10 friday, December 16, 1983
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Jewish View of Homosexuality
Topic of Magazine Symposium
By BEN GALLOB
(Copyright 1983, JTA, Inc.)
of hoMosexuality among
young people."
He discussed the com-
monly offered explanations
for homosexuality, then
concluded that "the tradi-
tional view which rejects
homosexuality as immoral
is still the most accurate,
since it is the only approach
taking into account the les-
sons of history." He declared
that the current "pseudo-
scientific justifications of
homosexuality, which
Judaism has always recog,
nized to be an abomination,
must there be examined,
exposed and rejected."
From a variety of rabbini-
cal and therapeutic view-
points, Judaism is seen as
viewing homosexuals cur-
rently in more compassion-
ate terms than in the past
but homosexual 'activities
continued to be considered
as firmly as ever forbidden
practices that violate
Jewish religious law.
That conclusion emerged
from a symposium on
"Judaism and Homosexual-
ity" in the fall 1983 issue of
Judaism magazine, the
scholarly publication of the
American Jewish Congress.
Walter
Rabbi
The nine contributors in- Wurzburger of Lawr-
cluded rabbis, ence, N.Y., a leading Or-
psychoanaly-sts and clinical ' thodox rabbi, gave a
psychologists. Their contri- somewhat different em-
butions ranged from phasis to the discussion.
theological interpretations He suggested that while
of the Jewish religious posi- Judaism. "categorically
tion to a description of a rejects the notion that
Jewish homosexual congre- homosexuality may be
gation in New York.
considered a legitimate
In the introductory ar-
ticle, Dr. Robert Gordis, a
leading Conservative
scholar, and editor of
Judaism, noted that in
the law codes of the Tal-
mud, homosexuality is
banned and treated as a
capital offense. Gordis
declared that, in spite of
the current tendency by
some pundits to consider
homosexuality a "legiti-
mate lifestyle," alongside
heterosexual marriage,
that attitude is at the
opposite pole from that,of
traditional religion" and
most spokesmen for
Judaism reject it.
alternative lifestyle,"
Jewish tradition does not
support the contention
that homosexuality is a
"freely chosen attitude."
He added that Judaism
"unequivocally" bans
homosexual practices
"but does not blame indi-
viduals for being
afflicted with pathologi-
cal homosexual prac-
tices."
One of the contributors to
the symposium was a
homosexual, Henry
Rabinowitz, a member of
Beth Simha Torah, a
homosexual synagogue in
New York. He made a plea
for acceptance into the
Jewish community of
homosexuals.
He asserted that "when
many observant Jews come
out as gay, they opt to give
up most observance. They
feel there are too many con-
flicts, too much need for a
double life. Yet a significant
number of pious Jews, in-
cluding myself, have de-
cided not to throw out the
baby with the bathwater."
Declaring that there are
problems for a homosexual
who wants to be an obser-
vant Jew, Rabinowitz as-
serted that nevertheless,
the life of a Jew "is worth
maintaining."
Elderhostel Program Allows
Seniors to Attend Hebrew U.
JERUSALEM — The
Rothberg School for Over-
seas Students of the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem
has become a participant in
a growing international
enterprise of short-term
educational programs for
older persons.
Gordis added that a nega-
Organized by a non-profit
tive attitude toward
homosexuality continues to organization known as El-
be the outlook of most derhostel, headquartered in
Americans, "Christians , or Boston, the program now
Jewish, lay or clerical, be- operates on some 600 col-
lievers or secularists." He lege campuses in North
declared that one of the America, Europe, and, since
basic problems stems from last October, in Israel. The
the fact that, psychologi- program offers one or two-
cally and physiologically, week courses of study for
the origin and nature of persons 60 years of age or
homosexuality remain un- older, with the participants
known. He said most "would living in dormitories on
agree that homosexuality university campuses. The
cannot be treated as a students pay all expenses of
willful perversion by sinful the program.
men and women" and that
"mere blind hostility" con-
tributes little to solving the
problems associated with
NEW YORK (JTA) —
homosexuality. He called The religious requirements
for greater understanding for women candidates for
of the phenomenon and for a the Conservative rab-
commitment to fight biniate, accepted for rabbin-
against the discrimination ical classes at the Jewish
and hostility vented on Theological Seminary fol-
homosexuals.
lowing last fall's controver-
One of the most critical sial vote stress that women
appraisals came in the lead candidates "are expected to
article by Dr. Nathaniel accept equality of obligation
Lehman, former clinical di- in the performance" of the
rector of Brooklyn State Jewish commandments, ac-
Hospital, who said there cording to Chancellor Ger-
was "a mounting epidemic son Cohen.
Same Obligation
JARC Apartment Program
Clients Celebrate Hanuka
He-brew University has
served a total of some 240
older students in six sepa-
rate sessions at the Mount
Scopus campus since it
began receiving Elderhostel
students last fall, said Her-
bert Weinberg. The stu-
dents, many of them retired
professionals, thus far have
been about two-thirds Jews
and one-third Gentile, he
said. They are offered lec-
tures and field trips focus-
ing on a particular topic —
such as Jerusalem in the
Light of Archeology, the
Bible and the Land, Israeli
Ethnic Groups, and Israeli
Society.
