Rabbi who officiated Shahar Taboch's wedding: 'I have already married 80 same-sex couples'
Openly gay Rabbi Raphael Yonatan Polisook addressed the online backlash following his decision to officiate the wedding of singer Shahar Taboch and shared how he dealt with the reactions.
Rabbi Raphael Yonatan Polisook, an openly gay rabbi, has found himself at the center of an online storm in recent days after officiating the wedding of singer Shahar Taboch. Polisook, who has previously shared the difficulties he experienced regarding the conversion therapy he underwent, provided a Halachic explanation for his decision to conduct the Chuppah, but his actions sparked numerous reactions and criticism from users.
On Monday, during the program "HaTzinor", Polisook addressed the controversy and the harsh reactions he received following the wedding. According to him, he was aware in advance that his decision would spark public and media interest, but he did not allow the criticism to influence his choice.
"I saw all the comments against me, of course it hurt me. But in the end, I am not dependent on what people say," he said.
Polisook added that the choice to take part in the wedding was a conscious decision, and that he knew the event might receive significant exposure. "When I joined the wedding, I knew there would be a lot of media buzz and I took that into account," he said.
Despite the criticism, the rabbi clarified that he does not regret the decision, noting that for him, this is not an unusual or one-time event.
"I have already married 80 same-sex couples; they are not the first and will not be the last."
These remarks come after Polisook's participation in the wedding sparked interest due to his personal history. The rabbi has become a figure identified with the acceptance of same-sex couples within the framework of Judaism. Following the storm, Polisook emphasized that he does not intend to retreat from his path and plans to continue conducting Chuppahs for same-sex couples in the future.
