On halacha and gay marriage http://blogs.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/on-halacha-and-gay-marriage/ Writing in the Jewish Journal’s Morethodoxy blog, Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky writes that while he won’t perform a gay marriage—or an intermarriage, or a Kohen-divorcee marriage—he still can’t get behind California’s Proposition 8. Here’s how an Orthdox rabbi arrives at that conclusion.  en-us bharris@jta.org Copyright 2009 2009-08-26T;20:02:00-05:00 Comment by David david.ehrens@gmail.com Religious folks are entitled to live their lives in accordance with their values, perhaps even obligated to do so. An Orthodox rabbi or a Catholic priest obviously have to follow religious rules that secular society does not require of all citizens. Conversely, secular society’s laws should not enshrine religious notions in secular law. Marriage, then, should not be regarded as a sacrament by a secular state. Gay marriage should not be regarded as a violation of halakha or shariah by a secular state. Therefore, secular law must ensure precisely and completely the same rights for all citizens. Religious folks are entitled to live their lives in accordance with their values, perhaps even obligated to do so. An Orthodox rabbi or a Catholic priest obviously have to follow religious rules that secular society does not require of all citizens.

Conversely, secular society’s laws should not enshrine religious notions in secular law. Marriage, then, should not be regarded as a sacrament by a secular state. Gay marriage should not be regarded as a violation of halakha or shariah by a secular state. Therefore, secular law must ensure precisely and completely the same rights for all citizens.

]]> 2012-02-09T;19:12:00-05:00 Comment by Paulo de Tarso Pinheiro Fonseca paulofonseca.adv@click21.com.br With all due respect Rabino, live by the Torah. With all due respect Rabino, live by the Torah.

]]> 2012-02-09T;19:12:00-05:00 Comment by John Russell coffeebot@sbcglobal.net Judicious use of the word “dint” rabbi! Judicious use of the word “dint” rabbi!

]]> 2012-02-09T;19:12:00-05:00 Comment by Lewis Reich lbreich@bigfoot.com Git gezagt, Rabbi. Lewis Reich Sliver Spring, MD Git gezagt, Rabbi.

Lewis Reich
Sliver Spring, MD

]]> 2012-02-09T;19:12:00-05:00 Comment by David Talbot talbotnotes@gmail.com Rabbi, You will have to decide what trump card you play.  Torah or CA State Law.  Jewish life is full of these issues:  Ordination of women rabbis; who wears tallit , kippah,or tfillin; which of the 613 mitzvhah you’ll keep; would you marry a reformed Jew to an Orthodox Jew. The Torah isn’t a document of convenience, to pick and choose which items you find difficult to reconcile with secular life.  Hashem didn’t say “Let me make all decisions easy for you.” You were at sinai, you made the committment to obey, before you knew what it was going to cost. This wouldn’t be a problem for you if you truely felt that you were in exile, truely yearning with all your heart and soul to be re-united with all Yisroel ready to receive the comming of moshiach.  Instead you have become an American, who happens to be Jewish as opposed to a Jew who happens to live in America. However, I am in the same boat--although not a Rabbi.  Here’s how I resolve the issue.  I support civil marriage, as an American right under the equal protection clause of the Constitution, for all Americans, regardless of gender.  But I don’t want the government interferring with my religion.  And, my rabbi must follow Torah with 100% conviction.  If you cannot separate your Jewish life from your American life, then you will never have a resolution of your issue.  Anyway, that’s my opinion. David Talbot Mesa, Arizona Rabbi,

You will have to decide what trump card you play.  Torah or CA State Law.  Jewish life is full of these issues:  Ordination of women rabbis; who wears tallit , kippah,or tfillin; which of the 613 mitzvhah you’ll keep; would you marry a reformed Jew to an Orthodox Jew.

The Torah isn’t a document of convenience, to pick and choose which items you find difficult to reconcile with secular life.  Hashem didn’t say “Let me make all decisions easy for you.” You were at sinai, you made the committment to obey, before you knew what it was going to cost.

This wouldn’t be a problem for you if you truely felt that you were in exile, truely yearning with all your heart and soul to be re-united with all Yisroel ready to receive the comming of moshiach.  Instead you have become an American, who happens to be Jewish as opposed to a Jew who happens to live in America.

However, I am in the same boat--although not a Rabbi.  Here’s how I resolve the issue.  I support civil marriage, as an American right under the equal protection clause of the Constitution, for all Americans, regardless of gender.  But I don’t want the government interferring with my religion.  And, my rabbi must follow Torah with 100% conviction.  If you cannot separate your Jewish life from your American life, then you will never have a resolution of your issue.  Anyway, that’s my opinion.

David Talbot
Mesa, Arizona

]]> 2012-02-09T;19:12:00-05:00 Comment by Joshua Pines joshpines@aol.com Nice take, Rabbi. Bravo. Nice take, Rabbi. Bravo.

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