Exchange about Gay Jewish Student Group (1973)

1. Correspondent 44 to R. Lamm (Jan. 8, 1973)

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Exchange about Providing Therapy for Young Gay Man (1976)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: עמו"ש, After reading your article in the 1974 Encyclopedia Judaica Yearbook on "Judaism and the Modern Attitude to Homosexuality," I feel that you could possibly help me in recommending some behavioral therapists or any other professionals in the New York area. I know of a 21 year old Orthodox boy who is seeking help, and would like to see him get the right counselling. I would greatly appreciate your giving this your prompt attention, and hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.Anonymity is requested by the young man,Sincerely yours,"לה' הישועה על עמך ברכתך סלה"תהילים ג'ט'

Marriage & Sexuality

Exchange with R. Pincus about Homosexuality as a Criminal Offense (1969)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I read with stark disbelief your statement in today’s N.Y. Times, p. 49, that “homosexuality between consenting adults should not be treated as a criminal offense.” Surely, you couldn’t mean that homosexuality is not a criminal offense to התורה for when we have פסוקים in the Torah that prohibit משכב זכור and is punishable by death. If you referred to דינא דמלכותא, you also overlooked a רמב"ם (הלכות סנהדרין פרק יח הלכה ו) which expressly says that a זכר חייב מיתה גם בדיני הגוים. Also the שולחן ערוך (אבן העזר סימן כד) states: אסור למשכב זכור הוא מכלל עריות, והעובר על זה חייב סקילה.

Marriage & Sexuality

Exchange with R. Siegman about Proposed Synagogue Council of America Guidelines for Sex Education (1967)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: Representatives of the Synagogue Council of America who are serving on an interfaith commission on marriage and family have come up with a proposed statement on sex education, containing guidelines for groups responsible for the development of school and community programs in sex education. Enclosed is a copy of the proposed statement. We would be most grateful if you were to let us have the benefit of your thoughts regarding this statement. A particularly difficult problem is the extent to which religious values, “common” or otherwise, are to be injected into the suggested programs. What are the criteria by which we are to judge a proper and an improper intrusion of religious teachings into the public school curriculum? Your advice regarding this question, as well as other aspects of the statement, will be of great value to our Executive Committee determining policy on this issue. With many thanks and warm personal regards, I am Sincerely yours, Rabbi Henry Siegman Executive Vice President

Marriage & Sexuality