Albany, NY – In a letter sent yesterday to Jewish and Catholic leaders, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) decried the seeming apathy of religious institutions in opposing gay marriage legislation.
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“The New York State Assembly has just passed the “gay marriage bill” by a vote of 89-52,” Hikind wrote. “Owing to aggressive efforts on the part of the gay lobby, several legislators, including Republicans, were convinced to change their “no” vote from 2007. And yet, despite our religious convictions, we have remained relatively silent on this issue. Our silence is deafening. There has been no public outcry from Jewish or Catholic institutions. We have planned no protests, issued no scathing condemnations, or made any serious overtures to make our position known.”
“There is no sense of urgency about this issue in our communities,” remarked Hikind. “In what could just be a matter of days, the State Senate may very well secure enough votes to make same-sex marriage a reality in New York, and we will only have ourselves to blame. And yet, we sit idly by. Where is our moral outrage?”
Hikind made his position on this issue very clear when the bill was debated earlier this week. In explaining his opposition to the legislation, Hikind said, “‘It is about God. It is about what I believe God wants. . .I can’t stand here and deny what God says clearly, unequivocally, to me and hundreds of millions of others all over the world. I can’t do that.’”
Hikind wants to mobilize forces with the Archbishop of New York, Agudath Israel, the Orthodox Union, the Rabbinical Council of America, the National Council of Young Israel, as well as millions of other New Yorkers to defeat the bill in the Senate. He has urged the leadership of these major religious institutions to “use all resources at your disposal to make your opposition to this bill known.” Hikind added, “It is my hope that we will be successful in preserving the sanctity of marriage as God intended.”
Why do we care about this? Are there really that many “gay” yidden looking to get married? If they are goyim, this is none of our business… let it go. We have no right to force our halochos on other people like this.
Yes, I get that there is an emotional “Yuck” factor to all of this, but who really cares? These same-sex relationships are already considered 100% acceptable in the US culture. Their “marriages” are already legal in a bunch of states. This ship has sailed.
While I too have a problem getting past the “yuck” factor, I must admit (if I’m really being objective)… they are not hurting me or anyone else… just because it is legal does not mean you or I have to agree with it or participate in it.
The fact is that we rarely get involved in these things… eating pork is legal… wearing lingerie as “clothing” in public is legal… driving on shabbos is legal… denying the existence of H” is legal…
I guess my real question is… what is it about this issur that gets everyone so enraged? Why this one above most others?
Dov is Simply the best Politician out there and a true mensch.
As always,
Dov is mikadeish sheim Shomayim b’rabim!
What a disingenuous bunch of hooey — there’s no cheaper politician trick then sending out a press release decrying an issue you’ve already lost, can’t do anything about and can self-righteously blame on others for their supposed inaction.
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This is my man, i disagree with alot of things…but cudos Kiddush hashem win or loose we yiddin need to focus what ;Hahsem demands from us Dov came through.
When we become so numb that the attitude is “we don’t care” then we have tzarus.
A Yid must always care otherwise it erodes our moral sensibilities. Dov understands this. May Hashem give him continued koach to fight the good fight.
Out of curiosity, how is it that a law which would allow two non-Jewish women to marry is an abomination, but a law that allows for intermarriage is not?
Just a reminder that New York is not Yerushalaim or Bnai Brak, even if there are those who have convinced thenselves otherwise…
We have nothing to gain by fighting this and plenty to lose.
To those who seem unconcerned:
The spread of homosexual “marriage” around the country is turning the U.S. into a modern Sodom-Amorah society. Read your chumash and realize that it is the beginning of “The Rise and Fall of the United States of America.”.As long as we Yidden live here, it MUST be our concern too.
im quaking in my boots, my way of life feels soooo threatened. NOT.
WHO CARES? we have more important things to do.
civil marriages, live together, straight , gay…who cares what they do? they want health insurance? what do i care!
#1 you are a total ignoramous of what this involves in leagal terms and how its going to affect all of us. besides ,this toaiva iss assur for gentiles too . if you believe that there is g-d and he does not sit idley by while humanity turns to decadence. but if you dont believe that there is ‘dayin ,soifer, umoneh..then there is nothing what to talk to you about…you should also scratch some of your prayers on the holy days
This is what happens when government mixes into religion. Two species living together is a natural instinct. Two humans living together in a marriage bind is a G-d given religious rite. If only the government would totally abandon the whole aspect of marriage we won’t have this type of legislation to deal with. Do away with all marriage tax credits and let the people live as they see fit and no one is obligated to get “married”, if they want they can make a pre-nup contract as they like.
Some of the points here are really valid. This is a real discussion with good points. The one that concerns me though is #11 : “Aren’t we instructed to be a light onto the nations, and to try to get them to observe the Noachide laws?”
