U.S. Orthodox rabbis urge community to accept gays and lesbians
Statement of principles issued by rabbis and educators says 'heterosexual marriage is sole legitimate outlet for human sexual expression' but calls for acceptance.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news US JewsDozens of Orthodox rabbis and educators have signed what they call a "statement of principles" regarding the acceptance of gays and lesbians within the Orthodox community.
 |
Marchers in Tel Aviv's gay pride parade, June 11, 2010 |
| Photo by: Moti Kimche |
The statement, initially drafted by Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot, was prepared over the last months and can be read in full here.
"Jews with homosexual orientations or same sex-attractions should be welcomed as full members of the synagogue and school community," reads the statement, which goes on to say that Jewish law "sees heterosexual marriage as the ideal model and sole legitimate outlet for human sexual expression. The sensitivity and understanding we properly express for human beings with other sexual orientations does not diminish our commitment to that principle."
The rabbis and educators go on to say that "Embarrassing, harassing or demeaning someone with a homosexual orientation or same-sex attraction is a violation of Torah prohibitions that embody the deepest values of Judaism."
The question or cause of one's sexual orientation is irrelevant "to our obligation to treat human beings with same-sex attractions and orientations with dignity and respect," the signatories said.
The rabbis and educators go on to say they affirm the religious right of gays and lesbians to reject "therapies" intended to change their sexual orientation. Moreover, they say, rabbis and Jewish community leaders must be empathetic to the suffering Orthodox gays and lesbians endure.
And while Jewish law cannot "give its blessing and imprimatur to Jewish religious same-sex commitment ceremonies and weddings," their communities should "display sensitivity, acceptance and full embrace of the adopted or biological children of homosexually active Jews in the synagogue and school setting," the statement said.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
...or you wouldn't feel the need to repeat what the written Torah has to say about homosexual activity. To be clear, by the way: what it says about *male* homosexual activity, the prohibition against female homosexual activity is deRabbanan. However - the written Torah was always conditioned by the Oral Torah, according to which it is clear that we generally shouldn't take the stipulations of capitol penalty literally. And this is a good thing seeing as we otherwise would have to kill off most of Jewry, who are not Shomer Shabbes. And lets's face it, even worse: a majority of the people attending non-Charedi Orthodox Shuls on a Shabbes are Shabbes breakers. This represents the fact that even though the Shuls are Orthodox, the attendees are "traditional". And not only do we welcome them as our brothers and sisters, we even give the male ones aliyot. And lo and behold, there is even Hallacha to support this behavior. Now, the Torah repeats to be Shomer Shabbes many more times than the prohibition against male homosexual behavior. So obviously it is of at least equal importance. But Homosexuals have been singled out for murder, torture and persecution, etc, not Shabbes breakers. It is a good thing that some Rabbi's now speaks up against this hatred, as it is not based in Torah but rather in German hedonism. With that said, nobody is welcome in shul as a sexual being, everyone is welcome as Jews.
Bible calls gay an abomination. Those so called orthodox rabbis are no more than advocates for abomination and should be called orthodox GAY rabbis. Let them rot in the di-as-pora mentally and physically so they influence just themselves.
You cannot counter arabs with their high rate of birth with HOMO. it is a waste
this is all coming from the fake-orthodox chovevei institute. they have women rabbis and like gays, can anyone explain how they are different than conservative? they are not. they are conservative.
I never really understood those that honor the Shabbat violator while abusing the sexual violator.
sodom?
at what point did people receive the torah and say they must live by its every word - even if it tells them to stone, kill, or eat people's foreskins.
tooclose2detroit - have you read the entire statement of principles, as opposed to the summary above? I believe the statement of principles addresses most of your question.
Gays are Big Business. They do not have children and thus have some more to spend and guess who controls most of the 'market' ?? > Yoh, .. the Jews. I got no problem wiz zat. Only ze Rebbe is pulling my leg, and yours with his moralistic talk. He'd curse them to Hell if there was no profit in it for him. Religion has always been about Money. God bless.
I understand that they have their issues, just like everyone else has their own problems we need to deal with. Do I ask for acceptance that I easily get angry, yell at people, and curse? There is no need to embarass, but on the other hand, I don't see how they could be fully accepted in the Orthodox community.
Treat people with respect. - what a concept! I'm glad to see this in my lifetime (senior citizen).
Torah is also love love love, where do you think Xtians got their idea for it? out of thin air? The Torah also prescribes capital punishment for breaking the Shabbat among others, should all seculars be stoned now? when was the last stoning performed anyways?...The Rabbis are Orthodox and they're correct in what they say, in my community we have homosexuals that attend Chabad shuls and are called to the Torah and participate in community events. There's more to say but no space/time right here.
