MARC STERN OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS HAS WRITTEN A MOST INTERESTING ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF THE ORTHODOX COMMUNITY AND THE GROWING SOCIETAL ACCEPTANCE OF HOMOSEXUALITY
.IN THE CURRENT ISSUE OF TRADITION MAGAZINE HE POINTS OUT THAT WHILE WE CAN PROTEST. TO THE FULL CAPACITY OF OUR LUNGS, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WE HAVE LOST THE PUBLIC RELATIONS BATTLE.THIS IS EVEN AS WE STRIVE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY NOT FROM HOMOSEXUALS, BUT FROM ITS ACCEPTANCE AS A LEGITIMATE ALTERNATIVE TO A HETEROSEXUAL LIFE WITH A MOTHER AND FATHER FAMILY UNIT.
NEVERTHELESS EVEN AS WE ARE PREPARED TO ACCEPT EACH HUMAN BEING WITH DIGNITY, OUR CAVEAT IS THAT HOW THEY CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN THE PRIVACY OF THEIR HOMES IS NOT OUR CONCERN.HOWEVER, WHEN THEY SEEK TO INDOCTRINATE US OR SEEK TO LOBBY FOR SPECIAL PRIVILEGE OR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD RECOGNIZE THEIR WAY OF LIFE AS A MORAL EQIVALENCE TO HETEROSEXUALITY THEN WE MUST PROTEST.
HOMOSEXUALS ARE ENTITLED TO THE FULL PROTECTION OF THE LAW AS CITIZENS.BUT DO NOT DESERVE SPECIAL PROTECTION ABOVE ALL OTHER CITIZENS OR GROUPS
THUS WHEN THEY TAKE THEIR AGENDA AND PLAN A GAY PRIDE PARADE IN AUGUST IN THE HOLY CITY OF JERUSALEM I FIND THIS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE…I WOULD DARE THEM TO MARCH IN ST. PETERS SQUARE
TO COME TO A CITY THAT IS THE SEAT OF RELIGIOUS LIFE IN ISRAEL AND TO MARCH WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PROCLAIMING THEIR PRIDE IN THEIR ALTERNATE LIFE STYLE, IS NAUSEATING AND PROVOCATIVE.
THE RARE COALITION OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS (JEWS, MUSLIMS ,EASTERN ORTHODOX AND CATHOLIC) THAT OPPOSE SUCH A HIDEOUS MARCH SPEAKS TO THE COMMON ACEPTANCE OF THE NOAHTIDE LAWS BY THE NON –JEWS AND OF THE TORAH BY OUR RABBIS WHICH CALLS HOMOSEXUALITY A “ TOAVA ‘AN ABOMINATION. THERE ARE NO IFS, BUTS OR MAYBES.
NO ORGANIZED RELIGION CAN APPROVE OF HOMOSEXUALITY EVEN AS IT MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO SHOW UNDERSTANDING,COMPASSION ,SUPPORT, AND HELP FOR THE INDIVIDUAL HOMOSEXUAL
THE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THIS PARADE BY CONSERVATIVE, REFORM AND RECONSTRUCTIONIST “RELIGIOUS “LEADERS IN ISRAEL WHILE SHOCKING IS NOT UNEXPECTED.
AS IN THE CONVERSION THE ISSUE IN NOT WHO IS A JEW---WE KNOW WHO IS A JEW. IT IS WHO A RABBI?
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO VIOLATES THE SABBATH, THE LAWS OF KASHRUTH AND TFILLIN , PUBLICLY PERFORMS SAME-SEX UNIONS AND ENDORSES HOMOSEXUALITY AS AN ACEPTED “RELIGIOUS CEREMONY” I ASK CAN WE CALL THIS PERSON A RABBI ?
THESE LEADERS TALK ABOUT COMPASSION AND OTHER ATTRIBUTES IN OUR TORAH, HOWEVER THEY TOTALLY NEGLECT THE ABSOLUTE PROHIBITION AGAINST HOMOSEXUALITY AS A PRINCIPLE OF FAITH.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE THEIR OWN RELIGION WITH THEIR OWN LAWS, BUT JUDIASM IT IS NOT
WHAT RELIGION DOES IT CORRESPOND TO? WHAT IS THEIR SIMILARITY TO THE 13 PRINCIPLES OF MAIMONEDES OR THE 613 MITZVOTH?
IT IS EASY FOR COMEDIANS AND LIBERALS TO ATTACK RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO UNITE “FOR HATE AND BIGOTRY.” TO THE CONTRARY THESE UNITED FORCES SPEAK TO A COMMON MORALITY BASED UPON THE TORAH.. JUST A REMINDER TO THE PARADE SUPPORTERS IT IS FOR THE SIN OF HOMOSEXUALITTY (AMONG OTHERS) THAT SODOM WAS DESTROYED.
. MARC STERN IS CORRECT – THE PUBLIC IS NOT REALLY EXCITED EXCEPT PERHAPS TO OPPOSE SAME SEX MARRIAGES.
NEVERTHELESS TO UPHOLD THE DIGNITY OF JERUSALEM WE SHOULD NOT BE SILENT.
