ANT KATZ

South African Jewry is at its most vocal when the topic at hand relates to same-sex issues. This past week has been no exception and SAJR Online users have been vocally speaking out for and against the issue.

Of course news from the US and Israel led the debate, cleverly picked up on by Jewish Report’s past editor and now commentator Geoff Sifrin in his weekly “Taking Issue” column last week. SAJR Online users went into a chirp-fest – with shouts of everything from “abomination” to “welcome” – and everything in between.

Commenting on: ORTHODOX GROUPS BRACE FOR GAY-MARRIAGE FALLOUT, Choni Davidowitz somehow, as is his wont, found a way to make this about aliyah and commented: “Another very valid reason for Orthodox Jews in exile to move to Israel, where this issue will never arise.” Really? Gabi’s post ended with the comment that “The liberals are in fact the bigots,” while Jill pointed out that “It is written that G-d abhors homosexuality. What more needs to be said?”

Bill, in response to Choni, posted: “Then move already, Choni.”

But it was Geoff Sifrin’s CAN SA JEWRY PROVIDE A HOME FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGES? that really got users chirping. As usual, Choni managed to get in first with: “Mr Sifrin’s comments are once again completely anti-Torah”, followed by another stalwart, Nat Cheiman, who wrote: “That question does not arise. The Torah is clear on … abomination.”

Gillian chirped that “While the majority of SA Jews affiliate with Orthodoxy, they are not themselves Orthodox. The vast majority of SA Jews are not observant of Jewish law, so they should have no problem accepting gay marriage, inasmuch as they accept Sabbath desecration and eating non-kosher.”

Nat’s response was quick, short and sweet: “Obviously not!!!!!!!”

Marc Feitelberg thanks Geoff for “the important article. I wanted to add that Rabbi Greg Alexander from Temple Israel in Cape Town provides a wonderful warm and fully embracing ‘home’ for the LGBT Jewish community.”

Marc says that Rabbi Alexander, who is chairman of the SA Association of Progressive Rabbis (the de facto Progressive chiefrRabbi in SA) “is truly inspiring”.

Gabi chirped, in part, that she loves the way “liberal and secular are in the same sentence. You ask a ‘liberal secular’ Jew if they are willing to hear the Orthodox side with an open mind?”

Choni then got cleverly facetious to illustrate his point: “Hymie ‘marries’ Abe. Sarah ‘marries’ Hannah!” commented Choni. “Sifrin, do you really believe an Orthodox community will ever welcome these couples with open arms especially to a shul?” he asked.

Rabbi Adrian M Schell of Bet David in Sandton then joined the debate, saying that he had read the article about providing a home for same sex-couples in SA congregations with great interest. “I agree with you that this is an important theme for all Jewish communities in SA,” wrote Rabbi Schell, “and we should start an open and honest debate about it, rather sooner than later.”

However, said Schell, “I don’t share your view that lesbians and gays have no Jewish home in SA at all.” He went on to point out that Progressive communities are “very much alive and reflect beautifully what is the common sense and approach of the Progressive/Reform movement worldwide. This means that gays and lesbians, as well as all other members of our Jewish community are welcomed and have a home in our congregations, to honour their Jewish heritage and to build up a Jewish future.

And, without doubt, “gays and lesbians can sanctify their partnership in the form of a chuppah and civil union in all Progressive communities in SA,” wrote Schell. READ WHAT ELSE HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

Rabbi Schell also referred to the Progressive community in SA as being “robust and growing.” This inspired user Warren to chirp: “The Progressive Jewish Community in South Africa is robust and growing…” Is it really?

Further contributions to the debate can be read at:

• Alvin Kushner, chair, SAUPJ: Taking issue with Geoff Sifrin;
• Rabbi Schell: Gays may sanctify union in Progressive shuls;
• Choni: Sexual transgressions are ‘ultimate sin’ -Torah;

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