I better see a large post on this come December!

There’s strict adherence to observance in CJ. It’s just that CJews started to fly away from it because of, in a way, the perceived notion that all the ammendments that CJ has done were assimilation. If they’re assimilating, why can’t we? So…they drive on Shabbos, do all the rest of the things they do. CJ isn’t about picking and choosing what mitzvahs you gotta do. It’s about allowing you the advantage of applying modernity to traditional Judaism. That’s the core of it. What other people do…that’s just the secular world working into their lives.

In terms of younger Jews, there’s a small but growing number of kids my age that are Conservative and interested in being a CJ. In being observant. We’re small, but we believe in it all. That includes the gay community within CJ. My problem now is what do I think as a CJew with the fact that they’re against letting that community, however small or large it is, get closer to God by becoming a spiritual leader.

If the CJ movement makes you happy, that is cool. I suppose practicing some mitzvahs is better than none. I just think there is something missing. I think a lot of young Jews feel that way today.

Not to incite another Conservative Judaism post or anything.

But you’re right middle — this is a total lose-lose situation. And it’s a lose-lose situation by stalling delaying the process.

This is one of the reasons they are better off postponing this decision for a while. It’s better not to have a position because I do believe they’re in a lose-lose proposition here.

…so, what do we think now?

In addition, aren’t you being more than a little bit judgemental? You are most definately entitled to your own opinion. Personally, I don’t understand homosexuality. I am a scientist and it makes very little logical sense to me. But who am I to pass judgement on someone else? If a homosexual man or women chooses to live the life of a Jew, I have no right to stop them. They should not be blocked from places of worship or ostricized from society. I personally believe that being gay is NOT a choice for most people. It is how G-d made them.

Has anyone ever bothered to consider that maybe G-d places certain people in this world to test what we should’ve learned as dedicated Torah students? No where in the Torah does it sanction the treatment of people like many gays are treated, sometimes at the hands of their own families. If it is a test, we as a culture are flunking miserably.

From a happy, lesbian Jew

heather

My point was that for someone wanting to be Orthodox, they have to accept many barriers to their feelings and desires, that they would not have to deal w/ if they were frei’.

Sorry about the misunderstanding, it is an important distinctions you are correct.

So here’s the thing: No matter where I go or what I do, there’s always going to be someone else out there who thinks that I’m sick and disgusting – even though I may simply be in a committed relationship.

And when it comes to children, I’d want to teach them how to be the best possible people they can, and surrounding ourselves with people who hate me or them because of who their parents are – well, that’s something I would use all of my power to avoid. Simply enough, that’s not a community worth living in, and they aren’t people worth knowing – no matter how “compassionate” they may claim to be. Blind hatred is still blind hatred.

You talk about “curtail[ing] and suppress[ing]” certain behaviors – are you under the impression that someone who is gay would have sex in their front yard for all the neighbors to see? Or is it just simply walking down the street and holding hands that is too “out there” for you? I have no desire for anyone – especially my kids and neighbors – to know what I do behind the closed doors of my bedroom.

But they’ll know that there’s a gay couple who’s committed to each other and Judaism, who may be seen together or even – gasp – seen kissing like any other couple – and that’s something they are going to have to deal with.

But then again, they’ll probably move away from the neighborhood when we move in.

In a frum context, what people are trying to get accross is that there are many behaviors that they have to curtail and supress. How is this any different really?

Ariela, I know that i meet them, but I do not think, ah he is gay actually. what i meant was that I do not have this type of conversation w/ anyone for that matter.

I can say almost with 100% certainty that you do indeed meet and/or encounter gay persons on a regular basis. Statistically speaking, I mean.

I recognize that they’re attactive or hot, but no, nothin’ doin’ when push comes to shove.

And it’s not for lack of trying.