להסיר מכשול

Chief Rabbi Mirvis recently published a guide for Orthodox Jewish schools concerning the need to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their lifestyle choices (relationships), should feel secure and safe in school and not be afraid of being subject to bullying.

We affirm that no child should suffer bullying, regardless of his or her inclinations, and that it is appropriate and correct for schools to ensure that among their staff are qualified individuals who are able to counsel pupils should the need arise.

Some, however, have interpreted the Chief Rabbi’s message as a relaxing of the Torah’s attitude towards alternative lifestyles (relationships), whereby compassion and other inter-personal obligations supersede Torah Laws relating to relationships. We see it as our duty to rectify that misconception and remind the Jewish public of the authentic Jewish view. Whilst society at large in a relatively short period of time has accepted and even embraced alternative lifestyles, and whilst we recognise that UK law has been changed recently to reflect society’schanged values, one of the fundamental principles and tenets of the Jewish Faith is that all laws and practices ofthe Torah are eternal and immutable, regardless of how modern society may view them. Accordingly, we state unequivocally that any intimate physical relationship other than that between a married male and female, is totally, strictly and absolutely forbidden according to JewishLaw.

Signed by:

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Efrayim Padwa Av Beis Din UOHC

Rabbi Shraga Feivel Zimmerman – Av Bris Din Gateshead

Rabbi Avrohom Gurwicz Gateshead Rosh Yeshiva

Dayan Yakov Yisroel Lichtenstein – Av Beis Din Federation

Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu Av Beis Din Europe

Dayan Gavriel Kraus Rosh Beis Din Manchester