Q&A: Backlash and More
Backlash and More
Question
Question A: can the hysteria surrounding Rabbi Peretz’s remarks be understood as a reaction to what the LGBT community has gone through over hundreds and thousands of years? The fear of returning to that situation unleashes the demons, and perhaps justifiably so. Given an alternative history for the LGBT community (it’s enough to remember Turing), it’s possible that the discourse would have been more balanced.
B. I understood from the Rabbi that he does not see homosexuality as something immoral, since there is no harm to another person here. Assuming I understood correctly, why can’t one say that there is a moral flaw here because it harms the Father in Heaven, who commanded otherwise?
Thank you for your time.
Answer
A. Absolutely. I’m currently writing a column about this, and I noted it there. It’s a shame they don’t draw the conclusions from what happened to them. They will only lose from these silencing tactics. Already today, voices are beginning to emerge saying they’ve had enough of the silencing.
B. According to your suggestion, all commandments are moral, and that empties the distinction between morality and other values of meaning. Beyond that, even if the obligation to obey the Holy One, blessed be He, is moral (and I’m not sure about that; see my article on gratitude), the question is why the Holy One, blessed be He, Himself wants us to do so. Here there are certainly no moral reasons.
How does it harm Him? After all, the commandments do not affect Him. His essence is untouched. It may be defying His word, but that isn’t immoral.