07/04/2022
The “Jewish Chronicle” newspaper, which, having first been published in 1841, is one of the earliest examples of minority community media, meets up with orthodox Rabbi Mike Moskowitz and learns how he has campaigned for the inclusion of LGBTQIA people within the more conservative parts of Judaism. Whilst Reform and Liberal Judaism have long accepted LGBTQIA people, celebrating their lives and blessing their unions, many orthodox sects are still in an ongoing dialogue on the subject. Rabbi Moskowitz works with a gay friendly congregation in New York, Beit Simchat Torah. He quotes a Catholic priest who had once said to him, “The moment they understand that homosexuality is a non-pathological, minority expression of ordinary human desire for intimacy, love and companionship, everything will change.” Rabbi Moskowitz explains that the item in Jewish scripture used by some to condemn samesex relationships, is not what it might at first appear to be. The Jewish Chronicle notes that the current Chief Rabbi on this side of the Atlantic. Ephraim Mirvis, has condemned homophobia and transphobia and reached out to LGBTQIA Jews of all backgrounds.
