samet@sfmag.UUCP (A.I.Samet) (07/09/85)
> To some extent, we have a problem here. For the orthodox Jew, being gay > is against the Torah. In fact, we have seen in at least two of the postings > that in the days when capital punishment existed, the witness must know the > crime was to happen, tell the person(s) not to perform the crime, and (as I > understand it) try to stop the crime. Today we don't have capital punishment, > however, how should an orthodox Jew, following what is correct according > to the Torah, do when faced with a Gay who is open about what he has and will > do? Don't forget, the orthodox Jew must act according to the Torah. > Michael L. Schneider An orthodox Jewish response: One of the 613 commandments in the Torah is mitzvah of "tochacha" - advising fellow Jews not to transgress the Torah. In practice, this takes understanding and skill, and is often not feasible. Still, where a specific practice is openly forbidden by the Torah, tochacha must be attempted, however slight the chances for success. Many Jews, despite skepticism or total non-belief in the Divine origin of the Torah, will often do a mitzva, or refrain from an aveira (sin), after being advised of the Torah view. While they may not be ready or able to commit themselves to total Torah observance, they often have an attachment to the Jewish religion, and some respect for the Torah, even if they doubt its Divine origin. Thus large numbers of otherwise non-religious Jews fast on Yom Kippur and eat only matza on Pesach. In Yerushalayim, there are virtually no cars running on Yom Kippur (though there are many on Shabbos). Also, according to Israel radio, all of the Jewish convicts fast! Many Jewish tourists are willing to forego a visit to the Temple mount (mosque of Omar) when advised that the Torah considers this to be a transgression more severe than eating on Yom Kippur. For this reason, it is a big mitzva to publicize the fact that the Torah considers the homosexual act to be an abomination, one which is so sinful that it is punishable by death. While committed homosexuals may be unreceptive to such revelations, many other Jews will stop and think. Hopefully many potential homosexuals can be guided away from the wrong path. It is our obligation to try to do so. Traditionally, American society viewed homosexuality as aberrant, socially unacceptable behavior. In recent years, there has been a campaign to indoctrinate adults and public school children with the idea that homosexuality is a normal, viable, and respectable mode of life, rather than a sick aberration. The effect of this has been, as with all propaganda, to gradually alter people's perceptions and views. The appropriate response to this campaign is a counter-campaign. Simply repeating the fact that many people disagree with these views will have some effect. Stressing that they view them as corrupt will have more. Mentioning that the Torah (which still has some clout) regards this as a fundamental perversion of humanity, an abomination, and a capital crime, will have still more of an impact. Other countermeasures can be pursued in the social realm. We can dissuade many Jews from falling into the error of homosexuality by ostracizing those who flaunt their homosexuality from Jewish society, and by discriminating against them. (In contrast with racial, national, sexual, and other immoral/illegal forms of discrimination, this is both moral and legal.) To accept them as members of our society would tacitly condone their actions and might lead others to regard homosexuality as legitimate. In contrast, those who are undeclared homosexuals need not be ostracized (unless there is a risk that they will corrupt others). If possible, they can be helped via psychological and religious counseling, as appropriate. If these counter-measures arouse arrogant Torah haters to "moral" indignance, it is a sign that we're doing something right. Yitzchok Samet