Tuesday 22 January 2008

The Reunion Question

Originally published 1/22/08, 1:40 PM, Eastern Daylight Time.
The Yeshiva of Flatbush sent out an e-mail that informed gay former graduates that their partners are not invited to the class reunion to be held in December 2007. Aside from graduates themselves, according to my understanding, spouses or fiances of graduates are also invited to yeshiva reunions but not others such a friends. The Yeshiva was simply making the point that it does not consider gay partners to be in the same category as spouses or fiances, and thus are not not in the category of those invited

From the point of view of political correctness, this is not in line with what many would think is expected. The Yeshiva, though, is an Orthodox institution and was simply acting within the guidelines of Orthodoxy. You might still expect those who challenge Orthodoxy to voice a complaint with Orthodox standards in the same way you have non-Orthodox feminists critique the separation of the sexes in the Orthodox synagogue - but you would expect most to understand that this reflects the view of Orthodoxy and to be expected by an Orthodox institution. That is why what most surprises me about the whole matter is how many graduates of this Yeshiva are joining in the criticism of the Yeshiva's stand. Whether a specific graduate is Orthodox or not, would you not expect such a person to recognize that this is the Yeshiva being true to its Orthodox roots?

You would expect a Yeshiva to have a reception with only kosher food. You would expect a Yeshiva to ask women who attend one of their functions to dress in a manner consistent with Halachic standards. All this Yeshiva did was ask individuals to respect was Yeshiva's values. You may disagree with these values but you can't challenge the Yeshiva for being what it is. Yet, strangely, so many of the graduates are doing just this. It may be a problem with an Orthodox institution attempting to reach out to the entire community as simply a Jewish place. It's time to recognize that there are major points of friction within the broad Jewish world. Many Reform leaders are in favour of same sex marriages, for example. In stating that I am against same sex marriages. I have to make the point that I don't stand for some generic Jewishness but stand for Orthodoxy. And, similarly, Yeshiva of Flatbush is Orthodox -- it should be respected as such.

2 comments:

Rabbi Richard Wolpoe said...

Ah but let us not forget:
It is no longer politically correct to bash:
Gays
Women
Non-Whites
etc.

But it is HIGHLY politically correct to bash both Religious and Political Conservatives - especially Orthodox! - both Xtian and Jewish.

It is the ONE remaining area where
unfair bashing is not only allowed but embraced!

KT
RRW

Anonymous said...

The question is: Why did the Yeshiva single out this particular averah for explicit exclusion? There are many others that might be present at a reunion of that community, especially since many of their graduates are not particularly torah observant -- e.g. mechalelie shabbat bepharhesiya or grads who eat tref, or, if one needs sexual examples, onanists or or couples who don't observe taharat hamishpachah or divorced women in sexual relationships prior to receiving a get. It is certain that some such transgressors were invited and an excellent chance that some attended. Yet the Yeshiva did not attempt to identify these people or notify them that they were not welcome. Why all the fuss about homosexuality?