[YBD, 2000.11.16] מַה טֹּבוּ is a poem "How good are the tents of Israel…!" (bᵊ-Mi•dᵊbarꞋ 24.5 {authored by the idolater, Bil•âmꞋ}, and concluded by Tᵊhil•imꞋ 5.8; 26.8; 95.6; and 69.14). This poem is recited only by Ash•kᵊnazꞋim upon entering the beit ha-kᵊnësꞋët on ërꞋëv Shab•âtꞋ. Tei•mân•imꞋ instead recite Shir ha-Shir•imꞋ upon entering the beit ha-kᵊnësꞋët on ërꞋëv Shab•âtꞋ.

Who's being quoted?

[YBD, 2000.11.16] His perspective appears little different from King Louis XVI of France who declared "L'état, c'est moi" (I am the state). Jews blur whatever they believe with Judaism. The more you encounter that the less surprised you'll become. I guess (becoming) jaded is the operative word.

The guy doesn't sound Messianic (though he still might be). Rather, he sounds like a typical ill-informed and rather ignorant formerly dât•iꞋ (or Conservative or even possibly Reform) who thinks he's finally found someone who knows less about Judaism than he does and he can finally pontificate over someone and, thereby, make himself feel more Jewish by comparison.

[YBD, 2000.11.16] The response to the arguments of Rav Bo•teiꞋakh (Boteach) falls into two primary types: traditional dât•iꞋ and logical; which sometimes are, but don't have to be, incompatible.

Traditional Strategy

The traditional dât•iꞋ strategy is to – unquestioningly and mindlessly – quote the kha•khâm•imꞋ (often paraphrased to "commentators") and consider that absolute "Gospel". This is the origin of the basis in all law of citing precedents – except that in law, courts that decide precedents can be overturned.

In his book, The Mitzvot (see the Judaica Shoppe in NQ), Rav Chill quotes Ibn Ezra: "Homosexual relationships are forbidden because they are a perversion of nature and an act of disobedience to the Will of י‑‑ה" (p. 214). The editors of The Stone Tanakh corroborate this: "Homosexuality, however, is unnatural and therefore [תּוֹעֵבָה]" (note to wa-Yi•qᵊr•âꞋ 18.22).

The term תּוֹעֵבָה is "an abhorrence, object of disgust."

There are 117 instances in Ta•na"khꞋ of תּוֹעֵבָה. The ËvꞋën Shosh•anꞋ Concordance (Hebrew) defines תּוֹעֵבָה as a שִׁקּוּץ, the cognate of שִׁקצָה (popularly corrupted to "shiktza," referring to a non-Jewish wife), פִּגּוּל bor דָּבָר מָאוֹס.

Homosexuality in Tanakh and Orthodox Judaism is a תּוֹעֵבָה, but so are some other things which people don't realize ha-Sheim considers every bit as abhorrent and repugnant. .

Hi-lites of the use of תּוֹעֵבָה include:

• The view of Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim concerning eating with I•vᵊr•imꞋ – bᵊ-Reish•itꞋ 46.34; 43.32

• Yi•sᵊr•â•eilꞋ regarded as a תּוֹעֵבָה by the goy•imꞋ – Tᵊhil•imꞋ 88.9

• Homosexual practice – wa-Yi•qᵊr•âꞋ 18.22; 20.13

• Cross-dressing – Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 22.5

• Prostitution and dogs – Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 23.19

• וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים, i.e. in the legitimate תּוֹרָה-observant Jewish community – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 6.16 with 19; 26.25. מְדָנִים derives from דָּן (i.e., by a בֵּית דִּין ). This describes davꞋqâ legal actions borne out of spite, vindictiveness, etc.

• Unethical business dealings – Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 25.16; Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 11.1; 20.10, 23

• Don't bring gold & silver of פְּסִילֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם into your home, it is שַׁקֵּץ | תְּשַׁקְּצֶנּוּ וְתַעֵב | תְּתַעֲבֶנּוּ Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 7.25-26. Notice that this commands us to regard something that תּוֹרָה defines as שֶׁקֶץ or תּוֹעֵבָה to be such. (The doubling of a verb with its matching replicated noun form indicates emphasis; i.e., "absolutely!" + verb.) See also Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 5.11.

