Below is a joint statement that has been sent to the members of the New York State Assembly as they are poised to vote on legislation to legalize “alternative lifestyle” marriage in New York State. Should the measure pass in the Assembly, the statement will be sent as well to the State Senate and Governor Spitzer.
JOINT STATEMENT:
On the issue of legalizing “alternative-lifestyle” marriage, the Orthodox Jewish world speaks with one voice, loud and clear:
We oppose the redefinition of the bedrock relationship of the human family.
We approach this issue through the prism of the Jewish religious tradition, which forbids Toeva acts, and sanctions only the union of a man and a woman in matrimony.
The institution of marriage is central to the formation of a healthy society and the raising of children. It is our sincere conviction that discarding the historical definition of marriage would pose a severe danger to society in a variety of ways. Thus, we are compelled to protest the proposed redefinition of marriage for the State of New York.
Moreover, we are deeply concerned that, should any such redefinition occur, citizens of New York who are members of traditional communities like ours will incur moral opprobrium and may risk legal sanction if they refuse to transgress their beliefs. That prospect is chilling, and should be unacceptable.
Society’s mores may shift and crumble but eternal verities exist. One is marriage. Its sanctity must be recognized and its integrity preserved.
AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUNG ISRAEL
RABBINICAL COUNCIL OF AMERICA
UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS OF AMERICA
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13 Responses
Why did most of these organizations support liberals like Governor Spitzer??? Ven es kumt tzu gelt, ken men tun vus inz gefelt!!!
Why are so many of us voting Democrats????? Isn’t time we frum Yidden start voting/supporting for conservatives and not for tuition vouchers etc…..
YOU GOT IT RIGHT emesvyatziv
silver was always VERY liberal on all the issues yet enjoyed support from the frum organizations
BTW ther is a better chance of getting tuition vouchers if conservatives are in power.
GUT GEZUKT, RABBOSAI, GUT GEZUKT…
The letter states: “…members of traditional communities like ours will incur moral opprobrium and may risk legal sanction if they refuse to transgress their beliefs…”
This is scary. Can someone think of a concrete possible example of how this might chas v’sholom happen? In what way might we be pressured to transgress our beliefs regarding this matter?
As we just read Korach, with its lesson of Oy LaRasha Oy LiShchainav, vis a vis Binei Riuvain being affected by their surroundings, Korach VaAdaso, it is interesting that this issue comes up now.
There is no question in my mind that if this toeva is legalized and formalized as a legitimate lifestyle, that we will be affected. (For now, “Alternative lifestyle” is a euphemism for “different”, not in any way “equal”.)
Basically, anywhere in the streets where you’ve seen gentile couples showing their mutual affection, will be fair game for “gay” people, too, if this becomes legitimized. The more “accepted” it becomes, the more you will see it outside of our daled amos shel kedusha.
Hashem Yishmor.
P.S. Beautiful show of Achdus for all 4 organizations to get together like that.
since when does “Daas Torah” dictate the law of NY?
illini, this isnt merely a “church and state” issue. Here in the US of A, marriage is also considered a civil union. Remember marriage licenses and all that? True, if some unitarian church (arent they equivalent to reform among christians)? decides to “unite” two Toeva people in what they call “marriage,” the government cannot, and should not, stop them. but civil unions are a seperate matter. Religious people having a moral opposition based on religious notions doesnt violate the precept of seperation of church (“shul”) and state
All Jewish newspapers, regardless of political slant, must be inundated with Letters to the Editor, requesting that residents of the Lower East SIde not re-elect Silver to the NYS Assembly. It is a mitzvah chiyuvis, upholding the moral fabric of the Torah and society, to demand that the LES jews remove him from office. Apparently, SIlver never progressed through the earlier parshiyos of Sefer Bereishes. How can someone put on Talis tefilin every morning and suport Toeva. SOmeone explain this to me please. Does this SIlver have any moral or religious convictions. Or is everything $$$$$$$$.
Finally, I beleive that Kovod Hatorah is on the line here today. If we don’t rid SIlver from NYS Govt. we are all to blame when NY becomes Sodom V’Amorah, one of the most heinous acts that can be perpertrated in society.
Silver’s Orthodoxy can definitley be questioned after this act.
Flood the jewish newspapers with Letters to the Editor. When our kids become exposed to this alternative lifestyle, there is one person to blame: Sheldon Silver.
This episode should be a lesson to those Orthodox jews who vote along liberal lines. You are playing with fire!!!!!!!
illini07: Well, this occurred to me this morning.
What about if a yeshiva kicks out a teenager for being openly “alternative,” and the government then refuses to give grants and lunches and so forth?
Reb_Motcha
a good point -again
Thank you, YZCCJR.