Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing

[[File:Jonah logo.jpg|right|thumb|JONAH logo]]{{Judaism}}
'''JONAH''' or '''Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing''' was an [[American]] [[homophobia|anti-homosexual]] organisation which attempts to [[Reparative therapy|re-orientate]] gay [[Judaism|Jews]]. It actively promoted the idea that [[homosexuality]] can be "mitigated and potentially eliminated" and encourages participation in retreats such as "Journey into Manhood."

[[File:Litc.jpg‎|thumb|right|''Light in the Closet'' cover]]
The co-directors of JONAH are Arthur Goldberg and Elaine Silodor Berk. Goldberg's 600-page book ''Light in the Closet''<ref>''Light in the Closet: Torah, Homosexuality, and the Power to Change'' by Arthur Goldberg (2009) Red Heifer Press. ISBN 0963147897.</ref> is distributed on JONAH's website. The book is described thus:<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110715164945/http://www.redheiferpress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39 ''Light in the Closet''] Red Heifer Press (archived from July 15, 2011).</ref>
{{quotebox|Can homosexuals transform their sexuality? [[Torah]], [[Talmud]] and time-tested advances in [[gender]] [[psychology]] answer YES! The Co-Director of JONAH (Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality) tells how. This groundbreaking book explodes the "gay gene" mystique, offering hope, compassion, direction and vitally needed information to gay strugglers, their families, friends, and surrounding community.}}

==Methods==
In a lawsuit brought by four former attendees of JONAH, a variety of [[pseudoscientific]] and abusive methods are described as being used by JONAH:
* beating up a pillow that is supposed to represent the man's mother with a tennis racket—an approach pioneered by [[Richard Cohen]]
* cuddling the older male counselors (because that isn't gay at all)
* being required to strip naked in front of older men (nope, ''totally'' straight guys)
* a mock locker room situation where attendees were mocked and abused, being called "homos" and "faggots"<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Health/nj-lawsuit-alleges-jonah-gay-conversion-therapy-fraud/story?id=17814302 Gay Men, Moms Sue NJ Jewish Gay Conversion Therapists], ABC News</ref>

Arthur Goldberg from JONAH claimed that "There are thousands of people who have shed their unwanted same-sex attractions, not only through our programs, but also through other similar programs."<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/29/us/conversion-therapy-response Conversion therapist: Lawsuit won't stop us], CNN</ref> Such brilliant claims landed them on the losing side of a $70,000 consumer fraud verdict in [[New Jersey]]<ref>http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/06/25/new-jersey-jury-kneecaps-conversion-therapy-practitioners.html</ref> and in fact got the organization ordered shut down at the end of 2015 by the court.<ref>[http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/327658/jewish-orthodox-gay-conversion-therapy-group-ordered-to-close/ Court Shutters Orthodox Jewish Gay Conversion Therapy Agency], ''Forward''</ref>

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110713055913/http://www.jonahweb.org/ Official JONAH site] — archived from July 13, 2011
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120122025029/http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/62272/jewish-school-pupils-taught-how-cure-gays Jewish school pupils taught how to 'cure' gays]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{stub|religion}}
[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Jewish extremism]]
[[Category:Pray the gay away]]

Categories: Homophobia, Jewish extremism, Pray the gay away