Atzat Nefesh
Atzat Nefesh (Hebrew: עצת נפש) is an Orthodox Jewish organization based in Israel. It was founded in 2001 by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner. The organization offers support for people who try to alter their sexual behavior. Specifically, it addresses people who are dealing with the following issues:
- "Inverted tendencies" - homosexual orientation
- "keeping the covenant" - masturbation
- "sexual obsessions" - frequent visitors of pornographic websites, and clients of prostitutes.
- victims of sexual abuse.
Activities
Atzat Nefesh operates support groups and a hotline [1], occupied by volunteers with a yeshiva background. The organization believes that with the proper treatment, it is possible to change one's sexual behavior and even one's sexual orientation[2]. Atzat Nefesh upholds the view that by strengthening the masculinity of homosexuals, they will discover their hidden, inborn heterosexuality. To that purpose it organizes three day long workshops, called "Journey to masculinity". The organization directs its applicants to therapists who use conversion therapy methods, which are denounced by all mainstream medical organizations. The organization mostly promotes hate of homosexuality, ignorance and fabricated stories. For example, the organization represents homosexuality as a psychological desease that can be cured.
See also
- Homosexuality and Judaism
- Conversion therapy
- Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality
- Trembling Before G-d
- Bat-Kol, a support organization for religious Jewish lesbians
- Hod
References
- ^ Lichtman, Gail. (November 25, 2005) Jerusalem Post Nature or nurture? Section: Features; Page 18.
- ^ Aviner, Rabbi Shlomó. "The Equivocation" (in Spanish).