Homosexuality, Torah U'Madda, and the Messiah

Lamm Confronts the Issues that Move YU Students at Fall Dorm Talks

On December 7, a packed crowd filled the Rubin Shul for the second installment of Fall Dorm Talks. The event featured the President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva University, Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, who discussed hypothetical scenarios of interest and halakhic significance. The program, held in memory of Aaron Heller Z'L, a former JSS/YC student, was moderated by Dean of Undergraduate Jewish Studies, Rabbi Dr. Michael Shmidman and dealt with the lively topics of homosexuality, Torah U'Madda, and Messianism.

Homosexuality

The issues discussed were how the Torah views homosexuality and homosexuals as well as how an observant Jew should deal with a homosexual peer in specific circumstances.

One scenario described a counselor at summer camp "Carl" confiding in another counselor "Craig," that he is homosexual, though he has never acted on these feelings. The question called upon Dr. Lamm to suggest how "Craig" should respond to the situation. Should he distance himself from "Carl?" Inform the administration? Or perhaps advise "Carl" to speak to someone who may be able to "help" him, such as a therapist?

Lamm, who first outlined his position on gays twenty-five years ago in the Encyclopedia Judaica, suggested that although homosexual behavior is considered iniquitous, we must treat the violator with love and compassion. He drew parallels to a distraught individual who attempted to commit suicide and has thus violated halakha through his actions. Yet, ninety-nine percent of the time we give the benefit of the doubt to the one who attempts suicide with the assumption that he would not act this way unless under extreme stress which constitutes o'nes, or duress.

Lamm proposed that we should take the same attitude toward homosexuals. Noting that in each circumstance we must look at the severity of the case to know how to deal with it properly, Lamm outlined five varying degrees of homosexual behavior. According to Lamm, the least problematic category includes individuals with homosexual tendencies who recognize that their behavior is not halakhically sanctioned and are able to keep their urges under control.

Lamm went so far as to comment that such an individual deserves a medal in recognition of his valor for resisting his temptations.

The second degree outlined by Lamm was termed "the casual homosexual." This person stays in "the closet" by keeping his orientation and actions secret, but occasionally allows his urges to overtake him.

Then comes the "full homosexual" who differs by allowing his urges to overtake him more frequently. The "recreational homosexual", in addition to acting frequently, enjoys both types of sexual partners. The most halakhically problematic instance, in Lamm's eyes, is the "proselytizing homosexual," or one who attempts to publicly legitimize his/her way of life. According to Lamm, this group, unlike all the others, does not deserve compassion.

With regard to the camp scenario, Lamm answered that, if necessary, "Craig" should physically separate himself from the gay counselor "Carl" as all the laws of yichud (the statute which generally prohibits one from being in an isolated situation with a member of the opposite gender, in order to avoid the temptation of illicit relations) apply. However, since "Carl" realizes his halakhically problematic orientation and has been able to control his actions, "Craig" should continue to be friendly with "Carl" and treat him with care.

Lamm also thought "Craig" should recommend a therapist to "Carl," making sure that the therapist's views are in accord with halakha. Most importantly, Lamm remarked that such knowledge of another's homosexual orientation should always be kept private as this information may be used against the homosexual by insensitive individuals. Lamm urged those in attendance to say nothing if they find themselves in a situation which they do not know how to deal.

In a scenario involving a non-affiliated co-worker, Lamm's responses were similar. He noted that according to most halakhic authorities, sleeping with another man falls under the rubric of the arayot (promiscuous acts), one of the seven Noachide laws. Lesbians, as well, breach a Torah commandment, although of a lower level iniquity, said Lamm.

Prefacing his response to the question of homosexuals holding jobs where they may influence society, Lamm maintained that we should not deny homosexuals civil rights. Commenting on the long history of nastiness towards homosexuals to the point where some have been murdered for their practices, he emphasized that we must distance ourselves from such abominable actions.

