RIETS Musmach Announces His Homosexuality

YU Rabbeim are Appalled

Rabbi Steven Greenberg, a graduate of Yeshiva College and YU's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) has become the first Orthodox rabbi ever to publicly announce his homosexuality. Greenberg disclosed his sexual orientation in interviews with both The Forward, a contemporary Jewish-American newspaper, and an Israeli publication, Ma'ariv. The New York Times will be publishing a feature article on Rabbi Greenberg as well. Some interpret his move as a sign that Orthodox Judaism will soon need to respond to the conflicts of religion and homosexuality, while many YU rabbis are disturbed by Greenberg's actions and claim that his announcement profanes the Yeshiva University name.

Greenberg, 42, is a Teaching Fellow at CLAL - The National Center for Learning and Leadership, where he heads many programs, classes and shabbatonim throughout North America. Greenberg has been instrumental in the establishment of Jerusalem's Open House, the first Gay and Lesbian Center to be built in Israel. He is currently completing a book exploring the subject of homosexuality from the perspective of Jewish theology and personal experience.

Greenberg relates that he first started to deal with his own homosexuality after his sophomore year at YU, when he decided to attend Yeshivat Har Etzion. There, Greenberg sought the advice of Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, a respected scholar in Jewish law and a world-renowned posek. Greenberg claims that after he informed Eliashiv of his supposed bisexuality (Greenberg later admitted that he was completely gay), Rabbi Eliashiv replied: "My friend, my dear one, you have twice the power of love. Use it carefully."

In 1993, Rabbi Greenberg published an article in Tikkun magazine under the pseudonym Rabbi Yaakov Lavado. In "Gayness and G-d: Wrestlings of an Orthodox Rabbi," he called for a "deeper understanding of homosexuality within the Orthodox world." "How can halakhacists possibly rule on a matter so complex and so foreign, without a sustained effort at understanding?" he wrote.

He refers to Leviticus 18:23, the verse in which the Torah instructs: "Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman, it is an abomination." He says that "for the present, I have no plausible halakhic method of interpreting this text in a manner that permits homosexual sex." He does, however, describe various levels of homosexual activity, and lists some as being less of a violation to the Torah law. He states, "in regard to sexual behavior, I personally have chosen to accept a certain risk and violate the halakha as it is presently articulated, in the hope of a subsequent, more accepting halakhic expression. I realize that this is a 'civil disobedience.' It is not the system itself which I challenge but its application to an issue that has particular meaning for me and for those like me."

His recent move to declare his sexuality follows a series of events that have taken place in the more liberal Jewish movements. Last year, the Reform movement debated whether to endorse officiation at gay weddings. At the Conservative movement's Jewish Theological Seminary, students have petitioned the chancellor to reopen the question of admitting gay students into the rabbinical programs.

"While Rabbi Greenberg is considered to be the most prominent symbol of gay Orthodoxy thus far, he is certainly not alone is his struggle," said Simcha DuBowski, a film maker who is currently shooting a documentary about gay and lesbian Orthodox Jews. "I've spoken to hundreds of gay and lesbian Jews over the past four years, many totally hidden, who want to lead lives of Torah and Mitzvot, serving Hashem in the fullest way they are capable. They want to be a tangible part of the Orthodox world, living in it, loving it and building it."

Many YU Rabbeim, however, have been appalled by the conduct of Rabbi Greenberg. "Being an Orthodox Rabbi and actively gay is an oxymoron," said Rabbi Moshe Tendler, Rosh Yeshiva and Professor of Biology. "It is very sad that an individual who attended our yeshiva sunk to the depths of what we consider a depraved society," Rabbi Tendler continued. Tendler said that Rabbi Greenberg's announcement is "the exact same as if he said, 'I'm an Orthodox Rabbi and I eat ham sandwiches on Yom Kippur.' What you are is a Reform Rabbi."

In the December dorm talk series, Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, President of YU, discussed the inherent conflicts of homosexuality and religion. While Lamm didn't address the issue of being a gay Rabbi, he did say that "a gay teacher should not be permitted to discuss morality in the classroom." He further stated that in order to preserve self-respect, homosexuals should not talk about their orientation openly.

Rabbi Greenberg explains that he decided to make the announcement "in order to help the great number of people who are in distress while dealing with their sexuality." He encourages the Orthodox world to not reject the "testimony of humans. The openness that is so evident in the Torah has evidently been lost by the advancement of modernity. It seems as though the Orthodox world can't respond to growth and independent thought, so they just shut down." He thinks the solution is to "listen to the people, because when you don't listen, you lose authority over them."

When asked if he believes that actively gay students should be admitted into RIETS, Greenberg responded "before we can even think about dealing with this issue, there first must be a communal attempt to make some sense out of homosexuality on a halakhic level. The communities must first be willing to accept their own sons and daughters."