January 21, 2010
Yesterday, individuals from various religious communities and worldviews gathered to learn about and discuss gender roles and homosexuality from an Orthodox Jewish perspective. Leading the conversation was Rabbi Dr. Barry Freundel, leader of Georgetown’s Kesher Israel congregation and Assistant Professor of Rabbinics at the University of Maryland.
There are often significant misconceptions about homosexuality and gender roles in religious traditions. Religious texts are “incomplete” in the sense they do not address every matter that the future presents, requiring scholars to strike a balance between modern developments and traditional laws. Orthodox Judaism, according to Rabbi Freundel, holds many surprising views regarding this balance and traditional gender relations.
He demonstrated that there are many cases, according to Jewish law or halakha, in which women’s circumstances fare better than men. Freundel’s main point of contention was that although men and women have different roles and characteristics, both have equally infinite values as human beings. Freundel was very clear that women both in the Hebrew Bible and his current congregation encounter no obstacles in achieving the highest of goals in professional and public life.
However, he recognized the difficulties of some of the women in his congregation who come from elite professional positions and then enter synagogues where they have lesser roles (there are common restrictions of women entering leadership roles in orthodox synagogues; also, women are not obligated to attend synagogue). Freundel explained his interpretation of these laws and shared with participants approaches to understand them.
Homosexuality
Freundel aptly contended that, according to the Hebrew Bible, homosexuality is an act of male-male sex, and is not a state of being or an identity. This debate over homosexuality as an act or identity is one that is conflated by diverse opinions in the gay community and elsewhere. In his view, he equates this act with other sins and forbidden acts in Judaism; thus, gays and lesbians are welcome to join his Orthodox congregation and are not denied based on a state of being a homosexual. In his view, it is unjust to define individuals by their sexuality. However, he considers reversing homosexual interests to be possible and is encouraging of individuals who seek to do so.
The Hush about Sexuality
Homosexuality is known to be a controversial topic among religious followers. The general hush in religious communities about sexuality and homosexuality might have been one reason for such a vibrant discussion to emerge at Buxton. What Buxton Roundtables aim to do is provide a space for diverse individuals can have these discussions in an open, honest, and respectful manner. If you would like to stay updated about our upcoming events, you can subscribe to our mailing list on the sidebar of the website.