Yes we are… which is why I find this one so puzzling. I could understand an “abstain” vote, but if we make the sheva mitzvos bnei noach our measuring stick, then why are we not out there in mass protest on the other 2 or 3 that are legal.
I’m trying to figure out why it is that people seem to care so much about fighting this one issue that other really important issues are constantly being pushed to the back of the line for it? Do you have any idea what ONE DAY of deliberation in the state house costs the tax payer?
Duvi (#18): “Even if a frum jew thinks that the gov has no right to ban gay marriage, a jew should not actively support it….. You really think Hashem would want a frum jew to publically support and vote in favor of gay marriage?”
I agree with you 100%. We should NEVER support it. My question was more about whether we should FIGHT it.
Marriage should be a religious institution..why is the state getting involved in this at all? If a religion wants to sanction gay marriage then what right does the state have to come in and tell them they can’t?
The fact that we should shape American policy based on the fact that Torah calls it an aveira is absurd. Do you really want Christian groups getting up there and start shaping policy based on who the new testament calls cursed??
What happened to separation of Church and State?
oy givald!!!!! are u guy’s comparing this to a law of banning chazir,or working on shobbos ? This is as far as could be from the truth.
On this the thorah says it’s a toavei! its a thing thats bad for society, its immoral!!! It bring’s pritzues of the lowest kinds
The thorah in general is not for goyim but “everybody including the goyim need morality,and the yidden should be the first to strengthen that!
Its part of gilu aroes that goyim have a obligation to apply by.
Besides azovee es goyished zich azoy yiddesh’ed zich it has a big hashpuah how yidden start to think it starts by the modern ortho and goes up all the way r”l. (there is even today already a so called openly “G” “orthodox” rabbi (rubbish) and community.
The rambam says that your surroundings have a hashpuah on u if u want it or not.
If it dosen’t make a big difference if it’s legitimate, or not, then why are “they” fighting so badly to make it legit. ???
A yid who does many aveiroes out of tavah is still not an apikores, but if u keep evrything, and just say one mitzvah or thing in the torah is not really from g-d then are an apikores!
The legitimacy makes the world of a difference!
PMO, as usual you are on the wrong side of issue.
I like the posts about what the gemora says. When I first heard about it, it completely blew my mind.
That being said, the states don’t have the testosterone to let this go to a vote of the people because they know it will NEVER pass.
The Sodomite lobby is very good at propaganda, calling this deviant legislation the ‘marriage equality act’. It actually is a marriage descecration act.
I think Dov should have been stronger in his speech, but I understand the pressure up there in Albany. He had a few really good there. Thanks Dov. You should have come out like a Dov (Dov not Dove), you were too much of a mensch there to those deviants.
As a student of political science, I want to thank the most precious piece of document that is the United States Constitution. The great sages who wrote this document knew the dangers of religious zealot minorities interfering with politics and liberties of individuals. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison feared the Christian Church who were the Taliban of today. Dov needs a lesson in Western ideals and social values post industrialization. He also needs to remember that NYS Government is not Jerusalem 2009 B.C. and this is a secular Goyishe nation built on evolving values from which the Jews have also benefited from and adopted into their daily lives.
He presented the most weakest form of argument. The KKK, slave owners, and Justices of the Supreme Court also used the bible and G-d as a source for law. By Dov’s standards, U.S. should segregate, should practice slavery, should ban women from politics because the bible can justify all of that very easily. (Some will still agree in 2009.)
It is easy to blame the gays for all of social problems because solving them takes intelligence, effort, and time. Many unpopular minority groups throughout history were blamed for social problems. Dov isn’t good at logic because his favorite ploy is to use dogmas and fear. Comparing gays to incest is a leap in logic.
Dov nor his flock want to understand that gays won’t turn you gay if they get a piece of certificate from the government. Gays won’t increase crimes, violence, or global warming.
Will it matter if you have the same gays around without a state marriage license or not, will it make men leave their wives in droves, will it increase or decrease the gay population? The answer is No!! They were here and they will continue to be here like everyone else has been on this planet.
If a majority of a citizens are in support of such laws, let democracy prevail. Long time ago, societies accepted concubines, and polygamy Kind David loved his 1000 wives, but then societies changed their views on that issue. In 2009 society has a different view on same sex marriage.
He should show the same passion in pushing for the Markey Bill to pass. Protecting our children is more important than worrying about gay marriage. Does it make a difference if these sinners call themselves “married” or not? It is still the same toevah. Legitimacy or not, it will not change anything. On the other hand, passage of the Child Victims Act has proven in California and Delaware to work in exposing molesters. Borrowing Hikind’s same cry “Where is the Outrage?” that the same groups that he is lobbying here, the Agudah and the Catholic Church (the Odd Couple) are fighting against the Child Victims Act.
