By Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht, Presidium Chairman of Rabbinical Alliance of America / Igud
Katie Honan, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal (10/10/18), gave an account of how the honorable Mayor of the City of New York signed into law a bill that will create a third gender option on birth certificates.
The Mayor is quoted as stating “How can someone have happiness if they cannot be who they are? How can someone be free and have liberty if they are not recognized for who they see themselves to be?”
It is obvious that Mayor Bill de Blasio believes he has the obligation to live up to his name “Bill” and is therefore entitled to sign any “bill” that he deems to be in the interest of the City he represents as long as in his opinion it makes sense. Notwithstanding whether it accords with common sense, morality, precedent and the people he was elected to represent!
Sadly, the Mayor chooses to ignore the vast majority of New York City citizens who do not agree in any shape, manner or form with this new gender option for birth certificates. The Birth Certificate is something that is unique to the human race. Now the Mayor thinks he can redefine humanity by introducing a new and contrived gender classification as to what a human being can be. Namely, as represented with the letter X — neither male nor female, an X will suffice.
This bill is an affront on many different levels.
Let’s begin with the fact that as the Mayor of New York he carries the title of “His Honor.” A Mayor personifies and represents the collective honor and respect of the citizens he represents. For this reason alone Mayor de Blasio should not have signed into law such a disgraceful and anti-religious bill which flies in the face of Biblical values adhered to by the vast majority of NYC residents.
X is not a recognized name or title. Who ever heard of a person being called and identified as an X? Would the Mayor countenance being identified as Mayor X de Blasio?
The Torah identifies the human being as being either male or female as it is written “…male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, who introduced this misguided bill, noted that he heard from transgender New Yorkers who stressed how important a third gender option is for them. “This was the bill I was most proud of,” he said. Pride does not come from lightly disposing of human biology, culture and history. Shame on him and the City Council members who voted on the passage of this ill-conceived third gender bill.
The Torah clearly identifies the distinction between male and female and enjoins us from attempting to remove or obfuscate the difference between male and female, so much so that male attire is restricted for men and women’s attire is reserved for females. (Deuteronomy 22:5) The Torah calls failing to adhere to these laws an abomination.
The “third gender bill” is no more than a big X on the reputation of the Mayor and the City Council.
As New Yorkers and citizens of the world who treasure the biblical heritage and believe in the Seven Universal Laws of Noah, we protest this sham of a bill furthering the erosion of morality and family values from our societal life and culture.
As our Sages of the Talmud clearly state: In the place where there is a desecration of the Name of G-D, we do not afford honor even to a great person (Talmud Berachot 19:)
That is to say, even where one would argue for human dignity this does not outweigh the desecration of G-d’s Name that results from enshrining into law the transgression of even one of His commandments.
Clearly, our Mayor and City Council should rescind forthright this contrived third gender law. It’s time for hizzoner Bill de Blasio, to recognize our Creator’s honor.
See Sanhedrin 56b in which סירוס, neutering even an animal, is a huge issue. For a human it’s beyond belief.
It’s even more incredulous that some would take Hashem’s Torah to use against Hashem and against our trusted mission to better society and to oppose these most extremely destructive ideas.
Is the fact that it directly leads to the nullification of all of the arayos (in the minds of society – which is what counts with regard to actual fulfillment) not clear? There was someone who asked the Rebbe about certain things that may not be clearly osur (machlokes poskim) for Gentiles. The Rebbe retorted, “could we call this a Righteous Gentile?” the whole purpose of this bill is to nullify one of the most clear isurim, one that is needed for society to function. It’s our job as Jews, “or lgoyim *nesatichoh*,” Hashem’s stated and entrusted messengers to the… Read more »
Can the author clarify which of the 7 mitzvos bnei noach this bill is in contradiction to? The only mitzvos I’m aware of that apply to trans or part of the 613 and apply to yiddin only.
Think of the possibilities. “I want someone who feels that they were born an aardvark.”. Forget about building a bayis neeman bYisroel for Hashem, it’s all about feelings that lead astray (no one makes career choices based on feelings alone, but I guess the most important aspects of life are different) and cocaine-style momentary fun.
I find it very hard to reconcile this idea that someone can claim to be a chossid (yes, because Chabad/Lubavitch is a Chassidus) as well as consider themself liberal…
My comment is directed at the kings, queens and xes of modern idiotic sophistry, who tried to justify this with androgenusim and the like. The proponents of the bill state openly that it’s about choosing non-gender for healthy kids (that’s actually the point of the bill, R”L). What a chilul Hashem to involve Torah in the comments.
And no, Our Holy Torah is not modern. Only part of one parsha (this one) is, and the point is made to criticize.
So because there’s a small, small, minority of babies with actual birth defects, Hashem Yishmor, we should use that to allow parents to stigmatize tens of thousands of healthy babies who have no such condition. If they admitted that this was just about engraining the worst example of blatant hedonism from the cradle on, at least their honesty would be worthy of a modicum of respect.
Seems like “der kluginker” is not only a melech zoken uchsil, but gor a gevaldiker tipesh oich.
This articles reads like a pep talk to immature people who are already predisposed to be transphobic. It’s an embarrassment for anyone who claims to be taken seriously as a clergy member of any faith to publish this nonsense. Do better. No acts of goodness and kindness will be inspired by the words in this article.
What is a white person sees himself as a Negro or vice versa, then…. And what is someone sees himself as a monkey or animal, then….Where is the limit?
I’m not so bothered by this. If you dont want to choose X for your newborn, you don’t have to. There are people who don’t feel comfortable with gender conformity, even in our community. Let’s make people feel comfortable even if we disagree or don’t understand.
As a lubavitcher w liberal political beliefs, I’m annoyed at col becoming a place to bash me and other from yidden who agree w me. That said, the truth is gender is is not as black and white as the author makes it out to be and this bill accounts for that nuance.
– s. Baez
Very well said to #19!! You can make up your own ideas but not your own facts!
BTW,, going back just about 20 year’s ago if a male would say he’s feeling like a female or the opposite he would imediatly be taken to a mental institution. However today’s days if you feel this way we will pass a law for you so can walk around like an idiot. We want משיח now. This world is just crazy. These ppl should be taken for evaluation at a mental institution asap. What’s next???? Who knows.
Such news should shake up every Jew on this entire planet. This is totally insane and is another example of how the world is just becoming so crazy. סדום
Thank you R Hecht. The fact that we the Jews can try and make excuses why it’s ok is in itself sad and shameful.
Dear Rabbi Hecht: I don’t know you and don’t care to have a stranger wish in public for power over how I might choose to parent my child. That’s my business, not yours, and not the government’s.
“It is obvious that Mayor Bill de Blasio believes he has the obligation to live up to his name “Bill” and is therefore entitled to sign any “bill” that he deems to be in the interest of the City he represents as long as in his opinion it makes sense.”
Ha ha his name is bill so he signs bills. Good one!!
Radical liberal minded parents will now legally be able to have their child choose their gender.
With all due respect to Rabbi Hecht, he’s pulling facts out of nowhere. He keeps stating that “the vast majority of NYC residents” don’t agree with this – really, where is his source that the vast majority do not agree? We, the frum Jews here, may not agree with this; but we do live in the epicenter of the liberal universe. State your sources or stop inventing facts.
And the stuff about “his name is Bill” and “His Honor” is juvenile.
The bill was not written with hermaphrodites in mind, don’t kid yourself. This bill is about liberals pushing their agendas .
Who’s choosing here? Is it the confused parent or is the new-born baby choosing to be an “x” when it is born?
5 You write, “It was talking about Hermaphrodites and Androgynous which is what the intersex movement is about recognizing”. This is not at all what they are trying to do with this bill. This is mainly and solely a transgender win. As the NY post says it very clearly themselves “This new law gives power back to the transgender community to make their own changes as they know themselves best,” said Cecilia Gentile, managing director of policy and public affairs at the Men’s Health Crisis. Under the bill, transgender New Yorkers will no longer need a letter from a physician… Read more »
Because that’s exactly what they had in mind when they signed this bill.
GIVE.
ME.
A.
BREAK!
Nobody ever says “It’s a baby M” or “a baby F” either. But the point is that when they say “it’s a baby girl” or “boy”, sometimes they turn out to be wrong. Sometimes the baby they think is a girl turns out to be a boy, or vice versa, and sometimes it turns out to be neither.
Talking about babies is irrelevant to this bill anyway. He writes as if only babies use birth certificates.
I kinda agree with number 5 for the small minority of people that are born with both characteristics this is a great victory,
Kinda let that sink in.
So let’s ALL see who from the Rebbe’s shechuna will be endorsing him election time……
TRUE!! Love you!
I’m kinda confused. So when the midwife delivers the baby they say “congratulations it’s a baby . . . . X”?
What about if the child doesn’t want to be an X, but would rather be another letter? How about an apple or an animal?
Were do we draw the line? Since when was human biology dictated by a persons feelings?
Moshiach כאו!
Is the honorable Rabbi unaware that the gemarrah recognizes the existence of a Tumtum and Androgynous?
Sadly babies are born with such conditions that make a binary male/female assignment difficult. Traditionally doctors would try to force them into one or the other (overtimes through surgery) with devastating effects down the line.
This bill will protect these babies and confirms what the Gemarrah has been teaching us all along.
Why are we electing democRATs.
Bathrooms and all the other craziness and evil is worse than sodom. We need to get rid of all the liberal democrats on the Supreme Court Vote Republican down the line
Yes, it does appear that according to Torah genders are clearly defined. That being said, a lot of factors within the human story have evolved over so many years. Who are we to say that one evolution is the nature of gender? So many factors involved.
It was talking about Hermaphrodites and Androgynous which is what the intersex movement is about recognizing. These people are born with physical characteristics of both sexes or neither and that is a reality. This is also dealt with extensively in Halacha with most Rishonim holding that an androgynous is a safek of gender. I have seen statistics that this can happen as often as 1 in 1,000 births, quite a few people that have this issue.
I know both from Jews and non-Jewish people alike. There are all sorts of people, including and especially those who simply do not know any better. There are people who try to live their lives, and have absolutely zero idea what the Torah is or what the origins of our Western Civilization are.
Teach them, do not insult those who have no idea in the first place. Be the adult, and demonstrate with compassion.
For NY. אוי מה היה לנו. How low can we fall?
Very well written. Thank you.
Honestly this is disgusting. If for some reason someone decides to “identify” with a different gender, it is not a baby doing such. A male is a male and female is a female, fave it world! Disgraceful.
This is this week’s Parsha!