‘New York Times’ Article Claiming Ancient Judaism Recognized ‘a Range Of Genders’ Draws Criticism

The New York Times building in New York, United States, on October 26, 2022. In a review of some rabbinic literature, Kukla wrote that the “ancient Jewish world” designated a baby as a boy, girl, tumtum, androgynos, aylonit and saris. BEATA ZAWRZEL/JNS

“Ancient Judaism Recognized a Range of Genders. It’s Time We Did, Too.” So reads the headline of a March 18 New York Times guest essay by Elliot Kukla, whose website states that he provides “radical spiritual care” and was “the first openly transgender rabbi to be ordained by a mainstream denomination,” the Reform movement’s Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. 

Ultra-Orthodox Jews rest during Purim celebrations in Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim neighborhood, on March 8, 2023. The author and publication drew sharp criticism from Orthodox Jews. AHMAD GHARABLI/JNS