Are you a member of a mainstream Orthodox Jewish community? Do you regard yourself as a “liberal” whether your political views are left or right?

How should we include Jewish LGBTQ+ people in our communities? At the moment, they live on the fringes of the mainstream, neither included or excluded. Is that fair? Would it be so difficult to accommodate or recognise a union of two Jewish people of the same sex?

Or would it bring the whole tent of Jewish values down with it? Is it the job of Judaism to resist secular trends - or is acceptance of same sex unions permanent societal progress?

I’m putting this out there because the life choices presented to people in society clash with traditional, mainstream Jewish organisations, if not the values of the Jewish people who make up their membership.

Ben M Freeman is a thoughtful, respectful, proud Jew and Zionist, who’s adding a key voice and ideas to the community.

This is also about every Jew expressing pride in themselves and to resist non-Jewish perceptions of who we are.

Have a listen and tell me what you think. Leave a rating or review at Apple Podcasts and a reply to @jonnygouldpod on Twitter.

? BUY Ben’s book here ▶️ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jewish-Pride-Rebuilding-Ben-Freeman/dp/1913532135

The brilliant new theme tune on this episode is by Danya Vodovoz.

Help support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State (including Gift Aid) at https://www.donorbox.org/jgpodcast