This is an odd post. It was originally going to be a direct message to this very open minded Orthodox Jewish lady. However I don’t have the facility to show her my support via that communications method so I have turned it into a post on here.
For background. Avital is an Orthodox Jew. From what I’ve read on X, where her handle which also contains her stunning Challah creations, is Jewish Meme Queen https://x.com/jewishmemequeen, she appears to be a lot more ‘frum’ or observant of the Jewish commandments or Mitzvot than I or many of the Jews around me are. She’s closer to Stamford Hill in observance standards than us out here in the boondocks 150 miles from the nearest Kosher shop if my British readers can get my meaning, although we used to live near Stamford Hill (I’ve got a funny story about intervening early and rescuing a Hassid from the ‘roadmen’ at Seven Sisters station in London but I’d probably better tell it in the comments).
Anyway, as I said Ms Avital is an open minded Orthodox Jew. She’s not as open minded as some I’ve encountered on the wilder shores of non-Orthodox Judaism, they are the gold standard definition of being so open minded that their brains have fallen out, but despite, I presume, being straight she’s willing to stand up for and stand with LGB Jews. In the picture that heads up this post you can see her declaring herself as an ally of those Jews who are just as good as other Jews but might feel unaccepted or rejected or looked down upon by some other Jews. Yes, I have some negative views of Pride festivals and what they have turned into in the United Kingdom but I believe that Ms Avital has done what she has done with a good heart and in the spirit of love of Am Yisrael.
However Ms Avital has been severely dumped on with all sorts of guff from other Jews who disagree with her. They are quoting the Laws of Leviticus and putting these Laws above the requirement to not engage in baseless hatred of other Jews. Yes they are entitled to their view but then so is Ms Avital. Would those Jews who are rejecting Ms Avital for standing up for LGB Jews have the same view if Ms Avital was a Lesbian Doctor and they were the patient needing life saving treatment? Of course they would not, they would say ‘Baruch Hashem’ and go with the treatment even if it was a Lesbian Doctor carrying out the treatment.
But, I digress. As far as I’m concerned, for doing what she has done and standing up for the Jews who might have been at some point rejected by their community, she’s a thoroughly good egg. If she manages to convince just one LGB Jew that Hashem loves their Nefesh (roughly ‘soul’) no matter whether they are attracted to one or both sexes, then she’s an Eshet Chayil, a woman of valour. He, or she who saves one life (or even one soul) saves the world entire.
Here’s my letter of support for Ms Avital.
Dear Avital
I saw your images of your appearance at New York Pride and I’m not, unlike some others, going to criticise you. As far as I am concerned you are doing the correct thing. You are seeing the humans behind the label of LGB and in my view that is doing good. You are thinking for yourself and that is in my view using some of the great gifts that Hashem has obviously given you.
You are not alone. In Britain I’ve met dozens of Jews both from the Orthodox and non-Orthodox flavours of Judaism who are LGB and that does not bother me one bit and their orientation doesn’t seem to bother that many people around them. They are just as valid as a part of Am Israel as anyone else. To paraphrase something that was said in debates when Britain removed the bar on LGB people in the British Armed Forces ‘I’d rather have a gay person who can shoot straight next to me in a dugout than a straight person who shoots crooked’. I’d rather be around LGB Jews who would step up and do the right thing than a non-LGB Jew who would not.
You are being incredibly brave in doing what you have done because you did it for all the Jews who are LGB and who may have been excluded from Jewish life because of one small quirk of their make up which is their sexual orientation. I don’t believe, as some might say, that you are promoting secularism instead you are recognising that we are all created differently by the Eternal One and are all equally as valuable.
If it is a comfort to you then know that even Maimonides was not universally accepted for his views at the beginning, he was criticised by some in the religious establishment of his time just as you are being criticised today.
Am Yisrael Chai
Keep on keeping on. Well done.
