Standards of Sexual Modesty, Gender Separation and Homosexuality: Rabbinic and Psychological Views

Book excerpt: This book contains articles authored by rabbis, mental health professionals and scholars on several sensitive and controver­sial topics in Judaism. The first half of the book deals with the extreme standards of sexual modesty and gender separation in the haredi, Gur Hasidim and Neturei Karta communities and the psychological and sociological ramifications. Also included are the views and reactions of rabbis and mental health practi­tioners regarding the issue of therapists treating patients of the opposite sex. In the second half of the book, the issue of homosexuality is discussed: How should one view homosexuality, how should the religious community relate to homosexuals in general and religious homosexuals in particular - and the issue of psychological treatment of homosexuals. Included also is a responsa (religious ruling) by a prominent rabbi regarding "couple" therapy with a suicidal homosexual. I believe that men­tal health practitioners, rabbis as well as the lay public will find the book interesting, informative and a worth while read. (Frumi Gottlieb, M.S.W.)