Rabbi Aryeh Ralbag, living in the US but also having an official function in the Jewish community in Amsterdam, in 2011 signed a declaration stating the ‘official’ view of the Torah that homosexuality should be healed. At first he had also signed on behalf of the Amsterdam community, but Ronnie Eisenmann, head of that community, asked him to remove reference to Amsterdam. According to Eisenmann the Declaration does not do justice to the Dutch way of dealing with the issue and does not reflect the Dutch view.
Ralbag at first wanted to come to the Netherlands to explain the official view. The Amsterdam Jewish Community however suspended his position. Today Ralbag announced he would not visit the Netherlands for some time because there are ‘strong indications that he and his wife ‘would not be sure of their lives if they came to the Netherlands now’.
I just wonder who from which group would threaten Ralbag. One would think it must be someone from the Dutch gay community … But seriously??! Come on …
