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Powerful Rabbi says UK Jewish LGBTI student guide ‘encourages homosexuality’

Written by gaytourism

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth

One of Judaism’s most influential rabbis has condemned an LGBTI educational resource for Orthodox Jewish schools.

Charedi (ultra-orthdox) Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch said the ‘The Wellbeing of LGBT+ Pupils: A Guide for Orthodox Jewish Schools’ was ‘encouraging’ homosexuality.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, created the resource along with LGBTI Jewish group, KeshetUK. Mirvis is the head of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth.

They released it in September this year with Mirvis saying it ‘will have a real and lasting impact on reducing harm to LGBT+ Jews across the Orthodox Jewish community.’

But the London born and now Jerusalem-based Sternbuch does not agree. He accused Mirvis of ‘blasphemy’ and said the resource would draw ‘sinners into our camp’.

‘(Mirvis) blasphemes our holy Torah and runs counter to the foundations of the holiness of our nation, since the halocho obligates us to distance such people, not legitimise them, especially since drawing them closer would pose a great danger to other students,’ The Jewish News reported Sternbuch saying.

Sternbuch is a very popular Rabbi among the world’s Charedi. He receives a rockstar reception wherever he travels. Recently in Brooklyn thousands lined the streets to just see his motorcade.

‘The Jewish community is diverse’

A spokesperson for KeshetUK told Gay Star News they anticipated not everyone would agree with the resource. KeshetUK said Rabbi Mirvis recognized the need to protect young Jewish LGBTI people.

‘This incredible step will make a huge difference to Jewish LGBT+ people and the Jewish community. But we always knew not everyone would agree with his approach – the Jewish community is diverse with many different traditions, practices and beliefs,’ the spokesperson said.

‘KeshetUK looks forward to one day working with those who currently reject this Guide, so we can work with them to consider how to improve the safety of LGBT+ people in their communities. ‘

‘The Wellbeing of LGBT+ pupils: A Guide for Orthodox Jewish schools’ is grounded in Torah and orthodox Jewish principles. KeshetUK and Rabbi Mirvis created it with LGBT+ Jewish voices and experiences and exploration of what it is to be an LGBT+ Jewish person in the UK today.

 

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