Confronting Homosexuality

Originally published 10/4/10, 12:25 pm.
One of the things that most bothers me is when a person cannot see that Torah Judaism is not taking sides on a specific issue but, rather, is articulating its own unique position. It is precisely because of this reason that many individuals mistook the message in the recent Statement regarding homosexuality signed by numerous rabbis including myself. See, for example, this editorial.

The author of this article maintained that the rabbis who signed this Statement were being influenced by modern mores and not Torah values. One could only say this if one believed that the issue is black and white -- as defined by our society -- and our allegiance to Torah simply informs us of what side to choose. Therein lies this individual's mistake. In that context, indeed Torah must be seen as siding with all the anti-homosexual forces in our society. The fact is that the Torah, in its own unique way, is actually articulating a third position -- separating the act from the individual who may perform the act. We are to have one attitude to the action -- clearly one of strong prohibition -- but quite another towards the individual. To that person, we are indeed to show caring, powerful caring. Where do we learn this from? The gemara informs us that, due to the mitzvah of v'ahavta l'rei'acha kamoch, we are to determine the kindest and least painful form of execution for a transgressor, even in the case of skila, stoning, the harshest form of execution. The act is one thing -- and that we must see as deserving a harsh punishment. The individual, though, we still must relate to as an individual -- thus bara lo mita yaffa, still treat him with caring and kindness.

Perhaps I really can only speak for myself as one who signed the Statement (but I am sure that I speak for many others that also signed) but my motivation was clearly from Torah -- and this, in fact, may be best shown by how much misunderstanding there has been over the statement. In reality, it actually is a statement with which either side in the world of the black-and-white definition of this issue should find difficulty. No wonder so many people had to define it a certain way, within their parameters, and thus miss the point even though the words were clear. It was a unique Torah document because it indeed came at its essence from the world of Torah.

Rabbi Ben Hecht