On a recent radio show, Dr. Laura Schlesinger
said that, for an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is
an abomination according to Leviticus18:22, and cannot be condoned
under any circumstance.
The following funny, as well as an informative
response, is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a U.S.resident
and
posted
on the Internet.
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people
regarding God’s
Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share
that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries
to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind
them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination.
End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding
some other elements of God’s Law and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a
sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord:
Lev.1:9. The problem is
my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should
I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into
slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age,
what do you think would
be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with
a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness:
Lev.15: 19-24. The
problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women
take offense.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess
slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from
neighboring
nations.
A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not
Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working
on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put
to death. Am
I morally obligated
to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though
eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser
abomination
than
homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are
there “degrees” of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach
the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to
admit that I wear reading
glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle
room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair
trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though
this is expressly
forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching
the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play
football if I
wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.
19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as
does his wife by
wearing
garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester
blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really
necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole
town together to stone them (Lev.24:10-16)? Couldn’t we
just burn them to death at a private family affair as we do with
people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?
I know you have studied these things extensively
and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I
am confident you
can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word
is eternal and unchanging. Your adoring
fan,
James M. Kauffman, Ed.D.
Professor Emeritus
Dept. of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education, Univ.
of Virginia
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