In Lamm's view, a gay teacher should not be permitted to discuss morality in the classroom. Lamm claimed that under normal circumstances it is not problematic to hire a gay teacher. He made the point that within the confines of a classroom, one is expected to behave appropriately. In the same way that a heterosexual man would be permitted to teach women, a homosexual man should be able to teach men. Lamm asked, "Would it be rational to fire all our male professors at Stern College for Women?" Qualifying his assertion, he said this would not be the case though, for hiring a gay youth group leader since such an advisor gets to know the children in a less structured and more intimate setting.

Lamm emphasized the use of common sense when dealing with these matters. If a homosexual is not trying to preach his/her way of life, Lamm advised "isolating his activities but treating him as a person." He also expressed his view that in order to preserve self-respect and for educational considerations, homosexuals should not talk about their orientation openly.

From a philosophical perspective, Lamm was asked to explain the accountability of a homosexual assuming that his preference is due to his genetic makeup. Lamm made an analogy to a mass rapist, who although he too may be guided by his violent genetic makeup has free choice and has no excuse for not controlling his genetic impulses.

Torah U'Madda

"The prize is worth the effort" was Lamm's main message to the second question dealing with the struggles of Torah U'Madda. Despite making it clear that there is no mitzvah to enjoy everything you study, Lamm emphatically stated that there is no learning that constitutes a colossal waste of time. "One has to learn about the world around him," asserted Lamm.

Pointing to the first sentence of the Torah, Lamm argued that there's a reason the Torah started with the phrase b'reishit barah Elokim. "God is responsible for this world. Everything is his handiwork. How could we ignore it?"

When asked about the validity of some literature courses that require students to read books that are sexually explicit, Lamm, echoing Rabbi Shmidman, questioned, "is not masechet ketubot quite sexually explicit? Even sex is a part of life."

Lamm advised students to take advantage of their college years to gain an education, not to race out of Yeshiva as soon as possible. To this end, Lamm recommended taking a wide array of courses. He pointed to the fact that "one needs breadth in Limudei Chol to have breadth in Limudei Kodesh."

Torah U'Madda does not deny the concept of Torato Umnato, but this understanding was not meant for the majority of people, according to Lamm. He noted that most of the Tanaim and Amoraim held jobs, as did many great later scholars such as the Rambam. "A Torah society cannot exist with everyone learning full time," he asserted.

Lamm made it clear that the reason we study Madda is not in order to obtain an occupation to sustain us but because it possesses innate value. Emphatically stressing that Torah U'Madda, if approached with the right attitude, is not a compromise but rather a path to a deeper appreciation of God, he advised students to be tolerant of both the left and the right but never to feel inferior.

When addressing the question of whether it would make God happier if thousands of students were taken out of the Mirrer Yeshiva and sent to college, Lamm admitted that Torah U'Madda might not be for everyone. However, he wondered whether "God may gain some nachat if the talmidim in Mir were not ignorant about the world around them and were no less knowledgeable than their non -Jewish neighbors."

Although agreeing that it is a lot easier to focus only on Torah, Lamm repeatedly emphasized that "the prize is worth the struggle."

Afterwards, Shmidman appealed to students to be honest with themselves by realizing that more could be gained by lengthening one's stay in Yeshiva and easing the burdens instead of trying to cram everything into three years.

Messianism

Confronting the question of moshiach and the messianic zeal that has captivated many in recent years, Lamm distinguished between "hoping for moshiach and waiting impatiently for him." Although belief in moshiach is a central point in Judaism, it is not the essence of spirituality.

Answering the question of whether or not one should put on tefillin in order to bring moshiach, Lamm said, "of course not." Rather, he suggested, tefillin should be donned because God so commanded. Noting his respect for the Lubavitch movement, Lamm asserted that the movement is going through a difficult period and that its Messianism poses a great danger. Lamm explained the concept that the greater an idea, the more prone it is to corruption by extravagance and gave as examples love, democracy, peace, religion, and the idea of moshiach.