and there is no opinion or interpretation that matters. His word is clear. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

...deliberately have child after child that you can't afford to feed, and with that consider yourself the chosen amongst the chosen?

The words spoken by the shas chairman reflects the thoughts Dr. Josef Mengele and we all know very well how much suffering this brutal Angel of Death caused. It is sicking that a Jew for the Knesset radio of the State of Israel can make such comments without being put on trial. If a holocaust denier goes to jial in Austria in 2005 for statements made in 1989 than it would be a shame to let Eli Yishai walk free. Racist like him should be prosecuted especially here in Israel. We always know very quickly how to judge and to condemn other countries when dealing with minorities (Jews), but now it is time to judge one of our own.

Sorry. But i do. Its not healthy. Its not natural and its not right! And i have a few gay friends, they are great people. And i am freinds with them like i would be friends to someone with Cancer. They know myviews and respect them. This is wrong. And the worst part is that many "gays" today arent even gay. They just like the attention, publicity, parades and rave parties.

It's no wonder why the highest rate of suicides amongst youth is of gays. Some of you should feel proud at being so vocal about your disgust at their existence. It takes something special to spread so much misinformation and hatred to a minority of people who's only crime was birth. The truth is that they exist whether you like it or not. They don't change anyone else into homosexuals, it's not a flu. They have a right to choose who they want to be with, as much as anyone else.

oeps i'm very, very disappointed that so many homo haters live in israel, I thought it to be a open minded, modern country (where I lived three years) with many intelligent people. But as I see here, it really fits in the middle east with their middle ages opinions and attitudes. Oh yes Mister Y. You dont have "a few gay friends". With that opinion they should want to be your friend. Stupidity!

Homo we go.. les be on our way.. I love you, you love me... Homosexuality!

Leviticus 18:22... It's that simple. Also, to those who have stated that they exist... you are right and you have to adjust to them. Dislike does not have to be for the person, but for the act. There are many who know gays and the gays do know there thoughts about their choice. Most of the time it prevents a close relationship (obviously) but in today's world you have to work side by side with people. As with any differences... religion, political preferences and so on. But they are not "always" trying to keep their preferences to themselves. There are many groups who target teens and try to get them to try their *lifestyles*. Especially on the internet. These groups I do find offensive. And there are gays who agree with me on that topic.

I'm so sick and tired of all you homophobics, specially those who are hiding behind God..... You people don't differ much from the Iranian president... I can't even put the energy anymore into all this bullshit... I salute all people that are homo/lesbian/bi or whatever....we are all people with the same hopes and needs....it shouldn't matter which religion/colour/race or sexual preferance you have....we are all equal....maybe if Israel will separate religion and state and get rid of these people like mr Yishai, then maybe then Isarel can join the 21st century......Amen.......

I address this not to all Dati'im but only those who pluck two verses out of Leviticus and refuse to even consider that the text may be referring to something other than modern gays and lesbians, while they feel totally free to interpret the rest of Torah any way they please. Try to understand what we gay people have been saying to you, and don't be guilty of first blaming people for something they are born with and secondly, don't be guilty of driving Jews away from any Torah or even any belief in Ha-Shem because you chose to be Fundamentalist here and no where else.

Sorry for my english and I want to say that I am not gay but knows many people that are sick-people and not so many gays. Here, at Argentina, we can see many cases of "hermafroditas" (people that born with both sex) and this people is not sick, are normal, is the nature. So I think that by the same way of nature can be people that born with phisical sex A and mental sex B, and when it´s happend we see gays and lesbians. They are not sick, the science make them sick. We at the "Disapora" knows what terrible are the discrimination, we had paid the price and we can´t discriminate never. We can accept them or not, but never call them sick. If we discriminate somebody so we are sick because we are thinking by the same way of nazis. That the arabs thinks by this way is normal because the arabs were partners of nazis during WW2, but we? By this way of thinking I have to think that ortodox people that attack jewish soldiers or people that is just walking by Mea Shearim are crazy and sick because they launch stones over the people with the intention of kill and The Bible say "Don´t Kill". So, who is the sick?????????? Sergio

to "mr Y" and all the bunch of homophobs out there: we are not sick, there is no "cure" for loving another human being, and if there was a pill, i think no one would take it. i hope g-d in his divine justice and love to his sons and daughters, will show you "mr y" how to cure hate and intolerance.

Why is everyone persisting in calling homosexuality a physical disease? That is skating about the real issue: sin. Everyone has a particular sin that they are prone to, for some it is deviant sexual behavior, like homosexuality or pornography. The only way to fight it is through prayer and others praying on your behalf and through struggling against it with God's help. Maybe this is a Christian opinion (which I am), but we indeed consider homosexuality to come from man's tendency to sin rather than live righteously, which goes along with the yetzer hara that we all have.

If you go by Oral Law, where in the Midrash or Gemara does it ever say you can engage in Sodomy?

Your mindless bigotry has just put you into the same category as the religious fanatics in the Arab world. How pathetic that you've chosen to find common ground with the basest instincts of your worst enemies.

Please, guys... don't take Mr SHASMAN too seriously! He is just envious... as we are so beautiful and happy to be "sick". Mr SHASMAN woud probabely send us to the KZ like the nazis did... but he can't. So, please, don't be shocked! TEL AVIV is our new "capital" even if Mr SHASMAN doesn't like the scene! But I think he does.... Just let him be happy....! PS: Say hello to Mikhael, Yuval, Ido and all those "sick" guys over there! Oh yeah, don't forget to forward my best wishes for our gay fellows living in Meah Shearim:-)

The Shas party is definitely going to lose votes after Mr. Yishai's speech. Why run for election if you're not going to try to win?

This is rediculous. I am a straight man, but I find this type of behavior from my people annoying. "Ask any doctor and they will tell you it is a medical problem." This is so stupid it doesn't deserve a rebuttal. As far as religion goes...i went to a jewish day school. I remeber being taught that Noah got drunk on the ark and might have had a homosexual affair and g-d punished him. I belive this might have been one rabbis interpretation of the bible though. Can anyone help jog my memory?

There is no biblical defense for the perversion of homosexuality, or for any other sin. To those who try to say it's only prohibited in the Old Testament, check out Romans 1:18-32. It's so plain, you cannot misinterpret it except willfully. But please, read v. 16 & 17 as well, for that contains the cure for all sin, incl. homosexual acting out (BTW, same-sex attraction is not sin, but temptation, to be resisted and not allowed to have dominion). And definitely read James 3:13-18, and contrast it w. much of what you read here, and basically everywhere.