Orthodox Gay Group Sends Leaflets On Gay Issues To Orthodox Synagogues

New synagogue leaflet 'Bireish Galay' distributed in Orthodox congregations (which request it), dealing with distress of mitzvot-observing homosexuals. Pamphlet's publishers says they "hope religious society doesn't reject it."

Religious gays addressed in shul leaflet
New synagogue leaflet 'Bireish Galay' distributed in Orthodox congregations (which request it), dealing with distress of mitzvot-observing homosexuals. Pamphlet's publishers says they 'hope religious society doesn't reject it'
Kobi Nahshoni • Ynet

Religious homosexuals are continuing their struggle for recognition within the Religious Zionist movement. On Yom Kippur, the organization Havruta began distributing a Torah-study leaflet entitled "Bireish Galay" that highlights the distress of mitzvoth-observing Jews torn between their homosexual identity and their religious beliefs.

The first publication of the pamphlet dealt with the historic process the religious homosexual community is undergoing. The article "Hashem is God" discussed what the editors called "the challenging meeting between halachic language and the GLBT lifestyle and the insistence to stick to Orthodox halacha."
 
A rabbinical guest column featured the only rabbi who agreed to send his words of blessing – Avia Hacohen from the Tekoa Yeshiva.
 
Havruta said that they initially intended to publish a once-off pamphlet, but the increasing interest and positive responses they have received have spurred them to publish a new pamphlet on each Jewish holiday.
 
The organization emphasized that "Bireish Galay" will not be sent to every synagogue as other pamphlets are, but only to the Orthodox communities who ask for it. They noted that they have already received such requests from some synagogues.

"At the end of the day, we are people of the written word, which also needs to come out of the closet and march with pride, like the voice of the ram's horn," explained those behind the decision to publish a homosexually-themed synagogue pamphlet.

"We hope the religious society does not reject it, but will know how to take this opportunity to take home a pamphlet of words of Torah and read comfortably about the world of religious homosexuals, which perhaps puts some people off, but also intrigues many."
 
Havruta said that the timing of the pamphlet was incidental and was not planned specifically for Yom Kippur. However, once it became clear that this would be the date of distribution, relevant content was created accordingly.
 
"The articles address issues of forgiveness and atonement, as well as to the reference to the prohibition against lying with a man during the fast day's afternoon prayers," said the publishers.
 
"It is known that Yom Kippur revolves around mitzvoth between man and God, but that mitzvoth between man and his fellow man are atoned for only if he asked forgiveness. Homophobia within religious society is a serious personal affront to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders. Treating them like 'sick people,' 'perverts', or 'having a choice' is the complete opposite of the commandment to 'love your neighbor as yourself.' Yom Kippur does not atone for these sins," explained a Havruta source.
 
The Havruta publishers expressed their hope that publication of such a leaflet will help mitigate homophobia and strengthen understanding that gays and lesbians are just like anyone else. "They have the same beliefs and aspirations. They also get hungry immediately after the pre-fast meal."

Comments

[Michelle]

B"H

We cannot afford to lose one more person to suicide because they don't know how to reconcile their faith and their feelings.

May every rabbi request this information, may every synagogue pay attention. This is something very serious, a matter of life and death in a lot of cases.

May Hashm fortify and strengthen the hearts of everyone who deals with this issue in an open and caring way.

[ah-pee-chorus]

being an ortho-gay is oxymoronic. jews raised orthodox who realize they are gay should ask themselves one question. do i have a choice as to who i am attracted to or not? if the answer is no, then they should have the self respect to distance themselves from those groups which are in large part responsible for the horrible suffering gays have had to endure. and those groups would include all religions that take the words of the old testament literally. orthodox jews and many christian denominations 'know' that when it says a man who lies with another man shall be killed as it is an abomination, it is incumbent on them to feel and act a certain way towards gays. when gays look for acceptance from these groups, they are not only disrespecting themselves but are also lending credibility to the very source of much of the anti gay venom which in some cases has led to the very punishment called for in the bible...death.
i would also not recommend that jews look for understanding and acceptance from the nazi party.

[Menachem Mendel lll]

Could you email me when the Hebraic-Judaic Homosexualist decide the time has come to use their cirumsized shmoks as a "YAD" when reading from the Torah.

Thanks.

[Garnel Ironheart]

Exactly what does this leaflet hope to accomplish?
Gay Jews are entitled to the same respect that all other people are entitled to. Or are they looking to change the Torah again?

[seymour]

I think it is a fools game to reconcile Torah observance and homosexuality. The Torah clearly says a man who lies with another man shall be killed as it is an abomination.

