Orthodox Rabbis Ask Columbia Board to Repudiate Advice Given to Jewish Students

The Rabbinical Alliance of America, an organization of Orthodox rabbis, called today on the Jewish Advisory Board of Columbia University to “disassociate” itself from advice given Jewish students by Rabbi A. Bruce Goldman, Jewish advisor to the student body, who reported that he encouraged “meaningful” premarital sex relations among students.

In a letter signed by Rabbi David Weinberger, the Alliance urged the board to ask Rabbi Goldman “to desist from such preachments to our college students” and asserted that “we will feel compelled to urge all Jewish students at Columbia to refuse to visit with Rabbi Goldman.” The letter called Rabbi Goldman’s advice “a direct contravention of the teachings of Judaism” and charged that he was encouraging “promiscuity and free love.”