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OPINION&ANALYSIS 22 The Australian Jewish News – jewishnews.net.au Friday, February 24, 2012 Tackling homophobia in In an article published in the journal of the Australian Family Association, Rabbi Dr Shimon Cowen, founding director of The Institute for Judaism and Civilisation, expressed his concerns about programs to tackle homophobic bullying in schools. In the wake of the controversy Rabbi Cowen explains his position, while Rabbi Fred Morgan, Rabbi Moshe Gutnick and Dr Jonathan Barnett share their opinions on the issue. Closing down the options The realities of the The problem with the anti-bullying program is not the laudable goal of preventing homophobia, but the overall strategy which promotes homosexuality as a “norm”, according to Rabbi Dr Shimon Cowen. human condition Responding to Rabbi Dr Shimon group has been set up in Melbourne to ECAUSE every human being Creator wants of us with it, and how to bring Keshet to Australia. Rabbi Cowen has a soul made in the image deal with difficulties along the way. Cowen’s controversial article on analysis does not seem to believe that programs of its Creator, every human My article made four points with homosexual anti-bullying like Keshet should be used to train B being should be loved and his regard to the “anti-bullying” program programs in schools, Rabbi teachers in Jewish schools about how or her best potential sought and helped of the Safe Schools Coalition Victoria to give support to students who are into actuality. This love is the real (SSCV), which involves the “celebra- Fred Morgan says his views on struggling to come to terms with their source and meaning of tolerance. The tion of sexual diversity”. (1) The article sexual identity. “normative” behaviour ignore What Rabbi Cowen seems to over- false meaning of tolerance is moral rel- explained the Jewish and Noahide laws’ & the realities of the human look is that Keshet and similar pro- ativism, with its argument that I must view that the practice of homosexuality condition. grams are not about what is respect another’s practice because who (as distinct from homosexual orienta- “normative”. They do not seek to lay knows what the truth is – maybe s/he tion) is non-normative. (2) The SSCV’s down how people should behave. They Y impression of Rabbi Dr has it and not I? The human soul and are about reality – how people are in educational modelling to young chil- Shimon Cowen is that he fact. human tradition resonate over time dren of homosexual practices as is a gentle man. When he Since an appreciable percentage of with a set of universal norms, one of equally normative with heterosexual spoke from the bimah at M the population is homosexual in fact, which is the heterosexual union of man practices breaches the right of religious Temple Beth Israel at his father Sir students who are becoming aware that and woman. freedom guaranteed by both the Zelman Cowen’s state funeral, despite As with all norms, there are Chabad strictures on their rabbis enter- they are or may be gay or lesbian need Australian Constitution and United to be supported in that exploration as impulses in the human being which Nations Conventions on the Rights of ing Progressive synagogues, he showed that he is also a compassionate man, much as students who are exploring fight this norm, sometimes overpower- the Child to be raised in their own reli- their sexuality as heterosexuals. ingly. We can struggle with it, some- someone who is able to appreciate gions. (3) It is not necessary to counter what it means for each of us to be cre- They need to be supported by times people cannot even struggle with the bullying of homosexual children by ated in God’s image. teachers who are there not to declare it, and this can be viewed with much “celebrating” homosexuality, any more I am perplexed, therefore, how a what is “normative” and what is compassion. Still the indulgence of the than by celebrating “obesity” to stop caring individual like Rabbi Cowen can “abnormal”, but rather to offer support to all their students by recognising the homosexual impulse was prohibited by the bullying of fat children. A different express views about homosexuality the Creator and the small mirror of the that are so hurtful and damaging, as he differences among them, protecting anti-bullying strategy should be taken. them from prejudice and attack, and Creator, the human soul, where in use Finally (4) the SSCV’s encouraging did recently in an article in the journal of the Australian Family Association. giving them confidence in expressing knows it. Where the soul has been sub- children, who feel so inclined, to lock their deepest sense of self. merged – as in so much contemporary Unfortunately his views made the front into a homosexual identity is wrong at page of the free broadsheet mX. The culture – to become aware of the soul, a developmental stage, when up to 26 report in mX quoted a leading member Rather than basing of tradition, of what is required of a per cent of all children experience fluid of Aleph, Melbourne’s Jewish gay the “norm” on person by his or her Creator – all that sexual identity. This could actually cul- group, as saying that the rabbi’s views requires a discussion. tivate homosexuality in children, 97 are “delusional”. It also quotes a press observations of human per cent of whom would otherwise release from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry distancing Australian behaviour, including As with all norms, there are mature into heterosexual and three per opinion Jewry from Rabbi Cowen’s remarks. the experience of cent into homosexual identities. That is impulses in the human being The crux of the rabbi’s argument lies homosexuals, the rabbi which fight this norm, the injustice to the naturally heterosex- in the word “normative”, which he uses ual child. repeatedly in his article. For example, in bases his “norm” on an sometimes overpoweringly. But there is also an injustice in the rejecting the value of educating teach- ideological principle SSCV program to the homosexual ers about homosexuality as part of an A group of academics at the univer- child. Children within this program anti-bullying campaign, he claims it is that, in his view, takes sity with which I am affiliated sought to would be locked into a homosexual “using bullying as a pretext to teach all secure a condemnation of my article by schoolchildren that homosexual con- precedence over the identity at a very young age. How easily the university and its disassociation duct is equally normative with hetero- realities of the human will they emerge from it, if they are later from me. By doing this they not only sexual conduct”. For Rabbi Cowen, stirred to move towards a heterosexual condition. negated religious tradition, but sought what is “normative” really matters since norm? The philosophy of this program it defines the style of life that a person also to censure and silence a view has consequences for homosexuals of should lead. There is a “norm”, and It is important to mention that which they do not hold. One of the Rabbi Cowen’s view is not the only one all ages. The SSCV does not build a those who are homosexual do not fit it. great paradoxes of contemporary aca- available within Judaism today. “soul” into its model of the human Rather than basing the “norm” on demia is the reign of a seamless politi- observations of human behaviour, The Progressive movement has being – the soul made in the image of cal correctness. This disturbs me much including the experience of homosexu- been in the vanguard in acknowledging its Creator, which is capable of resonat- more than the internet rabble of mis- als, the rabbi bases his “norm” on an both the rights and the needs of the ing with the laws that its Creator gave, ideological principle that, in his view, gay and lesbian community; and even representations of what I said. within the Modern-Orthodox world Discussion in the university, where one including the heterosexual norm. The takes precedence over the realities of the human condition. there is a far more nuanced under- should have been able to converse – SSCV philosophy knows only body and mind. Its construes the direction in What precipitated Rabbi Cowen’s standing of homosexuality than Rabbi mind to mind, mind to soul and soul to Cowen allows for. which the person is driven by impulse article? It seems to be the decision of soul – was closed down. Political cor- the Jewish Community Council of “Delusional” is undoubtedly too and inclination, as its “fate”. By remov- rectness in the major media, in the state Victoria and other bodies to seek to strong a word to use about Rabbi education bodies and public service all ing the soul from the picture of the per- educate teachers in how to deal sensi- Cowen’s views. But I suggest that Rabbi begins in the university, which trains its son, it takes away from the homosexual tively and compassionately with stu- Cowen, whom I very much respect, personnel. Conversational shutdown what resides in the soul: peace, a moral dents in their classrooms who are might take on board his own comments about the importance of practising self- in the street is a small reflex of the big compass and the greatest resource for becoming aware of their homosexuality. These students face ostracism and bul- discipline and curb his instinct to intellectual conformity in the universi- transformation or at least self-control in practice.

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