As tooclose2detroit says, the Torah calls homosexuality between males (lesbians are legal) an abomination and later sets a death penalty at the gates of the city to the trespassers. We're past death penalty but yet, no trespasser should be this much "welcomed" into Judaism without at least some push to make a return from the fault.
I am orthodox, but I really dont care what people do in their bedroom-the problem is that the Torah calls it a disgusting abomination (Toyevah), so, how do these Rabbis say "accept them" blah blah blah-would they say to accept idol worshipers?-and again, I could personally give a hoot what you do, but I am wondering about the intellectual consitency of these Rabbis-this isnt Christianity love love love, blah blah blah-The Torah says to stone them-(I am not saying it, the Torah is)-but these Rabbis say to accept them?-I dont get this one.
Because it's technically no different from breaking the Laws of Shabbas. You;re supposed get stoned there as well, yet we accept those people. As for "Yoyevah", this is mentioned also in context of "lending money with interest". We should treat homosexuals in the same manner with which we treat bankers.
The feelings a man has towards another man, or, in turn a woman to another woman are not forbidden. The "act" is forbidden, so that if a man has relations with another man, or a woman with a woman, they have committed a sin. If, however no act is committed, there is no Halachic rule that forbids them to love each other. Stoning?! Look up the rules for evidence and the trial procedure in the Gemara. It hardly ever happens. What does happen, or what ought to happen, is that there is an understanding between a man and his female spouse is aware of their partner's sexual preferences. That they have children is the way of the world, too. As long as it's discreet, it shouldn't concern anyone, as, in fact, the sexual relationship between a married couple, according to Halacha is a private affair.
Why is it that members of the community who commit adultery, or embezzlement, or any other halachic trespass would still be accepted in the synagogue community? How about nidah laws? So why should this commandment be treated differently? Especially when people are suffering so much about this commandment, a little bit more compassion is warranted... ve'ahavta reacha kamocha.
hello my freind as another orthodox jew i actually took the time to research this. they didnt say accept homosexuality rather homosexuals. this means that homosexuals shouldnt be shunned from the community, and by bringing them closer we should help them out with therapy. just like we dont excommunicate non-observant jews we shouldn't excommunicate homosexuals because then it only makes them hate the religion and makes them in a worse situation.
This is where I am coming from. Christianity is certainly not a correct life and way to live, because religion is simply wrong. But, Jesus had a legitimate criticism of Judaism as it was practiced in his day. Excessive legalism. He did have a point when he said one should focus on the "spirit" of the law. Extending kindness ideas. It is quite possible that Christianity influenced Judaism in these realms even though Judaism will never acknowledge that. It is against it's irrational pride. You're right these rabbi's, the modern orthodox are not following the strict letter of the law. They are trying to find some wiggle room. And actually that is quite good.
clearly an example of someone who doesnt read the torah
They didn't accept homosexual acts - just the people who have homosexual inclinations. There is a huge difference. Also, we don't stone people today - so lay off of that one.
The Torah is wrong.
Jewish halacha does forbide stoning since more than 1700 years ago. And, if you know the talmud, even when stoning was permitted, jewish law created almost imposible conditions for the batei din to apply it. The "bible" is not synonime to the Torah, Torah (for jews), si also oral law that says that if a Sanhedrin sent to death someone each 50 years, it was called a cruel sanhedrin.
They say they need to be accepted as human beings and full members of the community and not harassed, though they still believe man-woman marriage is the only way. Could you cite where it says they need to be killed? Also times change and I think 'holy books' should change with time, even if it is written there
The Torah also says to stone shabbat violators. Homosexuality might be called toevah, but shabbat is a mitzva that's the core of jewish identity, so much so that someone who violates shabbat in public is no longer considered a Jew in full standing. So why aren't you calling to stone them too? In reality, there is no sanhedrin nowadays and therefore no capital punishment, so you shouldn't be calling to stone anyone. The only relevant issue is whether they keep the aveirah to themselves or whether they decide to promote it publicly. Which is exactly what this statement was addressing.
Well, adultery and eating seafood are abominations as well.... I you only try to be consistant with all the crap that is in there you become mad. I think these guys got it right, they are pragmatic and respectful.
and thus I know that halacha has come a long way. We don't kill Jews who are michalel shabbat b'farhesia and, as anyone who goes to non-haredi schuls in the US can tell you, the schuls are filled with people who's observance isn't strict. Basically the rabbis are saying that just as we accept and respect Jews who eat treif, drive on shabbat, have pre or extra-marital sex, etc..., we should love and respect gay members of the communtiy. Is your obsrvance perfect? Mine's not, so maybe we should be a bit less hypocritcal and more accepting.
They should pass their resolution on to the Vatican. These trabbis have taken a courageous step and they will, no doubt be condemned for it by their more strident colleagues.