Homosexuality, Transsexuality, Psychoanalysis and Traditional Judaism

Description

Homosexuality, Transsexuality, Psychoanalysis and Traditional Judaism explores the often incommensurable and irreconcilable beliefs and understandings of sexuality and gender in the Orthodox Jewish community from psychoanalytic, rabbinic, feminist, and queer perspectives. The book explores how seemingly irreconcilable differences might be resolved. The book is divided into two separate but related sections. The first highlights the divide between the psychoanalytic, academic, and traditional Orthodox Jewish perspectives on sexual identity and orientation, and the acute psychic and social challenges faced by gay and lesbian members of the Orthodox Jewish world. The contributors ask us to engage with them in a dialogue that allows for authentic conversation. The second section focuses on gender identity, especially as experienced by the Orthodox transgender members of the community. It also highlights the divide between theories that see gender as fluid and traditional Judaism that sees gender as strictly binary. The contributors write about their views and experiences from both sides of the divide. They ask us to engage in true authentic dialogue about these complex and crucial emotional and religious challenges. Homosexuality, Transsexuality, Psychoanalysis and Traditional Judaism will be of great interest to psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists as well as members and leaders of Jewish communities working with LGBTQ issues. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgments Overview Preface Author biographies SECTION I: Sexual identity, psychoanalysis, and traditional Judaism Preface to Section1: Moving the conversation along References Introduction to Section I: Sexual identity, psychoanalysis, and traditional Judaism References 1. Does God make referrals?: Orthodox Judaism and homosexuality Does “fluid” sexuality imply an ability to “change” or “choose” sexuality? The clinical conundrum Bridging “incommensurable” differences Acknowledgments References 2. Collateral damage in the battle to change sexual orientation References 3. Discussion of “Does God make referrals?”: Orthodox Judaism and homosexuality 4. The challenges faced by LGBTQ Orthodox Jews: An Orthodox response References 5. Pastoral counseling and LGBTQ Orthodox Jews Introduction Policies and education Pastoral issues Education for clergy Acknowledgments Reference 6. Gay Jewish men in the Orthodox Jewish community: Striving for selfhood Introduction The study Results Discussion References 7. The parents are our future1: Orthodox communities’ openness to their LGBT members Parents as catalysts for change Coming out: for parents too Communal challenges: rabbinic responses From rabbinic authority to peer support Gaining rabbinic support Resources A spiritual journey References 8. Envisioning an Orthodox gay wedding: A Jewish ritual of same-sex union and an inquiry into the meanings of marriage Deconstructing the dish Shutafin Nisuin revisited In the beginning Restoring the moon: the ritual of Kiddush Levanah Appendix: marriage document 9. “Women known for these acts”: A review of the Jewish laws of lesbians Afterword Reference SECTION II: Gender identity, psychoanalysis, and traditional Judaism Introduction to SectionII: Gender identity, psychoanalysis, and traditional Judaism References 10. The dynamic development of gender variability Extracting theories of development A dynamic systems framework for gender identity development The presymbolic phase of gender identity formation From presymbolic to symbolic representations of gender Internalizing a gender self What next? References 11. Negotiating gendered religious practices among transgender Jews with an Orthodox Jewish background: Summary of findings The gendering of religious practice in Orthodox Judaism Negotiating gendered religious practices: from dysphoria to affirmation Conclusion References 12. Genocide, transsexuality, the limits of coherence, and the radiance of the universe References 13. Border crossings: Commentary on Dr. Ben Baader’s chapter References 14. Knowing the soul of the stranger “How long will this people spurn me?” “How does it feel to be a problem?” God, transgender people, and other hyper-minorities Knowing the soul of the stranger References 15. Rabbinic and halakhic discourse on sex-change surgery and gender definition A new introduction Original introduction Legality of SCS: prohibition and its rhetorical expression Rabbinic debate on postoperative sex assignments The souls of transsexuals Sympathy for the different? Halakhic innovations in transition Conclusion Acknowledgments References 16. Orthodox Judaism and its transgender members Real people A culture of welcoming Does gender change from a halakhic perspective? Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg Rabbi Zev Farber Rabbi Edan Ben-Ephraim Selected halakhic repercussions of gender change Dress Tzitzit, tefillin, and talit (wearing ritual fringes and phylacteries) Minyan (quorum required for public prayer) Aliyah (being called to the Torah) Birkat hamazon (grace after meals) Conclusion References Index