Ask me about Judaism

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Cuddly Tumblemumps: Aug 23, 2013; Postmodernity means the exhilarating freedom to pursue anything, yet mind-boggling uncertainty as to what is worth pursuing and in the name of what one should pursue it.

Not a Children posted:

I was raised conservative, wherein most people are for gay rights, but I did my birthright trip with an orthodox group. There, it was more like a "spiritual and community needs are a higher calling than physical urges. Refrain from homosexuality because it does not benefit the community and is explicitly prohibited by our holy books." They have no personal beef with it, but it's an immutable no to the more hardcore sects. Most Jews know that it is prohibited in the torah, and there is no real loophole that permits homosexuality, but in my experience it's seen as being approximately as bad as not keeping Kosher, i.e. not really so bad at all.

Judaism, as a rule, is not compatible with atheism. One of the central tenants is that there is One True God.

Here is a take from one orthodox rabbi:

Rabbi Avi Weiss posted:

Over the years, I have met countless gay people and gay couples who live loving, exemplary lives. I know this firsthand as some are members of my synagogue. Of course, there are gay people who live unethical lives; this fact, however, is a reflection of their humanness, not their sexual orientation. The same is true for heterosexuals.

I did not always see things this way. I grew up being taught that the Bible regarded homosexuality as an abomination. This is the most common translation of the word �to�evah� used by the Bible to proscribe homosexual intercourse. To�evah, however, is a biblical term that has no exact English equivalent. The Talmud interprets it as a composite of three words: to�eh atah bah � �you have gone astray� in engaging in this kind of relationship. That is a far cry from an �abomination.�

Still, as an Orthodox Jew, I submit to the Biblical prohibition. But as an open Orthodox rabbi, I refuse to reject the person who seeks to lead a life of same sex love. If I welcome with open arms those who do not observe Sabbath, Kashrut or family purity laws, I must welcome, even more so, homosexual Jews, as they are born with their orientation. In fact, many heterosexual improprieties are called to�evah, in addition to violations of laws wholly outside the realm of sexuality such as cheating in business. To single out homosexuality from other biblical proscriptions is unfair and smacks of a double standard.

And another:

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, 2013 posted:

Granting basic rights to the LGBT community is an issue of basic economic justice, legal equality, and human dignity. Traditional Jewish law has no established model for gay marriage, but this is an entirely separate matter. We have no right to coercively prevent, by force of civil law, an individual from enjoying true happiness and fulfilling their life potential when it poses no harm to any other. Our stance on religious law and our stance on political law are not intertwined. This is not about any particular religious rule or custom but about the grander ethos of the Torah. Denying gay people the right to marry is contrary to basic justice and therefore contrary to Jewish ethics. We must support all safe families for children and build our society around strong, loving homes. The Jewish tradition cherishes values of love, intimacy, family, and creating sacred homes where G-d can dwell and mandates that we support them.

Our obligation is derived from our shared history as Jews, religious Jews in particular. We have been very successful change makers in the world because throughout history we have often been outsiders, and we can empathize with the plight others who have been, or are being, excluded or discriminated against. However, the Jewish people are today generally accepted in America, and due the comfort of inclusion, we sometimes lose sight of our tragic heritage and the sensibilities and responsibilities we ought to have as a result. For this reason, among many others, religious Jews should support those struggling for their basic rights in America and keep in the forefront of our minds the not-so-distant exclusion, violence, and vitriol we endured in our own struggle for basic human rights.

It is very important, imo, to recognize that Orthodox Judaism, especially within the US, is not homogeous. I think that a lot of secular Jews and non-Jews think that all orthodox Jews are hasidim or haredi. The terms modern orthodox, open orthodox or simply 'observant' have been adopted by some orthodox Jews to build distance away from the association with hasidic and haredi sects.

I have talked with three of the orthodox rabbis in my area (Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ) and all of them are receptive to converting atheists because 'everyone has their own starting point' and the commitment they all have made to be patient teachers striving to do good for their community and the world in which they live. The orthodox Jews in my area tend to be a lot more focused on positive social actions with less of an emphasis on the (controversial) topics that more secular Jews seem to cleave to (mostly the Protect Are Gun Rights/Freedom and reactionary, rabid Zionism/support for military action against civilians, etc). As a socialist I feel much more at home politically when interacting with Conservative, Orthodox/Modern Orthodox and some hasidic folks; the congregation that I spend holidays with is a mix of families and individuals that range from being very loosely observant Conservative Jews with some people leaning more towards being 'Conservadox '. The belief in a literal supernatural deity ranges from 'Yes, of course', to people that are atheists that are practicing religious rituals as a social/cultural gesture of solidarity and/or are affiliated with Humanistic Judaism.

My very, very basic observation/stereotype is that secular American Jews are bonded together, and identify as Jewish, more based on trauma bonding/post-memory of atrocities committed against Jews in the Holocaust and focus on preventing another genocide at any cost, while many of the more observant Jews that I know focus more heavily on actively repairing the damage done to the world (Tikkun olam).

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The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Ask/Tell > Ask me about Judaism