It is like saying I am an orthodox Jewish Baal worshiper

[Menachem Mendel lll]

@ Seymour

If I recall correctly the Shulhan Aruch states; If an Uber hot and stilettoed skanky babette (exaclty what the frumies dream about) lies with an ugly and fat dike this shall also be considered and deemed as an abomination.

The part about killing a human being just because a guy likes "man meat" I am not crazy about.

It is not conside an abomination when both females who choose to engage in lewd acts of fornication are both deemed to be
"Butch" since as you know that changes the situation and different rules apply.

[Adam Neira]

This is like a criminal giving advice to a tzaddik. There is no "gay-gene". Homosexuality is a result of traumatic conditioning in early childhood, often repressed and poor later life choices.

[harold]

Off the topic:

Anything doing with Tian Sheng Lin? Has his condition changed? The story here has fallen over the cliff in the void of "Older" and Google News has shown nothing since Sept 22nd.

[Ben Dover]

Bend over and let Rover take over.

[harold]

Bend over and let Rover take over

Oh woof! Hey big boy, why don't you come over and I'll let you play with my lulav and esrogim!

Now look at what this site has done to me! For shame!

I deserve to be punished! I have been a very, very bad boy and need a good spanking!

Sorry, I need sensitivity training and should read one of the leaflets.

[Lisa]

Where can I see the contents of one of these things?

[josh]

I am surprised how failed massiah brings up so many issues yet the fact that there has been a push by kohanim and leviem recently to completely cover up the fact that they are probably not kohanim according to many poskim has been ignored completely. Most of you have probably never even heard of this.

See oraltorah.org for more info

[WoolSilkCotton]

Harold, sounds like you've been studying too much 'Oral Law'.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Apologies to Cyndi Lauper:

I come home from shul tonight,
My mother says "When you gonna live your life right?"
Oy, mammeleh
You have a faygeleh son,
And gays,
They wanna have fu-un.
Oy, gays,
Just wanna have fun.

The rabbi calls in the middle of the night,
My father schreis: "What you gonna do with your life?"
Oy, tatty,dear,
You know you're still mister frum,
But gays,
They wanna have fu-un,
Oy, gays, just wanna have
That's all they really want.....
Some fun....

When the davening is done,
Oy, gays,
They wanna have fu-un,
Oy, gays,
Just wanna have fun....

Gays,
They want,
Wanna have fun.
Gays,
Wanna have

Some rabbis take a learned bochur,
And hide him away from the rest of the mishpacha.
I wanna be the one to learn the Rambam.
Oy, gays,
They wanna have fu-un.
Oy, gays,
Just wanna have
That's all they really want.....
Some fun....

When the davening is done,
Oy, gays,
They wanna have fu-un.
Oy, gays,
Just wanna have fun...

Gays,
They want,
Wanna have fun.
Gays,
Wanna have.

They just wanna,
They just wanna.....
They just wanna,
(Oh....)
They just wanna.....
(Gays just wanna have fun...)
Oh...

Gays just wanna have fu-un...
They just wanna,
They just wanna....
They just wanna,
They just wanna....
(Oy...)
They just wanna...
(They just wanna have fun...)
Gays just wanna have fu-un...

When the prayin',
When the davening is done.
Oh,when the davening is done,
Oy,gays...
Gays,
Just wanna have fu-un...

They just wanna,
They just wanna....
They just wanna,
They just wanna have fun...

Gays just wanna have fu-un..
They just wanna,
They just wanna....
They just wanna,
They just wanna....
(Have fun..)

They just wanna,
(Gays wanna have fun)
They just wanna....
Oy, gays...
(Wanna have fun....)
Gays just wanna have fu-un.

When the yom tov,
When the holiday is done.
Oh,when the holiday is done,
Oy, gays,
Gays just wanna have fu-un.

They just wanna,
They just wanna....
(Oy, gays...)
They just wanna,
(Have fun....)
Oy, gays..
Girls just wanna have fu-un

They just wanna,
They just wanna...
When the davening is done...
(fades)

[SJ]

I fail to see how be fruitful and multiply (in the normal way) does not apply to homosexuals.

[seymour]

Bend over and let Rover take over

Oh woof! Hey big boy, why don't you come over and I'll let you play with my lulav and esrogim!

Now look at what this site has done to me! For shame!

I deserve to be punished! I have been a very, very bad boy and need a good spanking!

Sorry, I need sensitivity training and should read one of the leaflets.

Posted by: harold | September 27, 2010 at 07:12 PM
_____________________________________

only if you still have your pitum

[harold]

Harold, sounds like you've been studying too much 'Oral Law'.

Studying is one thing, I am a "hands on" kinda gay goy guy.

