New York City - Rabbis: Transgender Professor Teaching In Yeshiva University Outrageous

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:16 AM Anonymous Says:

YU has a problem. They can't fire this teacher (I don't really know what gender to use!!) as the ACLU & the law will kill them. Is this teacher "frum"? Nebach...poor family. Whichever way you think, it is a tragedy for everyone. Is this a first in the frum world? Hope it's the last. Oh, sorry, that's not politically correct.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:21 AM Anonymous Says:

As Rav Gifter ZT"L screamed about YU on Chol Hamoed Pesach 5758......THIS IS DESPICABLE!!

YU should close its doors.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:25 AM shaylah Says:

Is he now called a Ben Ladin or Bat Ladin?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:26 AM Anonymous Says:

This is not a YESHIVA University! Take off the word YESHIVA and call it TRANS UNIVERSITY.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:37 AM r u serious Says:

Wow. Some liberalism comes back to bite YU. Everyone new that the" university" was out weighing the" yeshiva" part. This is proof. They legally have no choice.it is illegal not fire someone based on gender and that includes transgender. If it wasn't so sad it would be funny.
YU- R.I.P.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:40 AM Use your head Says:

What do you expect, in Hebrew "he" means "she"! There is bound to be confusion.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:43 AM Anonymous Says:

The most important sentence in the article--"some fear the news could cut donations"--with any luck!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:44 AM Anonymous Says:

I really wonder, if a Certain professor that has been out there ripping into the entire community, will stand up and say something about this. We have all seen how certain people have come to show how much better they are then the rest of us. Well, as they say, and in this the Chicken (Rooster)has come home to roost.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:46 AM Matzahlocal101 Says:

There was a reason that the munkaczer rov wrote concerning YU over 70 years ago:
"We have already seen the ra-banim that have gone forth from there"
and
"Regarding that which you write concerning yeshivas Rabbainu Yitzchok Elchonon (RIETS) I pity the poor gaon whose name is called upon it"

from two letters to Rav Shraga Faival Mendelovitch in 5694-5 (1935) in the sefer "igros Shapirin"

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:46 AM Anonymous Says:

In Berlin, the saying used to be: "Be a Jew at Home, and a Man on the Street." This one has a little bit of a different p'shat.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:48 AM Anonymous Says:

this is gross and disgusting!!!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:50 AM Anonymous Says:

Let's wait and see, how their spin doctors, will work with this one.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:54 AM Anonymous sara Says:

let's see what rabbi tendler will do
with this teacher he would not have a problem with meztzte B"P

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:59 AM LEMAYSA Says:

Can he get an Aliah letorah or not???!!!!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:00 AM Anonymous Says:

yea YU should really shut down that way we can just send our kids off to secular college instead with no shuir. idiots.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:06 AM chakira Says:

How does it hurt anyone if a transgender person is allowed to teach English to young ladies in Stern College? From what I have heard, she is a tremendous professor, and there are far too few of those at Stern. What university is so interested in someone's equipment that they would fire one of their more effective instructors over it? Furthermore, how does it reflect any Jewish value to take someone who has already lost so much personally and cut off their source of income over such a decision? Gender reassignment may not be something most of the frum world wants or endorses, but it is also far from a cause to put someone who has done their job very well out on the street.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:06 AM Anonymous Says:

will his kids be Ben ladin????

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:12 AM Anonymous Says:

Why can't he/she be fired? They have a contract and hired Jay Ladin, not Joy Ladin.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:35 AM Anonymous Says:

Anon 10:00:

"yea YU should really shut down that way we can just send our kids off to secular college instead with no shuir. idiots."