• Goddess Ashtoret – Mᵊlâkh•imꞋ Beit 23.13

• Intermarriage (of a תּוֹרָה-keeper) with a תּוֹרָה-keeper!!! – Ma•lâkh•iꞋ 2.11

• You shall not eat any תּוֹעֵבָה – Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 14.3. Notice that this truism, a mi•tzᵊwâhꞋ in its own right, ISN'T the same as describing the mixing of khâ•lâvꞋ with bâ•sârꞋ, or the violation of any other law of ka•shᵊr•utꞋ, as תּוֹעֵבָה. This is an essential distinction, which is apparently lost on many.

• A former wife of X who has, since being married to X, subsequently been married to Y, is then תּוֹעֵבָה to first husband X – Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 24.4. (This passage, BTW, forms the basis for a question that prompted one of the teachings of RibꞋi Yᵊho•shuꞋa.)

• The lᵊum•imꞋ (nations) – Yᵊsha•yâhꞋu 41.24

• Tᵊphil•otꞋ of everyone not doing their utmost to non-selectively practice the indivisible whole of תּוֹרָה are תּוֹעֵבָה – Yᵊsha•yâhꞋu 1.13; Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 28.9!!! Are doers of תּוֹעֵבָה "saved"??? – Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu 7.10. The prayers of doers of תּוֹעֵבָה are also described as zëvꞋakh rᵊshâ•imꞋ, a תּוֹעֵבָה ("the sacrifice of the wicked [i.e. transgressors of תּוֹרָה] is תּוֹעֵבָה") – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 15.8; 21.27. It's safe to say that no Christian, Jew or other arguing against homosexuality realizes this. These are some of the passages to inform them.

• The way of those who are non-תּוֹרָה observant is a תּוֹעֵבָה – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 15.9

• מַחְשְׁבוֹת רָע [by the criteria of תּוֹרָה]) – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 15.26

• גְּבַהּ לֵב – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 16.5.

• מַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע וּמַרְשִׁיעַ צַדִּיק; תּוֹעֵבַת י‑‑ה, גַּם-שְׁנֵיהֶם – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 17.15. Note that both terms are defined according to the criteria of תּוֹרָה. So even a person who calls some evangelist or the Pope a good man (see also related passage concerning falseness) is תּוֹעֵבָה, no less than slandering תּוֹרָה-observant Jews as being lost, blind, rejected by God, etc.

• Advocating peace outside of the framework of תּוֹרָה observance is תּוֹעֵבָה – Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu 6.15 & 8.12. Peace-niks are invariably unaware of this. It also implies that RibꞋi Yᵊho•shuꞋa assumed that "those who would be blessed for seeking peace" were sho•meirꞋ-תּוֹרָה. (When I use the term "imply," I do so as a logician. It means something that necessarily – not "may" or "likely" – follows.)

• The evils of סְדוֹם, from which the term "Sodomy" derives – Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 16.50

• Speaking of a בֵּן-פָּרִיץ: namely, one who sheds blood, eats food over which a blessing has been recited to any other than י‑‑ה (e.g., to Jesus, 33.25), who commits adultery (for which see also Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 22.11; 33.26), who oppresses the poor or needy, who robs, who withholds collateral, who attends non-תּוֹרָה worship, or who loans money at interest; אֵת כָּל-הַתּוֹעֵבוֹת הָאֵלֶּה עָשָׂה – Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 18.10, 13ff. Thus, all of these evils are classified here as תּוֹעֵבוֹת, all of which are prohibited to both Jew and geir – wa-Yi•qᵊr•âꞋ 18.26. (Note that goy•imꞋ – gentiles and the resulting Christian Church – aren't deemed relevant to be addressed at all.) Christians who eat food blessed before their idol and "lift up their eyes" to idols at their church are blissfully unaware of their own תּוֹעֵבוֹת when they argue against homosexuality as yet another תּוֹעֵבָה.

