Creating a Jewish Queer Theology
Rabbi Jill Hammer, author of Sisters at Sinai, Zeek editor Jay Michelson and Storahtelling‘s Amichai Lau-Lavie, will be hosting a discussion Wednesday, December 17, on the subject of homoerotica in the Zohar.
The discussion will be the first installment of the Queer Theology Salon, a project of the Nehirim Initiative, which aims to “construct an authentically queer Jewish theology based on an engaged reading of Jewish texts and a grounding in queer theory and the lives experience of LBGT Jews.”
The group will be meeting the third Wednesday of every month, at the Actor’s Temple, 339 W. 47th St. (b/t 8th & 9th) from 8:30-10:00pm. Click here for more info.
Just when you thought Judaism couldnt be dragged any lower….
dude–take a nice long walk off a short pier.
you know what drags judaism lower? racism, sexism & homophobia.
It’s not homophobia to believe that an attempt to bend Jewish tradition to fit “queer theory” is misguided and dishonest. Messianic Jews don’t have to bend over backward to read Christianity into Jewish texts and beliefs, but many of us view it as misguided and dishonest. It doesn’t make us anti-Christian to see the contradictions. It is a fundamental principle of post-modern intellectualism that one can always view the world through whatever prism he or she wants and the view seen will be a valid one. Tradition, whether Jewish, gay, or Estonian, takes the opposite viewpoint, insisting that a particular way of viewing the world is superior (just as you, Mobius, assume that your modern, liberal, pluralistic take on the world is superior–to the extent that you insult those who disagree).
One might rightfully ask: “Why is the reading of Jewish texts grounded in queer theory instead of the queer theory grounded in Jewish texts?” Clearly, the queer theory is granted primacy. Any initiative which subordinates Jewish tradition and texts to an external value system is devaluing that tradition.
Fineline-
Coudnt agree more.
That said, Dude, why offend people with comments like your initial response to begin with?
I find the initial post far more offensive than my response. When a post deserves a respectful comment I offer it. When it deserves derision I offer that…
Just my style I guess.
I’m all for gay rights, 100%
But in a way I agree that trying to reinvent Jewish tradition to be respectful of homosexuality is not Kosher.
Traditional Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all anti-women and anti-homosexual, and have been from the get-go. None of them tolerate homosexuality, or let women participate in the religious hierarchy in any meaningful way. Either you accept the religions as they are, or you don’t, IMO.
But Judaism has been evolving from the beginning. There are tons of aspects of Judaism that we no longer deem necessary because they are outdated. Maybe Judaism’s attitude on homosexuality is outdated as well. Or, it is even possible that our interpretation of the verses was wrong from the get-go.
The torah is supposed to be a tree of life. Life never stops growing and changing I don’t see why out understanding of the torah or Judaism should be any different.