Comment: Homosexuality is prohibited in orthodox Judaism but so is eating bacon, everyone is welcome

[xchrom]

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/02/03/comment-homosexuality-is-prohibited-in-judaism-but-so-is-eating-bacon-everyone-is-welcome-in-synagogue/

Following the controversy surrounding the issue of reparative therapy for people with same sex attractions within the Jewish community, orthodox Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet argues that religious leaders should separate biblical condemnation of homosexual acts from the way the religion treats gay people.

Homosexuality has always been a hot potato in the Jewish community. Proponents argue that Judaism is homophobic while detractors insist they are just upholding the letter of the law.

The biblical injunction against homosexual activity is clear. People who want to conform to the Bible should not be condemned as homophobic anymore than critics of religion might be labelled theophobic. However, just because I maintain that homosexuality is wrong doesn’t mean I have to go beating the drum about it anymore than I might regularly preach against adultery. To be sure, there are times when public statements are deemed necessary, such as when same-sex marriages began to become legalised. Imagine the public outcry were bigamy to be declared legal. Similarly, when governments were voting with their feet to recognise same-sex marriages, it was only to be expected that moralists and religious leaders would speak out against. Still, even when it is considered necessary to protest, it remains imperative that basic sensitivity is maintained. A fundamental principle in Judaism, sadly lost on too many extremists today, is to condemn the action, never the person. Take for example the “Statement of Principles on the Place of Jews with a Homosexual Orientation in Our Community,” initially released in mid-2010. It was signed by dozens of leading Orthodox Rabbis across the Jewish world, making perfectly clear the traditional Jewish viewpoint on homosexuality, while also reassuring gay people that they are always welcome into Synagogues and communities.

Last week, the Jews Free School in London made headlines for teaching a class that homosexuality can be cured. According to a Jewish Chronicle report, as part of the school’s Jewish studies curriculum, pupils were shown a website from the American group JONAH – Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality, apparently introduced at the end of the textual study on homosexuality and the Orthodox viewpoint. Having met last night with Michael Glass, the Chair of Governors of JFS, he informs me that the school has issued a statement denying the reported sequence of events, and insisting it was something that formed part of a discussion, rather than an ideal that was being formally promoted.




***** reparative therapy is making a serious comeback in the uk.
frightening.

[aquart]

1. Do we REALLY want to talk about the bacon prohibition?

Because that has to do with worshipping a pig. Forbidden foods are always related to sacred animals. We got warned off shrimp because we were being ordered not to eat dolphins. Deal with it.

Religious fundamentalism is never so fundamental as it pretends to be.

[MNBrewer]

2. I don't think the Hebrews considered the pig a "sacred animal"

And as for being warned off shrimp because of dolphins? ???? ?

[mitchtv]

3. X2

I am officially confused

[aquart]

9. Yeah, shocking. Who knew what was in that closet?

Because Judaism is OLD doesn't mean it wasn't the New Kid on the Block once upon a time.

A highly patriarchal monotheism had to assert itself on a polytheistic habit. Not easy but jingoism helped. Also, we picked up a lot in captivity.

Honestly, it's not so bad once you get used to it.

[rms013]

6. The pig is not a sacred animal

They confused their prohibition with a cook book. It should have read cook pork to a minimum internal temperature of 145dgs F. I believe they were trying to prevent death and illness from trichinosis and as they did not have oven thermometers they could not insure eating pork as safe ergo make it a religious reason not to eat pork. Of course I could be wrong, it could have been a campaign by poultry producers to corner more of the market on meats.

[aquart]

7. Yeah. Sacred. Big time.

Ever heard of the Thesmophoria? How about Sukkos? The word doesn't mean "booths" btw, although that is kinda cute. It means PIG. It's indoeuropean and it means PIG. And it is celebrated at the time of the thesmophoria.

