By CBC News
Three Montreal Orthodox rabbis are joining an international call for acceptance of homosexual Jews into synagogues.
The rabbis have signed a statement calling for the acceptance of gays, even though the Torah (the Jewish Bible) explicitly condemns homosexuality.
The document is called Statement of Principles on the Place of Jews with a Homosexual Orientation in Our Community.
More than 150 rabbis from around the world have signed the statement, which was drafted after extensive debate among Orthodox rabbis, educators and mental health professionals.
“We have wonderful members of our community in our congregation who are gay, and come to us anticipating and expecting to be welcomed into our community,” said Adam Scheier, rabbi of the Shaar Hashomayim Congregation in Westmount and president of the Montreal Board of Rabbis.
David Brody, a gay member of Scheier’s Orthodox congregation, said the statement is progressive.
“I never thought I’d live to see this,” he said.
However, Brody said he does have some issues with the statement, such as the fact that it was only drafted after consultation with mental health therapists.
“They [make] reference to mental health specialists, which makes us sound as though we’re all crazy people,” said Brody.
Brody would also have liked the statement to allow gay marriage in the Orthodox community.
“It says that we are also created in the image of God, yet we are not allowed to love like heterosexuals,” said Brody.
“I do believe that there is a place within Orthodox Judaism for affirmation ceremonies.” Brody added.
