LGBT - A Torah True Approach

Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the UK (Getty images via the JC)

One of the things that separates the extreme right wing of Orthodoxy and the more moderate right wing (in which I include moderate Charedim and Centrists) is in how  we see those among us that are LGBT (people who have issues of forbidden sexuality - whether it is same sex attraction or gender dysphoria - self identifying as member of the sex one was not born with).

My own view, which I believe reflects the vast majority of moderate Orthodoxy is the classic ‘hate the sin, love the sinner’ approach. Which basically means that we are not in a position to judge anyone on matters of sexuality or even behavior, no matter how sinful that behavior might be. And we certainly may not judge an individual who has issues of gender identity. What we must instead do is treat every human being created in the image of God with the dignity that description deserves.

Which means that individuals that have any of these issues is the bearer of no sin, unless he does things that are sinful. Just like the rest of us. And if they succumb to their forbidden desires they are to be treated like anyone of the rest of us that succumb to our own forbidden desires. What we may not do is glorify any behavior that the Torah describes as sinful.

It is in the celebration of forbidden desires as equal to permitted ones,  that I take issue with. (Which is one reason I oppose gay marriage for example.) If I had to criticize LGBT activists, that would be my main bone of contention.

The Orthodox Chief Rabbi of the UK (United Kingdom), Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, has just issued guidelines for Orthodox day schools and Yeshiva high schools about how o treat students  that are LGBT. From the JC: 

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has published ground-breaking guidance for Orthodox schools on their duty of care to LGBT+ pupils.

He says schools must adopt robust policies to prevent bullying and be equipped to offer pastoral support with sensitivity and understanding.

His 36-page booklet, The Wellbeing of LGBT+ Pupils, has been produced with input from LGBT+ Jews and with the support of KeshetUK, the organisation which promotes equality on their behalf within the Jewish community.

Orthodox Jewish schools, Rabbi Mirvis emphasises, “can and must be a safe haven for all children and teens, a place where every pupil can feel nurtured and protected”.
Commenting on its publication, the Chief Rabbi said he believed the document was “an extremely significant milestone and will have a real and lasting impact on reducing harm to LGBT+ Jews across the Orthodox Jewish community. 

“Our children need to know that at school, at home and in the community, they will be loved and protected regardless of their sexuality or gender identity.”

In his introduction, the Chief Rabbi paid tribute to (Keshet UK an LGBT activist group), which had been “totally respectful of Torah values, never seeking to undermine or contradict any issurim (prohibitions)) or important areas of hashkafa (religious outlook).” 

Rabbi Mirvis’s views are right on target. Young people have a right to be protected form bullying regardless of their sexual or gender identity. I am happy to see that Rabbi Mirvis and I are on the same page.

I’m sure that this pamphlet was issued in response to Ofsted, (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills) the UK’s educational arm. They have recently examined whether Orthodox schools provide a secular curriculum comparable to that of their public school curriculum and that the values taught are in concert with British values.

I believe that most Orthodox schools do provide a curriculum in line with Ofsted’s standards. I also believe that Rabbi Mirvis’ pamphlet is in concert with British values.

The extreme right wing school are not in concert with either of these. My views about offering a decent secular studies curriculum are well known to most readers but are beyond the scope of this post. The issue here is about whether the values taught in those schools  are in concert with British values and whether implementing Rabbi Mirvis’s guidelines contradict Torah values. 

The extreme right wing must think they do.

And they have cried foul! They see this as an intrusion into what they believe is their democratic right of freedom of religion which includes their right to teach their children their religious values as they see fit.  

How can there be such a vast chasm  between two Orthodox segments of Jewry? That is a good question. But that is exactly the case. Form another article in the JC: 

Strictly Orthodox leaders have distanced themselves from the Chief Rabbi's guidance on LGBT+ pupils, saying it applies only to schools under his authority.

In a document unprecedented for Orthodox schools, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said they should have an explicit policy to look after LGBT+ students and have measures in place to prevent bullying.

But the rabbinic committee of Chinuch UK, the new campaign group established to defend the strictly Orthodox educational system, stressed they would provide their own directions, in a memo circulated before Rosh Hashanah. 

First, I take exception to the description of the extreme right wing as the strictly Orthodox. Because that implies that Rabbi Mirvis is not strictly Orthodox. That is an outrageous and false claim that must be refuted in the strongest possible terms.  The proper term for them is extreme right wing.

Why are they so opposed? I believe it is because they do not seem to be able to separate the sin from the sinner.  Nor are they able to even discuss these matters with their students because they consider any talk about sex or sexuality as immodest (not Tznius). 

What does that do to a child in their system that might be LGBT? Surely it destroys any chance he or she will have at leaving an observant life. It will certainly not discourage bullying. If one of their students is outed, it will no doubt do the opposite. Which can obviously ‘kill’ the student. Destroying his or her ego to the point of despair, depression  and even suicide.

How is this approach in any way a Torah approach? How can Chinuch be allowed to ignore matters that can lead to life and death situations for reasons of Tznius? What is so terrible about Rabbi Mirvis’s common sense approach which is as in line with the Torah as is that of the extreme right?

I believe it is high time – long overdue even – for the extreme right wing to see the light and stop making trouble for themselves. They ought to adopt those wise guidelines. Because the path they are on now cannot end well for them. 

None of us like government interference with our Chinuch. But is this a hill worth dying on? It would be wise for them to pick their battles more carefully.