But then you probably grew up thinking Pesach means Passover and not FISH and that it celebrates the nationalistic holiday of the founding of Israel and Judah instead of being a rewrite of what Robert Eisler likes to call the Messianic Fish Meal. And if you wonder why it happens around Easter (the holiday of procreation symbols like EGG and BUNNY) ...well, Jonah in the whale is a much clearer icon if you get the Sumerian puns involved. PES meaning womb and a whole bunch of other fun things.

What every incoming religion does is incorporate what it cannot change. And then lie like hell.

[rms013]

8. Excelent

[aquart]

13. Guess you had to be there.

Same holiday minus pig. Really.

[obamanut2012]

16. Not at all

[obamanut2012]

12. Where in the world did you get any of this???

And, yes, "Sukkot" does mean "booths/tabernacles" It is the plural of "sukkah."

As for the Greek festival for women -- wtf are you talking about??? What does that have to do with the Holiness Code???

What little Hebrew I know is rusty, so I wanted to double check, and I was correct. The Hebrew word for pig is "chasir." My Greek is NOT rusty, and the Greek word for pig is similar: "choiros."

[aquart]

18. Yeah. The pig is indoeuropean, not Hebrew. SU.

That's the fun bit. Major Jewish holidays with indoeuropean word roots. Still looking for the good answer on that one. But I'm well over the shock now. Knocked me for six when I first noticed it.

Ever heard a hog calling contest? "SuEEEE, pig pig pig! Sueee!"

Love my American Heritage with the glossary for indoeuropean roots. Here's the really kicky bit in "su1 Pig: Celtic *sukko-, swine, snout of a swine, plowshare..." CELTIC!!! And if you didn't know there were Celts and proto-Celts wandering and working in the Middle East way back when.... They even say Ramses was a redhead....

Things were a whole lot busier and way more complex back when than our kiddie bible studies books ever mention.

BTW, Purim is the indoeuropean root for fire (but a particular kind, purifying, sacred...) with a Hebrew plural. Amazingly conforming in dates with bonfire holidays elsewhere.

Chanukah was the tough one. An indoeuropean root for an Egyptian festival. I would LOVE to know how that happened. Brilliantly PR'ed into a nationalistic celebration.

False derivations are pretty common in the Old Testament. Try Hebrew Myths by Raphael Patai and Robert Graves. Orpheus the Fisher by Robert Eisler. Good starts for cracking the cement.

[obamanut2012]

11. The pig was never a sacred animal

Same for the dolphin. I have a background in religious studies, so your post is extremely confusing.

[aquart]

14. What religion were you studying?

Dolphin not sacred? YIKES.

So go eat some dolphin meat. See if you can make yourself do it. Really. Ask for a refund on your degree.

[obamanut2012]

15. The dolphin was never a sacred animal

Nor the pig.

Wow.

[aquart]

19. Sure. Now about that dolphin constellation...

http://www.theoi.com/Ther/Delphin.html

http://www.harmlesslion.com/dolphins/ab_myth.htm

And about that sacred pig:

http://www.thaliatook.com/AMGG/cerridwen.html

http://www.khandro.net/animal_swine.htm

http://www.bamfield.eu/religion.php

DO YOU NEVER GOOGLE?

[obamanut2012]

20. Moving the goalposts I see

Where is Judaism, which is what you were referring to?

I don't have to Google, because I'm right.

[aquart]

21. LOL! Oh, wait. You're serious.

I've always believed that Ecstatic Ignorance was the most cherished, most widely followed faith of all.

[William769]

4. "Homosexuality has always been a hot potato in the Jewish community"

Someone needs to tell Isreal, They didn't get the memo.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Someone needs to tell the Jewish community!

Ours was one of the first in the US to preform same-sex marriages. Even the Orthodox have lightened up some.

[aquart]

22. Israel. Because El was the god of Israel. As Yahweh was the god of Judah.

Blending two kingdoms with two gods into one kingdom with one god may be common enough but it's never easy. Like blended families.

[Fearless]

17. "Uphold the law"

The last bastion of the gleeful supporter who lacks real support.