Well at this point there is no difference. Better yet, rather have a teacher, that is from a different background, than to have to listen to this "person" talk.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:37 AM Use your head Says:

Anonymous 10:12 - you're obviously not a lawyer. You can't renege on a contract due to a legal change of name!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:38 AM Choizik Says:

Norman Lamm should step down immediatly!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:40 AM Anonymous Says:

You guys are silly -- deal with it.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:43 AM jj Says:

I find it interesting how all u guys are jumping down thier throat about a transgender but fail to throw out rabeim who are child molesters. molesters are way more harful then transgenders. get your priorities straight befoe u make bigger fools of ur self

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:49 AM Anonymous Says:

Duh, the reason HE can't be fired is because the intent to put HIM on leave was immediately following HIS announcement to become a woman. A discrimination suit would then become a nasty thorn in the side of YU, publicly and otherwise. This is a big problem with no easy way out. The ACLU smacks their lips to fight for such cases, especially in the religious realm.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:54 AM Schmeckelfresser Says:

I agree it's gross, but what's the issur?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:57 AM Anonymous Says:

As Rav Gifter said in 1991 when the YU opened its gay and lesbian society "the NY Times was mechadesh that Norman Lamm is a rabbi". The report carried the title "Gifter slaughters Lamm for Passover". It would seem that nothing has changed since!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:57 AM Anonymous Says:

Too bad the teacher wasn't a child molestor; then all the above wiseacres would have no problem

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:59 AM Anonymous Says:

so much hatred here. disgusting. how can you be happy with so much fear and hate for other human beings inside yourselves? there isn't enough time on earth to treat people the way some of you folks seem to think people ought to be treated. go do something constructive.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:00 AM Anonymous Says:

Chakira...

"Gender reassignment may not be something most of the frum world wants or endorses"

Please!
This is an Issur D'Oraysa, a clear prohibition, simply put an undisputed Avairah

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:05 AM murray Says:

Idiotic comment- "whats the issur"- are you kidding- I can think of about 10 halachic implications, and I am no scholar.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:21 AM Avrohom Abba Says:

A Jew is a Jew. However, I do agree with R U Serious that the liberalism they always tried to show off at Yeshiva University has come back to haunt them. This reminds me of all those who claim Obama should be the President while of course they want to prove how unprejudiced they are (because he can not claim accomplishments that will give him the ability to deal with all the villains and haters who will laugh at him like he is a teddy bear trying to please everyone). So, Y.U. has been so busy trying to prove they are totally politically correct, they have lost touch with many of their earlier goals.
Now, they can only show off to all the liberals and they lost their deep contact with the Yeshiva part of their name.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:23 AM Anonymous Says:

name them. what is the issur?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:24 AM Anonymous Says:

If he/she has tenure, he/she might have a contract that prevents him/her from being fired.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:28 AM chicago dude Says:

this man needs a brain transplant. Feel bad for his family and loved ones.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:29 AM Anonymous Says:

He has Been - oh, I mean - Bin Laden who’s an unhappy meshugene - not a woman and not a man – bichlall nisht kein mentch. Halachically, is he required in mitzvos of a man, a woman or false under the category of mentally retarded who’s not required to do any mitzvos?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:30 AM Anonymous Says:

He has Been - oh, I mean - Bin Laden who’s an unhappy meshugene - not a woman and not a man – bichlall nisht kein mentch. Halachically, is he required in mitzvos of a man, a woman or falls under the category of mentally retarded who’s not required to do any mitzvos?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:30 AM Anonymous Says:

As many of the commenters (and the article) noted, there are serious legal issues involved - i think YU's hands are tied, as would any organization dealing with such a situation.

And I give YU (and Touro) credit for educating the next generation of Jews and giving them the opportunity to make a decent and honest living, unlike other groups that are either anti-work or that educate Jews about ways to lie and cheat the government.

- As an aside, this is a psychological issue that on some level is prevalent in the frum community, and should be addressed.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:32 AM Anonymous Says:

Lehavdil elef alfei havdolos, the Yeshivah in Volozhin chose to close its doors rather than succumb to the regirung forcing them to teach secular studies.

If YU has ANY Jewish moral fiber left, it would fight this to'evah legally, based on freedom of religion, and if it lost, IT WOULD SHUT DOWN. PERIOD. FULL STOP.

