Orthodox rabbi teaches what it's like to be gay

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | Jan. 27, 2011 | David O'Reilly

[topcat54]

Steven Greenberg was a 20-year-old Orthodox rabbinic student from Ohio, studying in Jerusalem, when he realized his affections were "ripping me apart." So he visited a sage, an esteemed interpreter of Jewish law.

"Master, I am attracted to both men and women," he told Rabbi Yosef Sholom Eliashiv. "What shall I do?"

The ultra-Orthodox Eliashiv's answer came as a surprise.

"My dear one, my friend, you have twice the power of love," the aged rabbi told him. "Use it carefully."

Stunned, Greenberg beseeched him to elaborate. But Eliashiv simply smiled and replied, "There is nothing more to say."

[Pollster1]

Steven Greenberg was a 20-year-old Orthodox rabbinic student from Ohio, studying in Jerusalem, when he realized his affections were "ripping me apart." So he visited a sage, an esteemed interpreter of Jewish law. "Master, I am attracted to both men and women," he told Rabbi Yosef Sholom Eliashiv. "What shall I do?" The ultra-Orthodox Eliashiv's answer came as a surprise. "My dear one, my friend, you have twice the power of love," the aged rabbi told him. "Use it carefully." Stunned, Greenberg beseeched him to elaborate. But Eliashiv simply smiled and replied, "There is nothing more to say."

I assume that if Magic Johnson (who admitted to 300-500 sexual partners a year, even while married) asked a similar question, he would be told, "My dear one, my friend, you have hundreds of times the power of love. Use it generously."

Apparently religious scholars now consult the ACLU and Dem Party guidelines rather than scripture. It's sad that they have lost so much. I would have told this gay student (and Magic) that God gives each of us strengths and temptations, and that we must use the one and resist the other. Given this kid's lack of insight, I would have been quite specific on which is which.

[little jeremiah]

Placemark for pingout.

Orthodox? No, extra perverted.

[jjotto]

This ‘kid’ (about 60 years old) has been peddling this story for 20 years, relating a story that had supposedly taken place many years previous to that. He’s certainly not taken seriously by orthodox Jews.

[little jeremiah]

Could you ping me with any update? I want to ping the list with this one.

[jjotto]

The update is that this guy has been telling this story for about 20 years, and it supposedly took place years before that. He went to Yeshiva University, which tells me everything I need to know, hehe.

The Philly article is just a promo for one of his paid appearances.

[little jeremiah]

Thank you! So it’s utter nonsense. What a nasty steaming pile he is.

I won’t ping it then since it’s just lies.

[zeebee]

you have twice the power of love," the aged rabbi told him. "Use it carefully."

Giving the rabbi the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he is reminding the gay guy that he still has the power to love a woman.

That's the way I took it.

[cycjec]

There is no such person as a practicing homosexual Torah
observant (”Orthodox”) rabbi, no matter what some may
say. I personally doubt the report this person gives of
his meeting with the older rabbi in the story, whose name
I won’t further associate with this topic.

[cycjec]

thank you thank you jjotto. I can just imagine the answers
I’d get from local rabbonim if I mentioned this article.
they would think *I* was meshuggeneh, finally and that I
was making it up.

[papabrody]

Thank you jjotto. I’ve heard this garbage being peddled before by this guy. Maybe the OP should actually check a story out before posting, but I’ve seen this “Look what I found Jews” from him before.

[LadyDoc]

I believe the Talmud has a place where it says if a person cannot stop his impulse to sin, he should hide his face and go to another city where he is not known. That way, at least the scandal to his family is limited.

[ravenwolf]

I imagine there are false teachers among the Jews as there are among the Christians, the news media will use the false teachers in their war against God and their fight for anti God socialism.