Off topic. I am in a great mood, the dreaded "Oral" Anatomy make up exam that my daughter had to take today in Medical School because the exam was given over succos went well. For two hours two professors grilled her and here is the resulting (edited) email that she just received:

Subject: gross anatomy exam

F,
You will be happy to learn - but you should not be surprised - that
you did very well on the gross anatomy make-up exam. Your score was
205 out of 210, or 97.6%. Great job!

J, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Studies, Anatomy & Cell Biology
Course Coordinator, Human Gross Anatomy
Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences

As I said before, nothing wrong with a father (or a mother) being proud of the accomplishments of their children!

[Michelle]

B"H

Mozel Tov, Harold!

M

[Friar Yid]

Garnel-

Gay Jews are entitled to the same respect that all other people are entitled to. Or are they looking to change the Torah again?

Perhaps the issue is that they're not treated with the baseline degree of respect that you're talking about. Take a look at the comments here, for example.

[Maskil]

Where is the movement to raise awareness of the internal struggles that heterosexual Orthodox Jews go through? The repression, the shame ... there have been far more suicides by repressed heterosexual Orthodox youths than by homosexual Orthodox youths. The heterosexual community needs to speak up for itself and take a stand. To communicate to the young, who are discovering their heterosexuality that they are not alone, and that although most of their urges are contrary to halacha it is possible to live an Orthodox lifestyle as a heterosexual. Aren't straight Jews entitled to the same respect that all other people are entitled to?

[Abracadabra]

Harold,

Mazal Tov. Enjoy the moment.

[Abracadabra]

Maskil,

Very good point. So much of Orthodox lifestyle is represive in so many ways. But more than any in sexuality and certainly for teenagers and young adults.

Seriously, there are plenty of (heterosexual) Orthodox kids who "go off the derech" who kill themselves either literally, or with drug addiction, or with other self-destructive behaviors. And do you blame them? Their families and friends have wholy rejected them, simply because they chose another lifestyle or don't believe the rhetoric and dogma.

[Abracadabra]

Shmarya, do you know where we could read an English version of these pamphlets?

[Maskil]

And do you blame them?

Not at all! I grew up Haredi and no story I have ever heard or read about the struggle, alienation and repression of growing up homosexual in an Orthodox Jewish environment has ever come close to the terrible shame and anguish I experienced growing up Haredi and heterosexual.

[Abracadabra]

Maskil, yeah - you had a hell of hard time trying to hide the fact that you were jerking off in the school bathroom while everyone else was in shiur.

Cut the crap - you're a troll - get lost.

[Adam Neira]

Maskil,

What is your real name and city please ?

One chance...

[harold]

B"H

Mozel Tov, Harold!

M

-----------------

Harold,

Mazal Tov. Enjoy the moment.

Thanks guys! The final email clinches it.

...
Mean grade for class = 81%
Highest score = 97%
...

Out of a class of 150! Not bad for a Stern girl. At first she was intimidated by all the Ivy League people there. I told her to simply to do the best that she can.

[IH]

Women in med school? Oy. Next thing she'll want to get an aliyah!

I continue to wonder what the females in your life make of your postings, Harold :-)

Mazal Tov.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Mazal tov, Harold.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Harold, some medical schools now (like the ones here in NJ) are grading the nonclinical years with only Pass/Fail grades.

How are Jewish parents supposed to 'strut their stuff' when their kids are in a 'P/F' grading system?
Oy, a shanda, people would say; your child is in a pass/fail medical school! :)

[WoolSilkCotton]

Harold, after the first exam or two, you realize that the undergrad alma mater means nothing.
Those who majored in biology have a definite advantage during the first two years.

After that, everyone is equal. In fact, menschlichkeit is the most important attribute in the 3rd and 4th (clinical) years.

[harold]

Harold, after the first exam or two, you realize that the undergrad alma mater means nothing.
Those who majored in biology have a definite advantage during the first two years.

After that, everyone is equal. In fact, menschlichkeit is the most important attribute in the 3rd and 4th (clinical) years.

That is true. My daughter did say that her taking Anatomy as an undergraduate did help her a little. I think she said that the focus then was the skeleton system, now it’s everything.

My daughter did say that at orientation they told everyone to put the MCAT scores behind them since even though it is a big deal in getting into Medical School it is meaningless going forward.

[Ben Dover]

I ain't got no panties on!

[Former-Gadol]

My message to all gay orthodox Jews: do not waste your life in misery and guilt because of an ancient texts full of superstitions and barbaric justice from "gadolim" and "chachomim" who knew nothing of science like alchemists. You have but one life to live. Free yourselves from your communities if they don't accept you for how you were born; free yourselves from communities that do not care to sympathize for your struggles because they trust an ancient text and 3 lines about homosexuality.

These draining struggles brought by religious guilt are not worth it when there is a life of tolerance and happiness in many corners of this world.