Jewish views of homosexuality
| Halakhic texts relating to this article | |
|---|---|
| Torah: | Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13. |
| Mishneh Torah: |
• For men: Issurei Bi'ah 1:14, 21:18. • For women: Issurei Bi'ah 21:8. |
• For men: Issurei Bi'ah 1:14, 21:18.
The subject of homosexual behavior and Judaism dates back to the Torah. The book of Vayiqra (Leviticus) is traditionally regarded as classifying sexual intercourse between males as a to'eivah (something abhorred or detested) that can be subject to capital punishment by the currently nonexistent Sanhedrin under halakha (Jewish law).
The issue has been a subject of contention within modern Jewish denominations, and has led to debate and division. Traditionally, Judaism has understood homosexual male intercourse as contrary to Judaism, and this opinion is still maintained by Orthodox Judaism. On the other hand, Reconstructionist Judaism and Reform Judaism do not hold this view and allow homosexual intercourse and same-sex marriage. Conservative Judaism's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, which until December 2006 held the same position as Orthodoxy, recently issued multiple opinions under its philosophy of pluralism, with one opinion continuing to follow the Orthodox position and another opinion substantially liberalizing its view of homosexual sex and relationships while continuing to regard certain sexual acts as prohibited.
The traditional viewpoint is that the Torah mentions homosexuality twice in the book of Leviticus (JPS):
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