For hasidic rebbes and haredi gedolim, the idea that homosexuality is an "abomination" that must be staunchly opposed is axiomatic, so much so that haredi rabbis and publications never refer to homosexuality by name and instead only refer to it as "the abomination." But the Torah also calls other things an "abomination" and these haredi leaders don't really actively fight those – and, in some cases, openly benefit from them. What section of the Torah is it that these top haredi rabbis ignore?
For hasidic rebbes and haredi gedolim, the idea that homosexuality is an "abomination" that must be staunchly opposed is axiomatic. They may differ somewhat on how to conduct that opposition, but they all agree that homosexuality must be strongly opposed, so much so that haredi rabbis and publications never refer to it by name and instead only refer to it as "the abomination."
After all, they argue, the Torah itself calls homosexuality an "abomination."
But the Torah also calls other things an "abomination" and these haredi leaders don't really actively fight those. In fact, in some cases they openly benefit from them. (I'll give brief examples below.)
So what section of the Torah is it that these top haredi rabbis are ignoring?
This one:
לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ בְּכִיסְךָ אֶבֶן וָאָבֶן גְּדוֹלָה וּקְטַנָּה: לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ בְּבֵיתְךָ אֵיפָה וְאֵיפָה גְּדוֹלָה וּקְטַנָּה: אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה וָצֶדֶק יִהְיֶה לָּךְ אֵיפָה שְׁלֵמָה וָצֶדֶק יִהְיֶה לָּךְ לְמַעַן יַאֲרִיכוּ יָמֶיךָ עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ: כִּי תוֹעֲבַת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ כָּל עֹשֵׂה אֵלֶּה כֹּל עֹשֵׂה עָוֶל: – דְּבָרִים 16-13:25
You may not have diverse weights in your bag, one large and one small. You may not have diverse measures in your house, one large and one small. Instead, you should have a perfect and just weight and a perfect and just measure so your days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord your God gives you. Because anyone who does such things [has differing weights and differing measures that can be used to cheat people] and everyone else who acts unrighteously are an abomination to the Lord your God. – Deuteronomy 25:13-16
How many haredi rabbis and hasidic rebbes actually turn down money donated by haredim who got the money through cheating, stealing and deceiving?
Why is it that Lakewood's Beth Medrash Govoha has a campus named after a person like that? Why do the Satmar rebbes take money from known thieves? Why did the late Rabbi Menashe "HaKatan" Klein allegedly allow certain types of stealing?
When haredi 'gedolim' start openly distancing themselves from haredi criminals and cheats, and when they loudly, clearly and openly call stealing and cheating "an abomination," it might be possible to say their opposition to homosexuality is actually deeper than rank homophobia. Until then, it can't be viewed as anything else.
[Hat Tip: Mark S.]