...but we all know it won't. Hashem Yerachem.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:40 AM Anonymous Says:

anon 11:30...

Yes, credit should be given to YU and Touro.

What does this have to do with the issue.
Transgender is a clear "Torah Prohibition" and must be treated as such. If in fact their is a psychological issue as well, that must also be addressed, with total compliance to the Torahs' commandments

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:45 AM Anonymous Says:

I think that those who are so outraged at YU's decision should offer to raise the millions of dollars it will cost them to violate this person's civil rights by firing him.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:47 AM Anonymous Says:

Boys and Girls slow down... YU would love to get rid of this freak, but that's exactly what he wants to sue their pants off.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:49 AM tsvika55 Says:

Disclosure: I went to YU

1) YU should close it's doors rather then alow such Chilul Hashem.
2) Any parent that has sent their child to YU should pull them right out as the premise was that is was a religious institution.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:49 AM Shaul in Monsey Says:

All I can say is there is no Joy in Jayland.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:53 AM murray Says:

Without getting too graghic- is there Not a major issue of genital mutilation, and/or castration?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:57 AM Anonymous Says:

he is a freak and should be lock away. but is a Transgender a clear "Torah Prohibition"?? can you point me to the mitzvah in the Torah that prohibits it?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:58 AM Anonymous Says:

Do you all know that Simcha Felder actually had a lesbian with the name Christine Q. To lecture the Orthodox girls at the Beth Yakov in Boro Park? Why are we only focusing on YU? This is about the only institution that we as frum people can go to, and receive higher education. Yes it is not perfect, so what. It seems to me if Simcha Felder Could have his posters all over Boro Park, and no one would rip them off, then why bother with YU? If it's good for the Chasidim, it's good for all of us.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 12:09 PM Anonymous Says:

11:57 - for starters, the issurim re: castration and "lo tilbash" are inevitable in any of these cases.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 12:27 PM Anonymous Says:

This is payback for Hiring David Berger

 Sep 08, 2008 at 12:56 PM Erin Says:

Wow, who'd have thought that people who've suffered through so much hatred, persecution, and prejudice would turn those same attitudes towards another misunderstood minority.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:02 PM Anonymous Says:

I don't see what the problem is. This is Ms. Ladin's choice and yes, there are people like that in the world. Be tolerant!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:02 PM anonymous Says:

12:27
That same David Berger has written an excellent text detailing how a large well-known sect of judaism has - nebech - gone "off the derech". A very enlightening read!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:06 PM Bruch Says:

Is this guy related to Bin Laden

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:20 PM Yonason Says:

Chakira 10:06 - You wrote: "How does it hurt anyone if a transgender person is allowed to teach English to young ladies in Stern College? . . . . What university is so interested in someone's equipment that they would fire one of their more effective instructors over it? Furthermore, how does it reflect any Jewish value . . . ? Gender reassignment may not be something most of the frum world wants or endorses, but it is also far from a cause to put someone who has done their job very well out on the street."

That is not the point. I am "liberal" and frequently spar with my more conservative brothers (and sisters) - but all of us need to remember that for a believing Jew the Torah comes first. My liberal sensibilities may object to the jeering tone of some of the comments on this story, and those sensibilities may motivate me to try and understand the personal anguish of this professor. But, if transexuality is something that is not permitted by the Torah . . . then that settles the issue when it comes to teaching at a Torah institution. Personal predilictions to the contrary have no bearing on the matter.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:47 PM Anonymous Says:

He/Shes confusion, is causing everybody else confusion!!!!!!!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:31 PM Susanne Says:

