Rabbi Steven Pruzansky mobilizing world wide support for Rav Ralbag

Rabbi Ralbag

The decision by Amsterdam's orthodox Jewish community to suspend its chief rabbi because of his controversial beliefs about homosexuality is 'verging on fascism', a committee of orthodox Jews in the US has told the Volkskrant.

The Committee for the Declaration on the Torah Approach to Homosexuality told the paper in an email it is 'shocking' that a chief rabbi in the Netherlands has been suspended for his statements on 'centuries-old religious truths'.

Amsterdam's orthodox Jewish community (NIHS) suspended rabbi Aryeh Ralbag as its nominal chief last week after the New York-based official signed a statement describing homosexuality as an illness which can be cured.

Discussion

Ralbag will remain suspended until he and community leaders have spoken about the issue, but it is unclear when this will happen. On Sunday, the NRC said the rabbi believes his life would be in danger if he came to the Netherlands.

Ralbag told the paper: ‘I have strong indications that my wife and I would not be sure of our lives if we came to the Netherlands now.’ He declined to say what the threats were but did say he took them ‘extremely seriously’, the paper reported.

The declaration, signed by 162 rabbis and mental health practitioners last year, states that 'homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle' and that 'behaviours are changeable'.

Freedom of speech

In the email, committee spokeswoman Susie Rosenbluth says freedom of speech and freedom of religion are holy. The NIHS is officially part of the orthodox community and cannot then point to the 'unique position of Dutch orthodox Jews' as some in Amsterdam have done, she wrote.

New Jersey rabbi Steven Pruzansky, who is mobilizing intenational support for Ralbag, blames Dutch tolerance for the situation, the paper says.

Rabbi Pruzansky

'Dutch society is so tolerant, with legal and open prostitution and a sharp reduction in faithfulness in marriage, that it is impossible for Jews who grow up in such surroundings to embrace the moral message of the Torah,' the Volkskrant quoted him as saying. 'They are in spiritual shock.'

Time out

Ronnie Eisemann, chairman of the NIHS, had hoped the suspension would allow for a cooling-off period in order to prevent a schism between the orthodox and more liberal wings of the Dutch community.

However, a speedy solution is now unlikely, the paper argues.