Traditional Judaism considers homosexual sexual activities as an abomination, and thus absolutely against Jewish law. What are the views of the various Jewish demoninations ?
Orthodox Judaism
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Orthodox Jewish responses to homosexuality;
http://shamash.org/listarchives/mail-jewish/Special_Topics/Homosexuals
http://shamash3.shamash.org/listarchives/mail-jewish/Special_Topics/Homosexuals
[editor's note; excerpt from the above page "The topic of discussion is treatment of Jews who claim to be homosexual.(However, from my admittedly small knowledge of such things, I believe I have heard that the main problem is anal intercourse for which one receives the death penalty (chyuv missa). I.e., the problem is the action one takes, not the state of being.)"]
Essay by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, Oxford, UK;
http://shamash3.shamash.org/listarchives/oxford-judaism/homosexuality
This next link is a web page and resource for Orthodox/Traditional
Jews who are homosexual. It also maintains some resources from
non-Orthodox rabbis, both official positions as well as personal
position papers.
http://members.aol.com/gayjews/
Conservative Judaism
----------------------
There have been four separate teshuvot (responsa) approved by the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards on homosexuality, all of which were used as backing sources for a unified movement consensus position. The CJLS consensus position is that given the current state of scientific, psychological and biological information on the origin and nature of homosexuality, homosexual relationships nevertheless can not be judged to be in accord with halakha (Jewish law). Some of the responsa note that there are certain leninencies in the law and potential legal novellae which may be utilized, depending on new information which may be discovered. As such, the CJLS holds the right to re-evauate this area at a future date.
The Conservative movement's consensus position is as follows.
(A) The Conservative movement does not ordain homosexuals as rabbis or cantors, because these positions are considered to be the most important halakhic role models.
(B) The Conservative movement does not approve of homosexual marriages or committment ceremonies.
(C) However, the Conservative movement does allow homosexual men and women to otherwise participate fully in synagogue life and the Jewish community. It sees homosexuality as the non-fulfillment of one mitzvah - but there are 612 other mitzvot that are open to be fulfilled. As such, one should not treat homosexual Jews any different than one would treat a Jew who is not fully observant in any other way, such as one who drives on Shabbat to places other than a synagogoue, or one who does not keep kosher, etc. Thus, Conservative Judaism affirms that homosexual men and women may lead prayers, have an aliyah to read from the Torah, and may even serve as youth group counselors or Hebrew scool teachers.
(D) The Rabbinical Assembly and the United Syangogue of Conservative Judaism have approved proclamations affirming that inherent dignity of all homosexual Jews. Their statements are almost identical, and RA text is reproduced below:
Whereas Judaism affirms that the Divine image reflected by every human being must always be cherished and affirmed, and
Whereas Jews have always been sensitive to the impact of official and unofficial prejudice and discrimination, whenever directed, and
Whereas gay and lesbian Jews have experienced not only the constant threats of physical violence and homophobic rejection, but also the pains of anti-Semitism known to all Jews and, additionally, a sense of painful alienation from our own religious institutions, and
Whereas the extended family of gay and lesbian Jews are often members of our congregations who live with concern for the safety, health, and well being of their children, and
Whereas the AIDS crisis has deeply exacerbated the anxiety and suffering of this community of Jews who need in their lives the compassionate concern and support mandated by Jewish Tradition,
Therefore be it resolved that we, the Rabbinical Assembly, while
affirming our tradition's prescription for heterosexuality,
1) Support full civil equality for gays and lesbians in our national
life, and
2) Deplore the violence against gays and lesbians in our society,
and
3) Reiterate that, as are all Jews, gay men and lesbians are welcome
as members in our congregations, and
4) Call upon our synagogues and the arms of our movement to increase
our awareness, understanding and concern for our fellow Jews who are
gay and lesbian.
Also refer to the excerpt on homosexuality from "This Is My
Beloved, This Is My Friend: A Rabbinic Letter on Intimate Relations",
the Conservative movement's official pastoral letter to the laity on
human sexuality. By Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff and the Commission on Human
Sexuaility, on behalf of the Rabbinical Assembly.
http://www.gayjews.org/articles/conservative2.html
Reconstructionist
Judaism
-------------------------
The Reconstructionist movement has rejected the traditional halakhic view in all areas relating to this issue; they view all restrictions on homosexualiy as null and void. As such, they ordain homosexual Jews as rabbis and cantors. The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association permits Jewish homosexual marriages and homosexual intermarriages.
Reform Judaism
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The American Reform movement has rejected the traditional halakhic view in all areas relating to this issue; they view all restrictions on homosexualiy as null and void. As such, they ordain homosexual Jews as rabbis and cantors. The Central Conference of American Rabbis permits its rabbis to perform Jewish homosexual marriages; one CCAR committee has issued a non-binding statement discouraging this, while a parallel committe has issued a statement promoting this.
CCAR officially discourages, but does allow its rabbis to perform, homosexual intermarriages.
Progressive [Reform] Judaism in Israel does not permit homosexual marriages, nor any intermarriages, niether homosexual or heterosexual.
Shalom,
Robert Kaiser
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[editor's note; "The Talmud is the central pillar supporting the entire spiritual and intellectual edifice of Jewish life." Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Introduction, "The Talmud; The Steinsaltz Edition, A Reference Guide" (Israel Institute for Talmudic Publications, 1989)]