Ask The Rabbi
January 15, 1994, Issue #6

========================================================================

This edition contains:
1.	Judaism's view on Homosexuality
2.	How to submit questions
3.	Announcing "The Search for Truth" by Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb

========================================================================

A Curious, Wondering Jew writes:

>Dear Rabbi,
>
>	Now that science has determined that homosexuality is genetically 
>transmitted how does that affect the Jewish view of Homosexuals?
>	
>			Thank you,
>			A curious, wondering, Jew


Dear Curious, Wondering, Jew,

	Two points.  First:  Although there has been some research into 
the role genetics has on homosexuality, no conclusive evidence to 
support this claim has emerged.  That some people have a predisposition 
to this kind of behavior is not in question, but the argument about its 
origins continues.  Even if it was proven that homosexuality is 
genetically transmitted, that would not mean that we must condone the 
behavior.  There are many conditions that are genetically transmitted 
(for example, color blindness and Down's Syndrome) yet we continue to 
search for a way to overcome them.

	Second:  The Torah's view of Jewish homosexuals is that they are 
just as much a part of the community as everyone else.  We have an 
obligation to treat them with the same respect and compassion that we 
must treat every other human being.  What is objectionable in the eyes 
of the Torah is the particular sexual act, NOT the person.  "Thou shalt 
not lie with a man after the manner of a woman: it is an abomination."  
The Torah is not judging the person; only the  behavior. 

	The difficulty arises when people insist on identifying 
homosexuals exclusively by their sexual orientation.  Then when the 
sexual behavior is condemned, this condemnation is transferred to their 
entire modus vivendi.  Human beings are much more than their sexual 
behavior and must be treated that way.
 
Source:
	 Leviticus ch.18, v.22

========================================================================

Questions are welcomed from ALL readers at ALL levels for inclusion in 
the Ask the Rabbi column. Questions of interest to our general 
readership may be answered in this column; for those of a more personal 
nature, we will try to answer personally via e-mail.

To submit a question, address it to:
        ohr@jer1.co.il
to insure correct handling, set the subject to "ASK THE RABBI"

To subscribe to ASK THE RABBI, send the message:
        sub ask {firstname} {lastname}
to 
        listproc@jer1.co.il

========================================================================

Ohr Somayach Institutions is proud to present:

	THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH
		by Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb
			Transcribed by Joshua Hermelin

Transcripts of 7 lectures by Rabbi Gottlieb
	o	The Relevance of Religion
	o	Religion: Pragmatism or Truth?
	o	The Historical Verification of the Torah - Parts 1-5

Rabbi Dr. Gottlieb is a former professor of philosophy at Johns Hopkins 
University, is an internationally acclaimed lecturer and author of 
several books.  He is presently a senior lecturer at Ohr Somayach 
Institutions in Jerusalem.

These files are available on the Jerualem1 Gopher under the heading 
"Religion Institutions" and the sub-heading "Ohr Somayach"

CompuServe users can also download these lectures from the CIS Religion 
Forum, Judaism Library (2), under the file name TRUTH.ZIP

======================================================================== 
   Jewish   L         EEEEEEEE  Prepared by Ohr Somayach Instutitions
     J      L         E         22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103
     J      L         Exchange  Jerusalem 91180, Israel
J    J      L         E         Tel: 02-810315 Fax: 02-812890 
 JJJJ       Learning  EEEEEEEE  Internet:ohr@jer1.co.il
========================================================================