Judaism and Homosexuality: An Authentic Orthodox View by Rabbi Chaim Rapoport

One of the most outstanding pieces of scholarship I have ever read, Judaism and Homosexuality: An Authentic Orthodox View is the product of a long and intensive period of research and analysis by one of the top Judaic scholars in the UK. Rapoport manages to succinctly combine research and information coming from both Jewish and secular (especially psychological) sources to create an orthodox Jewish approach to sexual ethics.

Prefaced with a foreword by the Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, and endorsed by well known figures in the Jewish world like Dayan Berkowitz, Rapoport has divides his book into sensible chapters, each tackling the issue from a different perspective. It begins with a biblical approach to the subject, quoting from the contemporary Halachik authorities, to build a timeless perspective. On every page, you can 'read between the lines' to sense Rapoport's highly sensitive and nuanced approach, both from an intellectual and relationships-based perspective. 

Each chapter is enhanced with copious footnotes, allowing the reader to explore the issue in greater depth if so desired. Chapter 7, entitled 'Procreation and Parenthood', is a particularly interesting chapter given that it deals with the tension of the biblical mandate of having children, and whether that obligation ought to extend to someone without a heterosexual orientation. Here, he draws on a breathtakingly wide range of sources, from the Mishnah in tractate Yevamot to the Code of Jewish Law on the Laws of Sukkot (!), to produce a compelling argument.

Another chapter that will surely be of wide interest in the 'Questions and Responses'. The fact that the word 'responses' is used here, rather than more commonly 'answers' is indicative of Rapoport's great humility. Questions include differences between men and women in sexual ethics, communication with family and whether orthodoxy is equipped to deal with sexual ethics, something outside of the ritualistic remit usually associated with orthodox Judaism.

Overall, I believe this text does great justice to the intellectual challenge of applying religious theology to contemporary problems, and Rapoport, with his thorough research, drawing on seemingly the whole spectrum of orthodox thought, creates a fascinating study that will be both of academic and practical importance to many.

Judaism and Homosexuality: An Authentic Orthodox View by Rabbi Chaim Rapoport is published by Vallentine Mitchell

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