Orthodox Jews Issue Ground Breaking Statement on Homosexuality

As many of my readers know, I was raised in the Reform Jewish faith, the liberal end of the Jewish spectrum.  That is why the story that came out recently about Orthodox Judaism is so surprising.  A group of Orthodox Rabbis have issued a "Statement of Principles on the Place of Jews with a Homosexual Orientation in Our Community", and it's quite a bombshell.

Previously the orthodox view was the same as in Leviticus, but this is a major departure and a real nod toward the real contemporary world we live in.  The first two tenants of this amazing document are worth reading in total.

1. All human beings are created in the image of God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect (kevod haberiyot). Every Jew is obligated to fulfill the entire range of mitzvot between person and person in relation to persons who are homosexual or have feelings of same sex attraction. Embarrassing, harassing or demeaning someone with a homosexual orientation or same-sex attraction is a violation of Torah prohibitions that embody the deepest values of Judaism.

2. The question of whether sexual orientation is primarily genetic, or rather environmentally generated, is irrelevant to our obligation to treat human beings with same-sex attractions and orientations with dignity and respect.

 All I can say is oy!  The Orthodoxy is apparently ready to step into the 21st century.  That is a mitzvah of the highest order.