Orthodox rabbi addresses transgender issues | Religion
Hey all so I found this pretty awesomely groundbreaking article about a Rabbi whose super orthodox and apparently trying to raise awareness for trans issues. Basically, he highlights very certain things:
1. Trans Jews are, first and foremost humans who are made in the image of Hashem, with all their strengths and challenges. Secondly, they are Jews, whose souls were present at Har Sinai, and are Jews even if they go off the Derech.
2.In the times we live in, with the ardent antisemitism engulfing the world once more and the Jewish community struggling to stay connected as it is, we should NEVER NEVER EVER toss out a fellow Jew, never drive them from the Torah, especially if they don’t want to abandon tradition. Never drive someone away from our community, lest they be assimilated and lost into goyische cultures.
3. There is past history within rabbinic, Halachically observant Judiasm and such topics as gender and sex. Under normal circumstances, we are prohibited from self injury or major modification, prohibited from cross dressing, ect. However, since gender dysphoria is directly tied to suicide and self harm rates, it can be classified as a medical need for mental and physical health, indeed a potentially life saving procedure, to go through with every step of the transition process.
4. That said, from the (generally) Orthodox perspective, the sex determined at birth IS the sex, from the Halachic POV. This is not to say on the social level we mistreat trans people, but only in instances of Halacha does this arise. Essentially, gender and sex are separate, and while some trans people want to change their sexual attributes to better match their gender identity, the Torah still sees the sex. Since in this case the crossdressing is allowed, the major issue is that of tznuit. Since for a transwomen, and any post OP trans man, there is not bleeding, the mikvah is not needed in this regard and we can completely avoid the topic of “men“ seeing women during purification and in nudity, in this space. Since to the outside observer, the post-OP trans person would not appear as their birth sex, the observer is not violating laws of tznuit by being around them. (Of course, this topic would naturally become much more complex if you factor in nonhet trans people, but there aren’t really any orthodox answers for what nonhet people in general do in this situation.)
5. The transwoman is obligated for Tefillin, the transman in not (though may choose to due to the fact that Niddah for the post-OP is not a concern).
6. Trans people should sit on the sides on the machitzah consistent with gender identity and presentation.
7. Shomar is an uncharted issue here, much as it is with gay/bi/pan/ace/ect cis Jews.
“The way I see it is that the Torah is both a Torat emet — a Torah of truth conveyed through laws and values, as well as a Torat chesed —
a Torah filled with compassion. A religious Jew is compelled to grapple
with this dialectic and integrate both components,” Topp said. “With
this issue, it means that we adhere fully to our tradition of Jewish law
without denying the commandments inherent in it. At the same time, we
recognize that a core element of that tradition is to appreciate — with
compassion and respect — the humanity of every single individual and act
accordingly.”Friendly reminder this is for adherents of ORTHODOX Judaism. Reform Judaism doesn’t even have most of these rules to begin with, so the discussion doesn’t need to happen to begin with. Conservative Judaism generally holds that Trans people that choose to be observant can be so in the exact same way their cis counterparts do, ruling that halacha is based on gender identity, not sexual attributes. Overall, this is a HUGE step for Orthodox Jews. Mazal Tov <3. I hope this precedent spreads like wildfire throughout the Jewish community, as this Rabbi is part of the Orthodox Union.
@ariminak @goldhornsandsteel @fandomsandmusic36 @dianaraven @nerdinsomniac @fromchaostocosmos @jewish-privilege @jewishtransition @nativepeopleproblems
I’m pretty pleased with what was said. There are several things I personally have an issue with, but for Orthodox Judaism this is a big step and wonderful.
Lets us hope, pray, and work towards more moments like this is the future.
What was said above: there are a bunch of things in here that I don’t think are the right answer, but they’re way closer than I’d expect to hear an Orthodox rabbi to say.
#6 in particular is wonderful, and is enlightening to Rabbi Topp’s position when taken against a background of the others. I also love that he acknowledges that there is uncharted territory, and reiterates that Jewish observance is about compassion and acceptance, not blind adherence.
Yasher koach, Rabbi Weinreb. And may your words be heard and understood and your work be accepted and built upon.