Although I am no admirer of Dov Hikind, I agree with everything he said and how he said it.
To those who are complaining about separation of church and state: Dov isn’t telling the Assembly to ban it because of G-d. He’s telling the religious leaders to speak up because of G-d. That is what we call the separation of church and state. If people don’t want the law to happen — whether for a religious reason or not, or no reason at all — then it should not happen. That is what we call democracy.
Thank you, Dov, for representing me. If in this merit America lasts longer (as I pray) then I hope you get some of the credit.
hashem should help us that should not effect our family & children cuz most probably it will pass the bill cuz there is much a bigger majority pro the bill but a bakusah could always help never know
The reason this is an important issue for every jewish man women and child is for one reason , and one reason only because the torah hakdoshe said so. Between 2 jews everybody would agree its an abomination, Tuiava and the Aibishter dispises these activities. 1. We see that the Aibishter hates these activites between the goyim as well – as the reason for the distruction of SODOM and GEMORA. Why the Aibishter hates these activities EQUAL to killing another person, at least I dont understand. Our tafkid in this world is to do as told in the Torah Hakdosheh even if we dont understand why.
2. All shmutz that the goyim do, a small but a significant percentage eventually do unfurtunetly do seep into jewish , frum, and chasidishe life ex. alcohol, drugs, relations…and the time to sstop it is now!!! Once it out in the street its already too late.
3.The whole purpose of this legislation is to flaunt it in everybodys eyes, to continuasly advertise it beforhesye. People (jew & goy) alike ,the next generation shouldnt even realize that there is something even “yuk” about it , but to think its moral and normal like all other husband wife relationships.
To Dov Hikind -Chasak V’emotz keep up the good work in everything you do for Hashem and Klall Yisroel. I Thank You.
There are only 7 countries besides the US that have legalized same gender marriage. They are South Africa, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, and Netherlands. So far same gender marriage is only legal in 5 US States. Let’s hope no further US States allow it.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_laws_of_the_world
those who think that they will not be affected are wrong.
Once gays marry in NY, our kids schoolbooks will change to teach moral equivalency. Test questions will begin with” Bruce and Mark are getting married, If they invite 100 people to their wedding , how many…. “
Also clergy, houses of worship and catering halls will be sued for discrimination. As seen in other nations that approve such perversion, speaking out against it will be prosecuted as a “hate crime”
Kol HaKavod, it has been a while since I could say I was truly proud of one of our leaders. One other thought—I would hate to think the passage of such a bill in New York would strengthen the movement in Eretz Yisroel.
I think we should include New York’s large and vocal Muslim population in this effort.
I feel this all could be avoided if government would do the smart thing; give them the rights and benefits they want just don’t call it marriage!
WOW
That was amazing
We were given the Torah bec we are an am keshei oref, we have the chutzpah to stand up for the Torah. Go Dov Hikind!!!
We can certainly thank our “community leaders” for having supported politicians who take the position opposite Dov Hikind on this issue; because money for mosdos from the State trumps all. As an example, in Skver, the voting ‘tzetel’ supported Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, a pro toevah legislator.
You don’t need a religious argument to prove that homosexuality is deviant and abnormal. And any law that makes it “normal” must be opposed!
TO: PMO
You seem to believe that advertising doen’t work. The advertsing agencies and their business clients, who spend billion on ads every year, don’t agree with you.
Hikind’s position appears to bhe that if it says something in the Torah that must be the position he takes on the isue today in the NYS assembly. Well, it says in the Torah that gays should be stoned. Why didn’t Hikind advocate that position as well during his speech?
The first Constitutional Amendment says:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Therefore, if my religion says that the practice of homosexuality is wrong and against G-d and that I don’t have to accept people who practice it, I don’t have to rent my wedding hall to them to practice their “Toayva” marriage, I don’t need to have a textbook with a reference to their “Toayva” “marriage” in my child’s classroom, and I don’t need my hard-earned taxes going to support their immoral lifestyle.
The practice of their “lifestyle” does NOT override the free exercise of my religion, which is guaranteed to me as an American citizen, by the Constitution. Their “civil rights” do NOT override my religious rights.
So if a “gay” person sues you for violating his civil rights, you sue that person back for violating your religious rights.
the lubavitch rebbe says the world is ready to take on the 7 laws of noach and it’s our job to encourage them to do so. another thing the rebbe said that if the world kept the 7 laws of noach there would not have been a holocaust. so we see how vital this is and we must stand up to forces that aposes holiness. for this reason g-d created the world. may we see the imm geula now!
“You do not have to have a gay wedding… or participate in one. “
Some people might have to. If they have a relative who is gay, if thet don’t attend the gay wedding, the gay person and many of his relatives may become very offended.
While I have never been at a gay wedding, I felt pressured to attend a number of weddings that I didn’t want to attend.