesitation, just acceptance and celebration,” he said. 

“As the day went on, the energy never faded. If anything, it grew stronger. It wasn’t only about celebration; it was also about recognition of progress made and the journey still ahead. Beneath the glitter and festivity was a powerful reminder of resilience, courage, and the importance of visibility,” said Elin. 

For Boolkin, the highlight of the day was walking and dancing through the streets with his partner, friends, and family. “There is something incredibly special about seeing an entire city come together in celebration. As a Jewish man walking through the streets with my partner, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of people celebrating openly, I was reminded how special that freedom is and how important it is never to take it for granted. 

“But beyond that, what I love most about Tel Aviv Pride is the sense of community. Israel is a country where people show up for one another. Whether it’s a celebration or a challenge, we experience it together, and Pride is a reflection of that spirit,” he said. 

That is what makes Tel Aviv Pride so special for Boolkin. It’s one of the largest Pride events in the world, but its impact goes far beyond its size. It brings together people from different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs, united by a simple idea that everyone should be free to live authentically and love openly. 

“In a world that often focuses on our differences, Tel Aviv Pride reminds us what can happen when people come together. For me, that’s what makes it truly inspiring,” he said. 

“The diversity of the crowd, everyone coming together after all the pain and sorrow that we’ve gone through in the last two, three years. This was definitely what we needed in this country. And I look forward to the next one,” said Silber.