NEW YORK (JTA) – Yeshiva University rejected the formation of a campus group for queer students but said it was putting in place new policies to help LGBTQ students feel safe.
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The flagship Modern Orthodox college in New York sent a statement to students Thursday addressing a yearlong battle over whether the school would allow a queer student group.
“The message of Torah on this issue is nuanced, both accepting each individual with love and affirming its timeless prescriptions. While students will of course socialize in gatherings they see fit, forming a new club as requested under the auspices of YU will cloud this nuanced message,” the Thursday statement said.
But the statement also announced new measures to support LGBTQ students, including updating its diversity and sensitivity training to apply to topics related to sexuality and gender, hiring a counselor with experience counseling LGBTQ people and establishing a phone line where people can report harassment and bullying. The school also reaffirmed that its policies prohibit discrimination and harassment, including based on sexuality or gender identity.
LGBTQ issues present a dilemma for the Modern Orthodox world, which is defined by its strict adherence to traditional Jewish law as well as embrace of the secular world. In recent years, as LGBTQ people and issues have gained increasing acceptance in wider American society, the movement has had to grapple with how to reconcile a traditional interpretation of Jewish law, which does not allow sexual relations with the same gender or same-sex marriage.
At YU, the conflict over the club started in September 2019 after the school’s College Democrats lost its recognition after organizing an LGBTQ rights rally (it was later reinstated). Following the event, a number of students submitted an application to create an LGBTQ student group, but the student council abstained from voting on its fate, leaving the decision up to the administration.
The YU Pride Alliance currently does not have official campus recognition and holds events off-campus. Its vice president, Chana Weiss, told the YU Commentator that the group was “disappointed by the decision” not to give the club official recognition.
“The administration has failed to be transparent about which halachic ‘nuances’ are at odds with the club and, on the contrary, we stand firm in our belief that pikuach nefesh necessitates the creation of our club,” Weiss said, referring to the Jewish principle that saving a life overrides other religious rules.
Many LGBTQ youth struggle with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, including in the Orthodox Jewish world.
I do believe that it is written somewhere not to judge anyone until you have been in their place.
Do you still live in the days before knowledge of electricity, microscopes, and hygene.
We jews need to modernize. Some of the Jewish laws were put into place to protect commerce (jobs).
For example, the cobbler, the barber, the tailor, to name three.
Black hats were the style because people could not afford colored dyes for the clothes.
Non jews will tell you that pork (white meat) is more healthy than beef.
What I find barriers are the protectionism. Marvid Kosher, Lubovitch kosher, Glatt kosher.
Kosher, is Kosher or the meat is not.
Many Jews do not want to pay 150 percent for kosher food above regular products.
In Montreal, we have pensioners, who have abandoned kosher meat, because the $16.00/chicken is a lot more than the $9.00 for the non-kosher one. They bring the chicken home and salt and wash the non kosher product.
I would say that due to volume of sales, the non-kosher product has less bacteria or other germs than the kosher meat that is supposed to be clean.
Back to Queers. Be careful. You never know whose child may be born as one. Many who follow Judiasm rules do leave the religion, or commit suicide.
You can reject a persons actions while still accepting the person himself.
It is good that YU rejected the club, but nevertheless, YU was/is too nice to them. These troublemakers should be shown the door. Let them go to the so called “Open Orthodox” schools of Avi Weiss, where they have such open minds that brains fall to the ground.
If people want to mimic all the craziness of the outside world, why are they going to YU in the first place?
This is not as simple as some simpletons make it out to be.
If a college or university openly violates STATE and FEDERAL LAWS by discriminating against “sexual orientation,” that university will lose tens of millions of dollars in funding and face tremendous civil lawsuits; either of these will very likely bankrupt the university [which will have dire results for thousands upon thousands of students who will not go to Touro or chareidi institutions, instead going to secular collegs and universities].
Obviously, YU has tried to finess this.
It certainly appears that the leadership is NOT condoning any BEHAVIOR contrary to the Torah.
If you read the statement carefully, you can easily see that the leadership has chosen to obey the law.
In the current political and societal climate, YU may felt it had had no choice unless the leadership wanted to have the university collapse.
I wouldn’t have wanted to have been in the position of the YU leadership.
It’s very easy to be judgmental anonymously, when you have nothing to lose.
By the way, I have NO connection with YU. I am merely stating the obvious.
During Elul, I think we should all be very careful about judging others, especially in public.
This year, we should be even more careful.
We need to stick together, not let ourselves be pulled apart.
I have to agree! Weiss is right! There is no nuance on this issue!
It is outright asur!
Shame on YU for being ambiguous about this and shame on VIN news for propagating such lies!
ישרים דרכי ה’ צדיקים ילכו בהם פושעים יכשלו בהם!
The Torah tells us that homosexuality is called Toaiva. We don’t need student council groups to tell us anything. The Torah hakdosha is not touchy feely. We are not allowed to tolerate sin. If someone has certain proclivities, he should seek a good Frum behavioral therapist and keep as quiet as possible to the public about it. Normal people don’t publicize their sicknesses and illnesses. Only to those who can cure or advise him/her.
Pikuach nefesh does not override gilui arayos.
As revolting as the thought of women practicing an “LQ” lifestyle I’m unaware of any specific issur. Can anyone provide citations?
My comment:
Each of the first five comments are superb and so true!
I am afraid one day the Democrats will make them have to chose between Yeshiva and University
As Rav Gifter ZT”L screamed about YU on Chol Hamoed Pesach 5758……THIS IS DESPICABLE!! “Gifter slaughters Lamm” there’s an audio!
there is socially accepted behavior and there is the behavior that G-d commanded us to do or avoid. YU is to be commended for rejecting the American culturally accepted behavior that is in opposition to the Torah.
It would have been better if they came out earlier and stronger, but perhaps they had reasons????
Many young people are in need of the wisdom a university can impart. It is good that these children are welcomed and educated.
people need to calm down.
the heat is up to a 9 on this convo…lets lower it to a 3.
the university has to tread carefully, they get govt funding.
I would not want to be in their shoes making these decisions…I would go bald that much faster.
Did half of you who commented even read the article?
Practicing Homosexuality is a violation of Jewish law as is eating pig. Allowing an LGBTQ club is like allowing a Pig Eaters club. YU can’t differentiate unless it wants to announce itself as no longer a Jewish organization.
I wanted to inform the readers of this site, that recently on the Israeli English tv station called I-24 News, (which is broadcast to cable tv providers in the USA and around the world, as well as in Israel), there was a recent segment, which stated that the Jewish Agency was actively seeking LGBTQ individuals as new Olim in Israel, as it stated that “there was a demand for such individuals to make Aliyah! Oy gevalt!