I read with personal interest the story in the Dec. 7 issue, “Family –owned company beats big-box prices.”

The National Council of Jewish Women/RI Section was deeply saddened to hear of the senseless shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  The fact that children were targeted in this violent act makes it all the more tragic, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and families of all the victims.

The Dec. 7 edition, which I just finished reading, was one of the best ever. The Voice & Herald staff can be exceptionally proud of the wonderful “product.”  The greater Providence Jewish community must do everything it can to help the paper be financially strong so that the staff may continue their outstanding work. Thank you.

Milton Goodman

Goodman is the executive director of Tifereth Israel Congregation in New Bedford, Mass.

The Dec. 7 article,  “New index aims to spur more inclusive LGBTQ policies” says that a young gay Jewish man felt excluded by Judaism because Leviticus says, “Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is an abhorrence.”  He wished “there could have been some wiggle room applied.”

Wiggle room is exactly what has been applied to many other precepts in the Torah.  Do we execute people for insulting their parents or committing adultery? That’s what Leviticus prescribes, yet, through the millennia, theologians have found milder interpretations of those verses.  People everywhere wear fabric made of two kinds of material, violating Lev. 19:19, and no one considers them sinners.  Only prohibitions against men loving men are taken literally, unable to be reinterpreted.  (And, of course, the Bible says nothing about women loving women.)

When worried, confused parents of LGBT people come for support to PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays), many think their children are violating God’s laws.  If more religious leaders applied wiggle room and compassion, parents and their children would not be troubled this way.

As a Jew and mother of a lesbian, I’m gratified that so many Jewish institutions in Rhode Island welcome LGBT people.  I encourage those institutions to consult Keshet (keshet.org) for displays to make their acceptance obvious.  And, I urge synagogues to have PFLAG brochures available for parents, and for LGBT people seeking to come out into the embrace of their families.

Myra Shays

Providence

The writer is president of PFLAG/Greater Providence, which serves the entire state of Rhode Island and Southeastern Mass.; PFLAG is not affiliated with any religious institution.  Contact PFLAG at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .