Are jews allowed to be gay

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However, later rabbinic authorities expanded the prohibition to include lesbian sexual acts and all male homosexual activities short of anal intercourse. Several traditional sources temper the harshness of the “abomination” by citing the lack of procreative potential as the reason for the abominable nature of the homosexual act.

However, it is important to note:

Context: Levitical laws were part of a broader set of rules governing ritual purity and societal order in ancient Israel.
Focus on Male Relationships: The text does not explicitly address female same-sex relationships, leading to varied interpretations within Jewish tradition.

Historical Perspectives on Homosexuality in Judaism

In ancient Jewish communities, the emphasis on family, procreation, and societal structure influenced attitudes toward sexuality.

As Jewish communities navigate these complex issues, the commitment to dialogue and respect remains central to fostering unity and understanding.

Judaism, one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, has a long and complex history of addressing human relationships, including homosexuality.

By fostering dialogue and embracing diversity, Jewish communities continue to navigate this complex and deeply personal aspect of identity.

The sources of Judaism’s traditional position on homosexuality and gay issues are well known. Full equality and inclusion for transgender persons was endorsed in 2015.

The Conservative rabbinate adopted a similar resolution the following year.

The Conservative movement’s flagship Jewish Theological Seminary revised its application criteria in 2007 to allow for gay applicants and admitted its first openly gay students the following year. This article explores the intersection of homosexuality and Judaism, examining scriptural interpretations, historical context, and contemporary developments.

Traditional Jewish Teachings on Homosexuality

The Torah, the foundational text of Judaism, includes specific passages addressing same-sex relationships.

It is regarded as ineffective and harmful by the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association and many others. While traditional Jewish texts contain prohibitions regarding same-sex relationships, modern interpretations and movements within Judaism have fostered more inclusive perspectives.

Key initiatives include:

Supportive Organizations: Groups like Keshet and Eshel provide resources and advocacy for LGBTQ+ Jews.
Inclusive Rituals: Many communities have developed rituals and liturgies to celebrate same-sex unions and other milestones in LGBTQ+ lives.
Education and Dialogue: Programs addressing sexuality and gender identity from a Jewish perspective aim to foster understanding and acceptance.

Scriptural Reinterpretation and Debate

Modern scholars and theologians have reexamined traditional texts through the lens of historical context and contemporary values.

In 2012, the movement endorsed gay marriage. Though the largest Orthodox rabbinical group, the Rabbinical Council of America, had at one time commended JONAH’s work, it publicly withdrew its endorsement in 2012, citing evidence that the therapy was ineffective and had potentially negative consequences.

Some in the Orthodox community still support conversion therapy, however, in part because they believe it is impossible that homosexual desires could be both unchangeable and proscribed by the Torah.

Interestingly, the medieval book Sefer HaHinuch compares homosexual sex to marrying a barren woman.

Nonetheless, the traditional Jewish position on homosexuality is still difficult for many liberal-minded Jews, and the liberal denominations have debated the extent to which gays and lesbians can be fully integrated into religious communities.

READ: Conservative Halakhah and Homosexuality

The first and least controversial step taken by the Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Reform movements was to endorse civil equality for gays and lesbians.

Steven Greenberg, a gay Jewish educator who was ordained as an Orthodox rabbi, writes and lectures on the possibilities for gays and lesbians in the Orthodox community. The Leviticus verses also imply that it is the act of homosexual sex, not the homosexual person, that is abhorred.

Much attention has been given to the word “abomination” (to’evah in Hebrew).

Homosexuality, seen as deviating from these norms, was generally viewed negatively. Orthodox seminaries still do not permit openly gay students; however there is at least one Orthodox gay rabbi who came out subsequent to his ordination.

How is the LGBTQ community treated in Israel?

By many metrics, Israel is considered a trailblazer on LGBTQ issues.

In addition, many Jewish institutions — including summer camps — have begun taking steps to accommodate and welcome transgender Jews.

As JTA reported in April 2016, “even in the Orthodox world, which presents the most barriers to transgender acceptance, both culturally and in Jewish law, some community figures are talking about the need to find a place for trans Jews.”

To read this article, “Jewish Views on Homosexuality,” in Spanish (leer en Español), click here.

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As social attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people have undergone a sea change globally, stances taken by Jewish leaders and movements have changed along with them.

Today, same-sex marriages are recognized by the Reform, Conservative, Renewal and Reconstructionist movements, and each movement’s rabbinical seminary ordains LGBTQ students.

In December 2006 the Conservative Movement’s Law Committee voted to accept two contradictory teshuvot (positions) on homosexuality in halakhah — one reaffirming the status quo, and one affirming change. The latter opinion also explicitly endorsed the ordination of gays and lesbians as rabbis and cantors.

In the Orthodox world, sex reassignment, cross-dressing and hormonal treatments are still considered forbidden. The result of the vote is that rabbis, synagogues, and other Conservative institutions may choose to continue to not permit commitment ceremonies and not hire openly gay or lesbian rabbis and cantors, or may choose to do so.

A statement authored in 2010 and signed by over 200 Orthodox rabbis expressly welcomed gay Jews fully into synagogue life even as it reiterated traditional Orthodox opposition to gay sex and same-sex marriage. Arguments include:

Cultural Context: The Levitical prohibitions may reflect concerns specific to ancient Israel rather than universal moral principles.
Focus on Holiness: Some interpretations view the text’s emphasis on holiness and distinctiveness as central, rather than specific prohibitions.
Ethical Priorities: Progressive Jewish thought often prioritizes principles of love, justice, and human dignity over literal adherence to ancient laws.

Conclusion

The relationship between homosexuality and Judaism reflects the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity.

Some Jewish authorities still support it, but they are mostly (though not exclusively) members of the haredi Orthodox community.

The main proponent of conversion therapy in the Jewish community was a New Jersey-based group called JONAH, which in 2015 was found guilty of consumer fraud for using scientifically questionable methods and claiming a success rate it could not substantiate.