Rabbis, religious leaders ask LGBT community for forgiveness

Rabbis, educators and community leaders in the religious community published a video on Saturday night in which they apologized before Yom Kippur for the poor treatment of the LGBT community this past Jewish year by their colleagues.

 

The video is in keeping with Jewish tradition of seeking forgiveness for wrongs committed against one’s neighbors during the High Holy Days. Indeed, the video begins by quoting the relevant Talmudic passage, “Yom Kippur atones for transgressions between a person and God, but for a transgression against one’s neighbor, Yom Kippur cannot atone, until he appeases his neighbor.”

 

Seven speakers—four men and three women—appear in the project that was initiated by LGBT religious organizations Havruta – Religious Gays, Bat-Kol – Religious Lesbian Organization, K’ratsono – Religious Trans Men and Woman and their Friends, Religious LGBT Community,and Shoval — Everything Was Created in His Glory. Whilst all the speakers are identified as liberal religious persons who advocate for including those with various sexual orientations and gender identities in their communities, this clip still constitutes an exceptional step on their half with rabbis and other religious leaders figuratively beating their breasts and asking for forgiveness.

 

Read More: Ynetnews Jewish Scene – Rabbis, religious leaders ask LGBT community for forgiveness