[Avodah] Transgendering and Halachah

[Micha Berger]

Someone posted on Areivim a reference to a transgendered person who
was living within the chareidi community. They asked the question about
which side of the mechitzah they belong on. Truth is, mechitzah isn't
as pressing of a question as many of the others it raises -- marriage,
mitzvos asei shehazman gerama and other chiyuvim, etc...

The TE discusses the case of an agunah whose husband decided to become a
woman. It's pretty clear the she'eilah was hypothetical. He answers that
no get is necessary, because there is no concept of qiddushin between
two women. See 10:25:26:6. He also discusses what berakhah should be
said in the morning ("shehafchani le'ishah").

So apparently REWaldenberg holds that the surgery does change halachic
gender. Assur, but has a chalos. And even WRT the issur, he mentions
the case of a risk of suicide, and piquach nefesh docheh.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Our greatest fear is not that we're inadequate,
micha at aishdas.org        Our greatest fear is that we're powerful
http://www.aishdas.org   beyond measure
Fax: (270) 514-1507                        - Anonymous