Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, a senior Zionist Orthodox rabbinic leader who is also the state employed chief rabbi of Ramat Gan, issued a ruling earlier this week forbidding Jews to rent apartments to lesbians couples.
Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan Yaakov Ariel
Senior Zionist Orthodox Rabbi: It Is Forbidden To Rent Apartments To Lesbian Couples
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, a senior Zionist Orthodox rabbinic leader who is also the state employed chief rabbi of Ramat Gan, issued a ruling earlier this week forbidding Jews to rent apartments to lesbians couples, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Ariel issued his ruling on Monday on the ask the rabbi forum on Yeshiva.org.
On Monday, a person wrote on that forum that a young woman applied to rent his apartment and he realized she was lesbian and wanted to live there with her female partner.
“Is there a prohibition in Jewish law which would prevent me renting the apartment to her because of her relationship?” the man asked.
Ariel ruled that if both women want to rent the apartment together it would be forbidden. But if only one of them wants to rent the apartment it would be permitted – but it would be better not to rent the apartment to her if possible.
Havruta, which is a nonprofit organization made up of Orthodox gays, lesbians and transsexuals, condemned Ariel’s ruling, calling it homophobic.
“Homophobia, transphobia and hatred of the other truly endangers those whose sexual orientation or identification is different from what society expects. We call on anyone for whom the values of democracy, tolerance, and acceptance of the other are important to join us in our criticism of the rabbi, who speaks in the name of the official rabbinate of the State of Israel,” Havruta reportedly said in a statement.