Envoy Salaries
Other
Deaths
Lotte H. Eisner, film
historian, critic and spe-
cialist on classic German
cinema, died at age 87
near Paris. Author of the
book, "The Haunted Sc-
reen," Miss Eisner was ar-
chivist of the Cinematheque
Francaise, the Paris center
for film technique, research
and education from 1945 to
the present.
* * *
George B. Eisler, a pub-
Clients, committee members and others involved
in the Jewish Association for Retarded Citizens'
Apartment Program participated in a candlelighting
ceremony during the program's recent Hanuka party.
Pictured from left, are: Gila Gelfond; Eva Davidson;
Ann Sipher, chairman; Dan Medow, committee
member; Gail Stewart-Lifton, committee member;
Betty D'Aoust and her daughter, Debbie.
Holiday celebrations are
among the activities
scheduled in the Apartment
Program of the Jewish
Association for Retarded
Citizens.
Now in its fourth year,
the program is designed to
prepare, place and super-
vise mentally retarded
adults in their own apart-
ments in the community.
The program has grown
considerably since its be-
ginning when one resident
of the first Haverim Home
moved into an apartment in
Oak Park in 1978. While he
no longer required the de-
gree of supervision provided
at the group home, JARC
found that he did need occa-
sional assistance with
budgeting, bill paying and
apartment upkeep. A JARC
employee was assigned to
work with him a few hours
each week. In the next year,
more people needing this
kind of assistance came to
the agency's attention.
In 1979, JARC was
awarded a three-year
grant from the Jewish
Community Foundation
to fund the program full-
time. Currently, JARC
operates this program
through its private fund-
raising efforts.
JARC's Apartment Pro-
gram differs from other pro-
grams in the state in that
clients are trained for inde-
pendence while they're still
living with their families
and then supervised after
they move. Currently, 25
clients are participating in
the program.
JERUSALEM (ZINS) —
Salaries and other
allowances paid to Israeli
diplomats serving abroad
total $45 million per year.
The average monthly corn-
pensation paid to an official
of ambassadorial rank is.
$2,600 plIth a personal tax-
free allowance of $1,000. In
addition, he receives $2,000
monthly for his or her hous-
ing.
Pillar of Fire'
English Version
Diplomats of lesser rank
earn a basic salary of $1,800
monthly, plus a tax-free
personal expense account of
$400 and an allowance of
$1,200 for housing. His
monthly deduction is $250.
JERUSALEM (JNI) —
"Pillar of Fire,"! the book on
which the 18-part Israeli
television series on the his-
tory of modern Zionism was
based, is. now available in
English at local bookstores.
In addition to the Apart-
ment Program,- JARC oper-
ates seven group homes and
a Family Assistance Pro-
gram.
Manuel Helfman
Manuel
(Manny)
Helfman, a member of
Jewish and civic organiza-
tions, died Dec. 7 at age 69.
Mr. Helfman was a past
master of Perfection Lodge
of the Masons and a member
of the Crescent Shrine Club
and Chanters and Scottish
Rite Players Club. He was
the past commander of Mor-
ton A. Silverman Post of the
Jewish War Veterans.
Mr. Helfman is survived
by his wife, Lee; and two
sons, David Lewis of Oak
Park and Jerrold Mark of
Highland, Mich.
Betsy Imber
Betsy Imber, a member of
Jewish communal organ-
izations, died Dec. 13 at age
84.
Born in London, England,
Mrs. Imber was a member of
the Cong. Shaarey Zedek
Sisterhood, Sinai Hospital
Guild and Founders Society
of the Detroit Institute of
Arts.
She leaves a son, Burton
of Englewood, Colo.; a
daughter, Mrs. Joseph
(Shyrle) Gilbert; a sister,
Mrs. David (Minnie) Gar-
field; six grandchildren and
one great-grandson.
lisher and researcher in
Hebrew studies, died Nov.
18 at age 91 in Hamburg,
Germany. He was the foun-
der of Focal Press, a pub-
lisher of books in London
and New York on photog-
raphy. He also founded
Global Press, which pub-
lished works on cartog-
raphy. A native of Ham-
burg, Mr. Eisler worked for
Heinrich Eisler Werbung,
the trade-tournal publish-
ing house founded by his
father.
The Family
of the Late
RUTH
FINKELSTEIN
Acknowledges with
grateful appreciation
the many kind ex-
pressions of sympathy
extended by 'relatives
and friends during the
family's recent be-
reavement.
The Family
of the Late
LILLY
FINE
Acknowledges with
grateful appreciation
the contributions, cards
and the many kind ex-
pressions of sympathy
extended by relatives
and friends honoring
the memory of their late
mother and sister.
Ella Marcus
Frieda McClure
Elmer Marcus
The Family of the Late
SAMUEL PANZER
Acknowledges with grateful apprecia-
tion the numerous charitable contributions
and many kind expressions of sympathy ex-
tended by relatives and friends during the
family's recent bereavement.
"Serving the Jewish community with traditional dignity and understanding"
543.1622
HEBREW MEMORIAL CHAPEL
26640 GREENFIELD ROAD
OAK PARK, MICHIGAN 48237
SERVING ALL CEMETERIES
Alan H. Dorfman
Funeral Director & Mgr.