As a Stern alum I sincerely hope the women of Yeshiva treat her with respect. Shes obviously proven herself as a fit teacher and Yeshiva should make a kiddush Hashem and not show the world our infighting.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:28 PM Anonymous Says:

gotta love the peanut gallery here. child molestation, mishkav zachar, etc. (which is called 'toevah' and is a chiyuv misah), everyone bends over backwards to be melamed zechus, 'you need 2 kosher eidim..' etc. etc.
here, all we know is that he is oiver a simple la'av (beged ishah), which is at worst a chiyuv malkos. posters on this site do worse aveiros than this without even trying. but most of all WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE IS JEWISH!! everyone here is klerring how many aveiros he is oiver, ready to lynch this person, while he's probably not even jewish (and certainly not frum). is beged ishah one of the 7 mitzvos b'nei noach?? and even if he has a sex change operation, is that one of the 7?? WHAT A BUNCH OF AM HA'ARATZIM GEMURIM YOU ARE.
i will admit that i don't understand this person, and i certainly find his gender identity crisis a bit strange. but did it ever occur to you people that the rest of the world probably finds the ridiculous way you look, dress, and act to be a bit perplexing(curly sidelocks? scraccgly beards? knickers? shtreimels? tichels? bekeshes??)
no matter what, there is one thing that all of us could stand to learn from this person, especially you sheep who can't wait to jump on the bandwagon and bash anything and everything that everyone else is bashing: at least this person has the courage (despite very clear challenges) to be true to himself and who he is. don't you think it would have been a lot easier for him to just remain 'jay'? the reason you people hate him so much is because as strange as he may be, he is true to himself - something which you could never be, or even imagine being. in fact, you are so brainwashed you wouldn't even know how to think for yourselves - all you know how to do is follow the herd and do and say whatever everyone else is.
when you understand this herd mentality, sadly, its really no wonder how you could willingly and knowingly send your very own children off to be 'korbonos' to the many sick child molesters in your midst, all the while defending the 'honor' and 'innocence' of these molesters.
maybe this year (for a change) some of you will listen to the shofar and actually WAKE UP!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:00 PM Shua Says:

Torah prohibitions have already been noted - castration and cross-dressing are both prohibited by the Torah.

The difference between this case and typical gay/lesbian or non-Jewish professors is that this action, considered immoral by most students and faculty of the institution, is being carried out publicly. Others who differ ideologically with the institution and yet still teach there are sensitive enough to keep their differences private.

This is probably why people are so offended by this.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:17 PM Anonymous Says:

Shua. Don't tell policy? and it is alright?

No. Jay Ladin should have respect and leave. He knew he was going to create a stir. He didn't care. He is forcing his opinions/his beliefs with an "in your face" attitude. He wants to gender change, that fine. Don't involve Torah Jews and the Institution(yeshiva) in that. Have respect and quietly move on and live your life elsewhere. He is forcing himself on others. That is going to backfire. He will be ostracized for being selfish. He will turn around and whine "predjudism"....when in reality it is intolerance to his "disrespect" for the institution.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:36 PM Anonymous Says:

Just proves why our children should not be sent to university, or college or any form of higher education. It exposes them to everything the world has to offer.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:29 PM Ploni Says:

YU figured out a way recently to oust Prof. James Otteson, the distinguished head of their Honors Program, in part because of his politically incorrect conservative views. Based on that precedent, if they really wanted to, they could oust Ladin. Instead, YU President says he is proud of him! Oy!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:25 PM Anonymous Says:

Is the professor Jewish? it doesn't say so in the article. If not, he most probably wasn't over any issurim.

I still think it's a shandah.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:25 PM keep smiling Says:

is there any problem of yichud what is His/her halacha tefilin etc..?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:15 PM Use your head Says:

Anon. 1:28 - I happen to agree with your points. However, the plural of "Am Ha'aretz" is not, as you put it, "AM HA'ARATZIM" but rather "Amay Ha'aretz". So maybe you should tone down the rhetoric.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 03:26 PM Shloimy Says:

As far as the issurim involved, again not to get graphic, but according to the NY Post, castration etc. did not take place.

