tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8943671931238067249.post398238866604520270..comments2023-09-15T06:13:48.432-04:00Comments on Kirtzono: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye" - Miss PiggySaul Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06521203802204671785noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8943671931238067249.post-37442207256221781372012-05-13T12:53:06.938-04:002012-05-13T12:53:06.938-04:00I really appreciate it, I visit more often for upd...I really appreciate it, I visit more often for updates, keep up the great work!pay per headhttp://www.priceperheadcostarica.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8943671931238067249.post-11934911849345837652010-08-14T22:37:13.139-04:002010-08-14T22:37:13.139-04:00SD
This is not in any way an old issue. Quite some...SD<br />This is not in any way an old issue. Quite some time ago I was asked by friends to say a bracha at their wedding. Having come over to them only a few months before they explained "Ben, we really wanted to have you as an Eid. We can't, however much we love you, take the risk of our marriage being invalid. Still, we want to give you a kavod, so we're asking you to do this."<br />Very kind of them, and I completely understood. Part of that is what gives rise to my next point. As much as orthodox Judaism (which I practice, each to his own though) of rigid and unchanging, the tide of young, aware, caring and accepting Jewish leadership is slowly coming in. As we gay Jews await this change, we must remember that it is a tide, something that can not be forced. We can surf it, make it stand out more through symposiums and articles, but we cannot force this change, only pray for high tide.<br />Ben LewisBen Lewisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8943671931238067249.post-18453027469084501432010-03-05T11:20:40.898-05:002010-03-05T11:20:40.898-05:00On what grounds could you possibly disqualify for ...On what grounds could you possibly disqualify for being an eid?<br /><br />Is it gayness "per se" that disqualifies someone? What about all of the talmidim and rabbonim who are closeted?<br /><br />Are all of the ketubot that they signed invalid?<br /><br />What about all of the married gay people throughout the centuries? <br /><br />Any ketubah in the world could be invalid by this standard since no human being knows the true sexual orientation of any other human being.<br /><br />Or is it the publicness that disqualifies?<br /><br />But a public declaration of gayness does not mean that one's behavior violates Torah.<br /><br />Halacha does not recognize "gayness". For better or worse, it does not exist in halahca. We are not Xstians, who believe that you can "sin in your heart". The only sin is behavior.<br /><br />I once met a young man in Cleveland who was obviously gay. I handed him an early copy of Steve Greenberg's essay in Tikkun and he poured out his story to me.<br /><br />This man had never had *any* sexual experiences. None. And yet he was ostracizied from his community, depressed, in treatment with a self-hating (gay) Orthodox psychiatrist and as a result, nearly suicidal.<br /><br />I cannot understand the reasoning here. I think that the rabbi in this case must seriously consider the balance between the somewhat shaky halachic he is relying upon vs. the very clear prohibition against causing embarassment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8943671931238067249.post-68949679183397727132010-01-22T13:52:25.234-05:002010-01-22T13:52:25.234-05:00Saul David,
I agree with you and feel for your son...Saul David,<br />I agree with you and feel for your son and your family.<br />I have been surfing the blogs of many young Jews lately and even more so since December 22nd and I have been saddened to see how blindly some of them follow everything said in the classroom as the final judgement without engaging in debate.<br />They seem so focused on frum gay young men without wanting to discuss frum lesbians.<br />Since some of the arguments may refer to the results of both "unnatural" desires: not being able to "procreate"; engaging in same sex relationships; engaging in unnatural sexual activities, etc. I find it intersting that this topic is seldom addressed.<br />I think I know why.<br />There is no prescribed way to feel or think about women in these situations.<br />And what about heterosexual couples who are unable to procreate? Are they denied the marriage bed? Are they forced to divorce?<br />Situations where one must think things out for themselves are not comfortable to say the least. But I was taught that learning should lead to thinking for oneself.<br />I feel so much for our young people and their families. For you and your family.<br />I cannot believe that there is so much contempt for people going through such pain.<br />And that they cannot see where attitudes like these have always led in the past.<br />May the hypocrits learn and understand their hypocrisy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com