Orthodox rabbis rule conversion therapy impermissible under Jewish law

The letter frames conversion therapy not as a controversial pastoral method, but as an action that directly conflicts with halakhic obligations. According to its authors, Jewish law prohibits conduct that causes foreseeable harm, relies on false assumptions or undermines the dignity of the individual. Conversion therapy, they argue, meets all three criteria.

By grounding their reasoning in legal norms rather than social trends, the rabbis assert that recommending such practices exceeds the authority of religious leaders, educators and counselors.

Who authored the statement

Approximately 100 rabbis have endorsed the letter since its release. Most identify with Modern Orthodox communities, and several women serving in rabbinic roles are included among the signatories. Ultra-Orthodox leaders did not participate, reflecting long-standing ideological divisions within Orthodox Judaism.

The document does not represent any centralized institution. Instead, it functions as a collective halakhic judgment offered by individual rabbis acting on moral and legal conviction.

Rejecting the underlying assumption

A central claim of the letter is that same-sex attraction is neither a medical disorder nor a spiritual defect. Because conversion therapy is predicated on that assumption, the rabbis argue, it lacks any legitimate basis in Jewish law.

Rabbi Steve Greenberg, one of the signers, said the statement addresses a persistent denial within Orthodox communities. In his view, the letter affirms that LGBTQ+ individuals do not require correction, treatment or repair.

Orthodox Judaism and LGBTQ+ inclusion

While Reform and Conservative Jewish movements have long granted full equality to LGBTQ+ members, Orthodox Judaism has generally maintained traditional prohibitions. Even so, the letter does not attempt to reinterpret biblical texts. Instead, it limits their application, asserting that halakhah cannot be used to justify practices that inflict documented harm.

This approach allows the rabbis to preserve traditional legal frameworks while drawing a firm boundary around pastoral conduct.

Legal context beyond religious law

Civil regulations on conversion therapy vary widely. In many U.S. states, the practice is banned or restricted, though pending Supreme Court decisions may alter that landscape. In Israel, licensed medical professionals are prohibited from engaging in conversion therapy, but religious counselors remain exempt.

Israeli Rabbi Yitzhak Ajzner, who initiated the drafting of the letter years ago, said he acted after witnessing severe psychological damage among those subjected to conversion efforts. He described the consequences as long-lasting and, in some cases, irreversible.

From distancing to prohibition

Orthodox leadership has previously expressed concern about conversion therapy without declaring it forbidden. In 2012, the Rabbinical Council of America withdrew support from a Jewish conversion therapy organization but avoided issuing a definitive halakhic ban.

The new letter explicitly closes that gap. Its authors state that Jewish law itself prohibits recommending or facilitating conversion therapy, regardless of intent.

Silence, risk and responsibility

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, who helped publish the statement through a progressive Orthodox rabbinical network, said many rabbis privately oppose conversion therapy but fear professional and communal repercussions. Public dissent, he noted, can carry significant personal cost.

Despite those risks, the signatories argue that remaining silent perpetuates harm. By defining conversion therapy as legally impermissible under halakhah, they aim to remove ambiguity and prevent further damage.

Whether the ruling will reshape Orthodox institutions remains uncertain. What it clearly does is establish a firm legal position: within Jewish law, conversion therapy has no legitimate standing.