That is not to say that other issurim g'murim d'oraisa are not present in that situation. They surely are.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 03:25 PM shmuel Says:

Is there any reason to think that this can't happen in any yeshiva gedolah or ketanna that has secular studies and takes US gvt funds.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 03:28 PM anonymous Says:

Wonder why the concert ban rabbis are only vocal when there are lies against an innocent concert promoter but not on an issue like this. They are motivated by money, power and greed and it is time to take the power away from these fake people.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 03:08 PM Hersh Says:

Throw this "Petzua Daka" out of the University!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:57 PM Anonymous Says:

It's all up to those attending his/her class, to abstain from ever attending a lecture given by this Rooster.

It does not need to come to having to issue any formal kol koray's. Every person with even an ounce of sense, will refuse to partake in this class.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:52 PM Anonymous Says:

LOL Yeshiva U. really has themselves in a jam!

Seriously, I don't see how this is any different than hiring a teacher who is mechalel shabbos (or any other issurim) like Touro and most yeshiva highschools do. If you're willing to overlook chillul shabbos then this should be no different. If it would be younger kids i would understand that it may lead to ackward questions but this is college-aged people that we're talking about.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:54 PM Anonymous Says:

I dont know how they do his contract, but can they fire him for breeching Torah Law?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:54 PM Anonymous Says:

All you crazy liberal people obviously have no clue what real judaism is, what its about, and what it stands for.

The intolerance is not disrespect for anything.

The intolerance is because these people feel disrespected by someone who is openly desecrating the Torah in MANY ways... which is a desecration of judaism. It clearly states that no man or male animal should ever be castrated.

If you have a problem with that, go back to being liberal somewhere else outside the frum world.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 03:31 PM Anonymous Says:

"This is not a YESHIVA University! Take off the word YESHIVA and call it TRANS UNIVERSITY."

"if transexuality is something that is not permitted by the Torah . . . then that settles the issue when it comes to teaching at a Torah institution."

"Any parent that has sent their child to YU should pull them right out as the premise was that is was a religious institution."

All three comments above betray a general ignorance of the structure of YU. Yeshiva University is a Yeshiva and a College. The two institutions are independent, though they share the same campus. The college (actually colleges) is not strictly speaking a Torah institution- many non-Jews study there. Ladin, may he have a speedy recovery, is not an employee at the Yeshiva. Would any Yeshiva be able to legally fire such a person who's employed in maintenance or any other non-academic department?

There has never been a gay club at the Yeshiva.

A similar situation exists at the Yeshiva At IDT. Should we demand the IDT Yeshiva close if there were a gay employee at IDT? The IDT Yeshiva is part of Thomas Edison State College. I assume there's a gay club at TESC- should we therefore force the Yeshiva to close?

I suspect those who are calling for YU to close have another agenda. YU has a sort of monopoly of Talmudei Chachamim when it comes to their Roshei Yeshiva. The American Yeshiva world profit immensely if they could lure away top-notch Torah talent from the Heights. But, I'm afraid the brain drain started and ended with Lander's.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 03:50 PM Yonason Says:

Cross dressing and castration are ossur; but immoral? That is a judgement, not a p'sach halacha. Things like putting people who violate tznius in hospitals, allowing sexual mollesting rebbes to continue working around children, ignoring the health and safety of employees and hating all goyim are immoral.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 03:49 PM YANKEL Says:

She/he or he/she is apparantly Jewish from a comment it made on a transgender Jewish website on April 10,2007:

"As a currently transitioning practicing Jew"

What does such a person say during the morning Brochas?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 03:43 PM Anonymous Says:

This story brings out the best of this sites readers. Personally, I really appreciate your narrow minded commenst based upon lack of knowledge halachik, human nature and life.

It is because of this stupidity I gave up being frum or Orthodox or whatever you folks call it. I now live happily as a Jewish citizen of the world following Hashem's will following Torah and halacha. Thankfully, Hashem gave me the chachma and my parents gave me the tools and insights to be a true yere shamayim and not get caught up with your so-called religious fervor.

