Rabbi Aryeh Ralbag Resigns As Chief Rabbi Of Amsterdam

In the following letter Rabbi Aryeh Ralbag announces his resignation as Chief Rabbi of the Dutch Community citing an inability to maintain all his roles in the United States, Canada, and Amsterdam simultaneously.

In 2012 there was talk that he might be removed from his position in Amsterdam because of comments he made regarding homosexuality. He had already been suspended from his role in the Orthodox community in Amsterdam for co-signing a declaration which described homosexuality as a “curable condition.”

In Amsterdam there is no such thing as free speech!

Rabbi Ralbag, Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam Suspended for signing Anti-Gay Letter!

Rabbi Aryeh Ralbag Shlitah is also the Rabbi of the Young Israel of Avenue K in Brooklyn. The "Orthodox" Jews of Amsterdam want their Rabbi to go against the Torah and be Pro Gay, so they suspended him!

The chief rabbi of Amsterdam, Aryeh Ralbag, was temporarily relieved from his post Wednesday by the board of the Orthodox Jewish community, after he signed a document describing homosexuality as an inclination which “can be modified and healed.”

Ralbag, a US-born Orthodox rabbi nominated to head the Amsterdam community in 2005, had recently cosigned the document titled “Declaration On The Torah Approach To Homosexuality,” which called on “authority figures” to “guide same-sex strugglers towards a path of healing and overcoming their inclinations.”

“Rabbi Ralbag’s signature may give the impression the Orthodox Jewish community of Amsterdam shares his view,” a press release by the community’s board, known the NIHS, read. “This is absolutely untrue. Homosexuals are welcome at the Amsterdam Jewish community.”

Ronnie Eisenmann, chairperson of the board, added: “The community regrets that the chief rabbi cosigned this document and distances itself from this view.” He also offered “heartfelt apologies to anyone who may have been hurt by the rabbi’s signature.”

“The board has decided to (temporarily) relieve the chief rabbi from his duties, in any case until he travels to Amsterdam to discuss the issue.”

Esther Voet, former editor-in-chief of Dutch Jewish weekly Nieuw Israëlietisch Weekblad, supported the decision to relieve Ralbag of his duties.  “I think it’s the only right position because the policies of rabbi Ralbag have come repeatedly under scrutiny for a while now.”

Voet, currently vice-director of CIDI - the Dutch Jewish community’s watchdog on anti-Semitism – said there was a cultural gap between the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community of Brooklyn and the relatively liberal Dutch Orthodox community. Her organization called on Ralbag to step down as chief rabbi on Tuesday, following his signature on the document.

“The Dutch Jewish neshoma (soul) is unique. We have special rules, like waiting only one hour before eating meat and dairy. We need a chief rabbi who is aware of our traditions and that’s something you cannot fly in two times a year,” she said.

Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post