However, even in Biblical times, it was very difficult to get a conviction that would lead to this prescribed punishment. Like many similar commandments, the stated punishment for willful violation was the death penalty, though minors under 13 years of age were exempt from this, as from any other penalty. Opinions also exist that the prohibition only applies to two men who are in a relationship with each other, or that there is no technical prohibition at all if they are confident they can avoid forbidden touch (but they should still avoid sharing a bedroom).
īased on the above precedents that yichud can apply to two men in a circumstance where homosexual behavior is a concern, a modern halakhic authority rules that two men cannot be alone together if both of them are homosexual. However, this recommendation was not repeated by later authorities. Nevertheless, the Shulchan Aruch recommended to avoid such yichud, "in these generations where promiscuous people are common" (possibly a reference to the use of Köçek dancer-prostitutes in the Ottoman Empire at the time). Maimonides, Tur, and Shulchan Aruch rule leniently, that yichud of two men is permitted, because "Jews are not suspected of homosexual sex". The Talmud records a debate over whether yichud applies to any two men. Īnother issue is the prohibition of yichud (seclusion of two individuals together in a manner that would allow them to have sex). The consensus seems to be that touch between gay men which involves sexual desire is rabbinically forbidden, while touch which does not involve sexual desire is permitted. Nevertheless, some sources raise the possibility that the law may be more lenient for two men than for a man and a woman. As gay male sex is included in the category of arayot along with other sexual prohibitions, the prohibition of negiah would seem to also apply between two gay men. The laws of negiah prohibit affectionate touch between an unmarried man and woman (except close relatives), because this touch is considered "approaching" a forbidden relationship. Rabbinic Jewish application and interpretation of these verses Prohibitions for homosocial interaction The story of Ruth and Naomi in the Book of Ruth is also occasionally interpreted as the story of a lesbian couple, while the relationship between David and Jonathan in the Book of Samuel is sometimes interpreted as male homosexual love (see David and Jonathan). Interpretations of homosexual relationships ĭeuteronomy 23:17 tells followers: "None of the daughters of Israel shall be a kedeshah, nor shall any of the sons of Israel be a Kadesh." This has been interpreted as prohibiting the "sons of Israel" from serving as a homosexual temple prostitute in a pagan cult. Several commentators believe that the verses specifically condemn the practice of sodomy (i.e. מוֹת יוּמָתוּ דְּמֵיהֶם בָּם "And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed a detestable act: They shall surely be put to death their blood shall be upon them." The Book of Leviticus refers to male homosexual sexual practices twice ( JPS translation): įurther information: The Bible and homosexuality and Leviticus 18 § Homosexuality Lionel Blue was the first British rabbi to publicly declare himself as gay, which he did in 1980. Conservative Judaism's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, which until December 2006 held the same position as Orthodoxy, has since issued multiple opinions under its philosophy of pluralism one opinion continues to follow the Orthodox position while another opinion substantially liberalizes the view of homosexual sex and relationships (while continuing to regard certain sexual acts as prohibited).Īllen Bennett became the first openly gay rabbi in the United States in 1978. On the other hand, Reconstructionist Judaism and Reform Judaism do not hold this view, and allow both homosexual intercourse and same-sex marriage. Traditionally, Judaism has seen that homosexual male intercourse and not homosexuality in-and-of-itself, as contrary to Judaism, and this opinion is still maintained by Orthodox Judaism.
The issue has been a subject of contention within modern Jewish denominations, and has led to debate and division. A Jewish Pride participant wears a rainbow yarmulke at the 2015 Marcha Gay of Mexico City