Weltanschauung Kampf

-Why should a rabbi (or a pastor or priest, for that matter) be expected to issue a statement disavowing the actions of a Muslim? Leave that to the imams and the mullahs. Do we ask imams to disavow actions perceived as objectionable carried out by self-identifying Jews? The implication is that what members of other religions do somehow reflects on one’s own religion, which is illogical. Don’t lump me together with others I consider heretics and unbelievers. It is, however, a common secular ploy to put religious people on the defensive, and rabbis should know better than to fall for it. But if rabbis are already commenting and saying that it was religiously motivated, they should condemn Islam as a religion. (And if we are already condemning religiously motivated acts of violence committed by members of other religions, why are these same rabbis typically silent when Muslims commit stabbing attacks, shooting attacks, trampling attacks, and homicide bombings? Could it be… because they are afraid of being seen to be criticizing Muslims?)

-Rabbi Mirvis only made the point that homosexual acts are forbidden very weakly. He should have been more emphatic and taken the opportunity to specifically state that just G-d grants man free choice not to commit any sin, so is it with this sin, and sexual sin in general.

-There is a fine line between accepting people as people and accepting and endorsing their lifestyle. What Keshet and co. want, and will persistently demand, is that no one ever disapprove of open homosexuals for their self-destructive, sinful, socially detrimental, perverse lifestyle. Rabbi Mirvis’ statement (and other similar statements made by other rabbis), although well-intentioned, fail to take a strong stance against this behavior and the rabidly secularist, hedonist ideology that seeks to normalize it in our time. This silence in effect serves as an opening to normalizing this behavior, all in the holy name of ahavas Yisrael (loving one’s fellow Jew).

-It is one thing to say we should accept everyone regardless of their private behavior, and another thing entirely to allow them to flaunt their sinful behavior shamelessly in a religious sphere. Anyone who enters a shul or another similar religious public venue should show basic respect for that institution and not openly declare his rejection of the fundamental values of that religion. E.g., if you drive to shul on Shabbos, you don’t take your car keys out of your pocket and put them next to your siddur. So, too, here. This clarification was sorely absent from Rabbi Mirvis’ statement.