Unfortunately, if you folks keep this up, more of your children will "go off the derech" and give up being yere shamayim and become bona fide apikorsim.

Good work everyone. I am certain the Rebono Shel Olam is rejoicing ... not.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 03:39 PM Anonymous Says:

3:31 - i couldnt have said it better myself - great post.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 04:10 PM Anonymous Says:

Doesn't one of YU's schools have some sort of Gay society?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 04:10 PM Anonymous Says:

Oy, nebech! Rabbi-Doctor Tendler is "ous mentch". Hey Tendler, there is no leeway in Jewish law to set foot on Har Habayit!!.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 04:08 PM YANKEL Says:

The Post article makes it clear that there has been no castration yet, so the only issur so far is the cross dressing. Must they establish a seperate restroom for he/she?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 04:20 PM Yonason Says:

Anonymous 3:43 - As you can see from what I said at 3:50, I share certain of you views . . . BUT . . . If you ever really had Torah, you would not let yourself be divorced from Yiddishkeit because of the intolerance and ignorance of too many of today's Brooklyn Ghetto Yidden. Torah is eternal . . . they are not.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 04:25 PM MAYER Says:

Just for the record.

Let’s all calm down
sorry to tell you but chilul shabos is much worsh then this. so since chilul shabos is ok then they should be able to handle this also.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 04:28 PM Lock & Load Says:

Whats the Tznius Halacha for him/her

 Sep 08, 2008 at 04:53 PM Anonymous Says:

"I suspect those who are calling for YU to close have another agenda. YU has a sort of monopoly of Talmudei Chachamim when it comes to their Roshei Yeshiva. The American Yeshiva world profit immensely if they could lure away top-notch Torah talent from the Heights. But, I'm afraid the brain drain started and ended with Lander's."

Don't worry, Landers won't be taking any more YU Roshei Yeshiva. As a current student in landers i could tell you that they are leaning much more to taking right-wing Rebbeim than YU Rebbeim. Incidentally, the Lander's T-shirt this past year said "Torah Unaddah" (Torah and nothing) which is obviously a play on YU's "Torah Umaddah"...Not that I agree with them.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 05:43 PM Chaim Says:

The issue of whether or not the action of surgically reassigning a persons sexual identity is against Torah is not such a simple issue as it may first appear.

First the Torah does deal with the plight of a Hermaphrodite and the legal status of such a person under Jewish Law. They are obligated to perform both male and female mitzvahs. But this is in the case of a person who has both the outer sexual characteristics of both male and female.

The Torah explains in detail what determines an hermaphrodite based on medical knowledge and understanding at the time. As we know with other medical issues that have evolved in halacha as medical knowledge has increased so has the Halacha developed.

So today we know that a person can be born with internal organs of a women and have the external organs of a male. Their are many medical variations on the effects of hormonal and chromosomal medical issues during pregnancy that can cause many variations of the Hermaphrodite condition.

So in the time of the Gomorrah they had the good sense not to throw out the poor souls who were suffering a medical/biological issue from the Jewish people but rather made rulings on what they should do in respect of the various gender differences in religious observance.

In the case of a person who is Gender Dysphoric the issue may be solely psychological but modern scientific research is showing that in most cases it is biological. Yes, females do have different brain structures and many transgendered have been shown to have the same female brain structures.

But getting back to the Hermaphrodite we can now understand based on today's medical knowledge that some individuals may have been born with the external characteristics of a male or female but be wired from birth in their brain biology to be the opposite gender.

Other gender confusing medical situations Dr's come across are males born with outer male organs while also having internal female organs such as ovaries. In fact it is more common than many would care to realize.

So we have an outwardly male person who has battled with an internal gender identity. I don't have any way of knowing if this is based on say a biological issue such as being exposed to an increased amount of estrogen during fetal development thereby affecting the brain to develop a female characteristic or is psychological.