• Prohibition against adopting non-תּוֹרָה religious statutes (i.e. doctrines traditions, practices, etc.), all of which are considered תּוֹעֵבָה – wa-Yi•qᵊr•âꞋ 18.27-30.

• Syncretizing Christian or other non-Judaic liturgy, music, celebrations, etc. – Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 12.30-31; 18.9; Di•vᵊr•eiꞋ-ha-Yâm•imꞋ Beit 33.2; 36.14; Mᵊlâkh•imꞋ ÂlꞋëph 14.24; Mᵊlâkh•imꞋ Beit 21.2. Christians and "Messianic Jews" who argue against the תּוֹעֵבָה of homosexuality are being consistent with their lives of תּוֹעֵבָה.

• תּוֹעֵבָה of A•vod•âhꞋ zâr•âhꞋ (idolatry) – Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu 44.4; Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 27.15; leading others to stray from תּוֹרָה – Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 13.14-15; 17.2-4; Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu 2.7. Clearly, Christians, "Messianic," Ultra-Orthodox (Kha•reid•imꞋ), non-Orthodox, and even many dogmatically intolerant Orthodox Jews are blissfully unaware of the strayings from תּוֹרָה inherent in European medievalism and its underlying superstitions and ancient mythologies. These are the passages to inform them. Yᵊsha•yâhꞋu 44.19; Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 6.9; 7.20; 8.6 (twice), 9, 13, 15; 16.2, 22, 36, 51 (twice), 58; 12.16; 14.6; 16.47; 20.4; 22.2; 23.36; 43.8; 44.7; Mᵊlâkh•imꞋ Beit 21.11; and Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu 16.18; 44.19 with 22; Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 32.16

• Punishment for תּוֹעֵבָה – Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 5.9; 7.3-4, 8-9; 11.21; 16.43; 44.13

• Falling by sword, famine and plague due to תּוֹעֵבָה among Yᵊhud•imꞋ – Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 6.11

• תּוֹעֵבָה a deviant, aberrant from תּוֹרָה – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 3.32

• Falseness, lying – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 12.22. Christians condemning homosexuals while believing, practicing and advocating the – indisputably documented – false, displacement theology teachings of Christianity should be apprised of this. Muslims are, likewise, guilty of believing, practicing and advocating an – indisputably documented – false, displacement theology.

• The עִקְּשֵׁי לֵב, those perverted from (by the criteria of) תּוֹרָה – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 11.20

• Practice of astrology and other divination, reading omens, etc. – Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 18.12

• The view of Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim concerning a רֹעֵה צֹאן – bᵊ-Reish•itꞋ 46.34; Yᵊhud•imꞋ offer sacrifices that Egyptians considered תּוֹעֵבָה – Shᵊm•otꞋ 8.22 (twice)

• Child dedication/sacrifice – as Arab Muslims do, training up "shakheedim" (Arabic: suicide martyrs) – Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu 32.35; Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 18.12; Mᵊlâkh•imꞋ Beit 16.3; Di•vᵊr•eiꞋ-ha-Yâm•imꞋ Beit 28.3. These children "passed through the fire" not so different from a lion in a circus performance. It was a pagan rite of passage, not incineration; a dedication to their god. The notion that the children were burned to death is unfounded and has been largely invalidated by archeology. In fact, Arab Muslims dedicating their children, encouraging their children and sending their children to become a "shakhid" is far worse than the "sin of Molekh." Thus, in reality, Christian baptizing of infants and children strongly is included in the definition of child dedication to a foreign god.

• Something פִּגּוּל: Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 17.1

• Those who are doing תּוֹעֵבָה can neither make up for it, nor offset it, nor counterbalance it with good works – Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 18.24. Tᵊshuv•âhꞋ implies ceasing the doing of תּוֹעֵבָה

• Assimilation – Dᵊvâr•imꞋ 20.18; 9.1, 11, ËꞋzᵊr•â 14; uncircumcised heart and uncircumcised flesh – Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 44.6

• To do רֶשַׁע is a תּוֹעֵבָה for kings – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 16.12

• A תּוֹעֵבָה to the צַדִּיקִים is one who does עָוֶל. Conversely, a תּוֹעֵבָה to the רָשָׁע is one who is יְשַׁר-דָּרֶךְ – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 29.27. In other words, one who does עָוֶל is a תּוֹעֵבָה to the צַדִּיקִים, while the "Straight Way", תּוֹרָה, is regarded as a תּוֹעֵבָה by one who is רָשָׁע (the Christian, Muslim, secular "Jew", atheist "Jew", etc.). Thusly are you, each and every person, measured relative to תּוֹרָה.

• רָשָׁע is a תּוֹעֵבָה to my lips – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 8.7

• וְתּוֹעֵבַת כְּסִילִים סוּר מֵרָע (i.e. to the bonehead, turning from wrong is an abhorrence – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 13.19

• וְתּוֹעֵבַת לְאָדָם לֵץ – Mi•shᵊl•eiꞋ ShᵊlomꞋoh 24.9

• חָמָס – Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 8.17

• Those marked on their forehead for deliverance הַנֶּאֱנָחִים וְהַנֶּאֱנָקִים (are ones who go "aawgkh!" or "awk!" (or "yuk!") at תּוֹעֵבָה – Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 9.4

• תּוֹעֵבוֹת removed by Yosh•i•yâhꞋu ha-MëlꞋëkh (corrupted to 'Josiah' the king) – Di•vᵊr•eiꞋ-ha-Yâm•imꞋ Beit 34.33

• תּוֹעֵבוֹת done by Yᵊho•yâq•imꞋ – Di•vᵊr•eiꞋ-ha-Yâm•imꞋ Beit 36.8

• During exile Yi•sᵊr•â•eilꞋ will become disgusted with תּוֹעֵבוֹת – Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 36.31; then the Modern state will remove תּוֹעֵבוֹת – Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 11.18; and then Yi•sᵊr•â•eilꞋ will know י‑‑ה – Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ 33.29

Logical Strategy

The logical approach is to conduct scholarly research which delineates between environmental, genetic and other factors. If Rav Boteiakh cited any such scholarship you didn't mention it, and his opinion is no better than anyone else's and, in fact, if such documentation is lacking then it demonstrate that his opinion is unfounded (not based in scientific reasoning), therefore invalid, and should be dismissed.

If the research citations are there then it becomes a matter of examining and assessing the research logically (i.e., scientifically).

There has been little scientific evidence advanced, to my knowledge, which validates either environmental or genetic causes of homosexuality (for the genetic link – not cause, see Cultural Decline – Causes Homosexuality Genetically?). To the contrary, all of the hard evidence of neuroscience argues that the brain is plastic, not "god made me that way" hardwired: that the individual's will rewires physical neural formations, and even recomposes genetic information accordingly, remolding the physical brain to conform to one's determination and practice (see discussions of neuroscience in the weekly Tor•âhꞋ portions in our "Beit K'nesset" pages: Pâ•râsh•atꞋ bᵊ-Reish•itꞋ, Pâ•râsh•atꞋ wa-Yei•shëvꞋ and Pâ•râsh•atꞋ bᵊ-Khuq•ōt•aiꞋ).

Thus, homosexuality is comparable to smoking or drug addiction, not like the unavoidable physical needs to drink, eat or breath. Homosexuality differs only in degree, not kind, from murder, rape, stealing, or any other evil inclination – and differs not much, even in degree, from cross-dressing or pedophilia (often the next steps). To say that the PRACTICE of homosexuality should be tolerated in the Orthodox community is no different, in any way that can be scientifically isolated and described, from tolerating murder, rape and stealing in the Orthodox community.

The person with evil inclinations who controls and denies those inclinations is acceptable. But the person who puts those same inclinations into PRACTICE is unacceptable. The ëvꞋën bo•khanꞋ (touchstone) is the person's practice.

I don't think there are very many Orthodox rabbis who would disagree with me on that.

Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu Bën-Dâ•widꞋ, Pâ•qidꞋ 16
The Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ, Ra•a•nanꞋâ(h), Yi•sᵊr•â•eilꞋ