In either case we are dealing with a medical issue and not a moral issue. How we deal with such a person is the real moral issue.

Halacha also goes into what determines the gender in respect of Halachic/ritual observance. It is clearly stated that the gender determination in respect of Halacha is based on the external organs of the person. So if a person has the external organs of a female even if this person previously had organs of male then they according to Halacha are female. This is irrespective of the internal organs since the determination for religious observance and gender characterization is based on the external organs. Again, read the Gemorah's dealing with Hermaphrodites.

So we have a situation of a person who has undergone a complete sex reassignment then there is no maleness about them Halachacialy therefore they would be relieved from putting on Tefillin and being called up to the Torah. Having female organs they should refrain from being in situations that could be questionable with men. And during davening they shouldn't be sitting were they could create a distraction for the men who have a hard enough time davening without being distracted by a beautiful looking women. So the gender reassigned person should sit with the women if this is the normal practise in the place of davening.

This all being said. It doesn't deal with the Torah prohibition against castration. We do know that many laws are suspended when it comes to saving a life. And I am not trying to be clever. A person afflicted with a gender dysphoric condition is on most cases at a high risk of suicide. The instance of suicide amongst gender conflicted and untreated persons is dangerously high. We know that if you have any doubt whether or not you may be sick with say a chest pain then you must seek medical help even if it means transgressing the Laws of Shabbos or even Yom Kippur. This is because the Torah places the saving of a life above almost all things. So why do people have difficulty in accepting the suspension of one Halacha in order to follow the higher Halacha of saving a life. And the directives regarding saving a life are not restricted to instances of proven life danger but even reasonable doubt of life danger.

Wearing the clothes of say a Female while having the outer sex characteristics of a male during the transition and prior to surgery is an issue Halachicaly. But when one considers it as part of medical treatment for a potentialy at life risk individual in my humble opinion is not against Torah. And after sex reassignment surgery it is most definitely not in issue.

I think the persons situation is very sad. Who knows the pain and suffering this person has had to go through for most of their life.

For those who will call me a radical liberal I just want to say that I am an orthodox male who follows the Torah as best as one can. I keep Shabbos and Kosher and Daven with a minyan. I am politically conservative and I am not a social radical. I am just a simple Jew who does not accept intolerance of differences when the Torah itself deals with these issues with compassion and humanity.

I would ask what is more immoral and a greater Torah prohibition. Cheating and Stealing or wearing a dress? I am always amazed with the fixation on sexual issues by some Rabbinic leaders while these same persons have nothing to say in respect of say things such as the theft from the public purse by persons who misuse the social welfare system by fraud and deception to suport their Yeshivish lifestyle.

Anyway, just my opinion from a simple Jew for what it is worth.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 05:36 PM realist Says:

anon 11:58 is Sol from Flatbush!!!

 Sep 08, 2008 at 05:34 PM Anonymous Says:

Am I as a male allowed to be alone with her in a closed room is there an issur yichad?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 05:31 PM Marriage councelor Says:

The tummel will stop when Rabbi Lamm will walk in as Rebetzin Lamm.

 Sep 08, 2008 at 05:27 PM shmuel Says:

R Eliyahu Soloveichik (son of R Ahron z"l )a rebbi at Landers' and his son is a theology student at Princeton, asst rabbi at KJ and went to YU. His daughter is a student at Stern so how right wing canthe faculty be at Landers?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 05:18 PM Anonymous Says:

why is this stupidity being written about anyway, are any chareidishe yidden interested in this person with a warped mind and in YU to boot ?

 Sep 08, 2008 at 05:17 PM Anonymous Says:

just because he got himself implants and wears a skirt doesnt mean he has any less civil rights than anyone else. this is a civil rights matter.

the yeshivishe velt that protects molesters, wife beaters and theives should sit down and shut up about this as it is really very silly and not much of an issue

 Sep 08, 2008 at 06:15 PM Anonymous Says: