New York – Agudath Israel Of America, an umbrella group representing many Hasidic Jews, blasted out an “urgent legislative alert” about the New York marriage bill a short time ago, signed by Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president and Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz, vice president for community services:
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“It now appears that the New York State Legislature is poised to vote, probably this week, on a bill that would legalize same-gender marriage. This bill is both morally and legally unacceptable, and could lead to serious negative consequences. Several Agudath Israel askonim are currently in Albany, conveying these concerns to key legislators, but it is important that Albany hears from our grassroots constituency as well.
“The battleground for this legislation is likely to be in the New York State Senate. We therefore urge you to take a minute right now and:
“1. Call your State Senator and leave the message that you are deeply opposed to legalizing same-gender marriage and will be watching to see how the Senator votes on this important issue. To be connected to your State Senator, or if you don’t know who your State Senator is, call the Senate operator at 518-455-2800.
“2. Call Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (518-455-3171), and leave the message that, as leader of the Republican majority in the State Senate, he should make every effort to ensure that the Senate continues to stand firm against same-gender marriage.
“Together, with Hashem’s help, we can still help defeat this pernicious legislation.”
If Skelos brings it up for a vote and it passes with the help of Republicans as it seems likely now, I’m done with the NYGOP, no more having my vote, it will be gone.
Agudah supported most of these people for office, including the Governor.
too little. too late.
This gay marriage bill is going to pass eventually if not this time around maybe the next time around – but is it really worth our resources
lets be real – if Antony and Pedro love each other so be it, whats the big deal if they have a marriage certificate granted by the state
As I understand it, as the bill stands, refusal to perform such a marriage would be against the law!!! Now there is an effort by the Governor to make a religious exemption so that Shuls and Churches etc. do not have to go against their consciences in this matter.
BOTTOM LINE – wanting to perform marriage as has been done throughout history between a man and a woman is B’Di”EVED – acquiescing to middas Sodom is a ‘mitzvah’.
Write, call and e-mail your senators and representatives – they do vote according to the numbers
awaste of time and money
where was everyone a half a year ago when Pladino denounced gay marrage why didn’t we come out in full swing support
They always get it wrong. They’re basing all of their arguments on “tradition”. They cite a 125-year-old Supreme Court case. They don’t understand that in order to be persuasive, the legislators needs to be given pertinent information about why male-female marriage, human reproduction, and child-raising, are good for society TODAY.
And, as observed above, it may be too little too late. Where have they been all of these months?
Maybe somebody explain y we are making a big deal of this. Y is it a different for jews if its a law or not. The torah dos not change anyway. There is as is enough people not following the torah. And its not a different to them how the law is
This has happened in a few other states recently, even states with large Jewish populations. Why does NY state get Agudah’s “overdrive” action and other states such as IL which recently passed a similar law, not?
Since when does a piece of paper from ny state mean anything
Why would anybody think that if they can get married more aveiros will occur. The same amount of people are going to do mishkav zachar regardless of whether they can legally get married. Zeh hu! This is a waste of klal yisrael’s time, money and energy.
It’s not just the moral issue. There are legal ramifications in terms of hiring and other issues for businesses and non-profits. Would you want a gay man as your shul president? What if he sues you for discrimination based on this bill? What about a science teacher for your kids? For those who think this is only about us pushing our agenda on goyim, you are sadly mistaken. In addition- read the last line about the implicit counter message carefully. You’re included in it.
gays will cohabit even if they are not married so allowing them to make it official does nothing except make them happy. it is not anyones job or anyones religions job to boss other people around and dictate such personal things as who they are allowed to get married to.
They should be happy that they’re not suffering like we used to in old Europe. Why should they even try to correct people who don’t bother them??? Is it our problem if those anti-Semites back then in Europe would marry same sex or opposite sex and wouldn’t bother others? Don’t be a bigot, and don’t enforce your religion on anyone.
this was in a article on the religiondispatches.org on June 13, 2011
(Shmuel ) “Lefkowitz believes that same-sex marriage lacks the requisite momentum for passage. “If I believed the votes were there, I’d put more effort into it,” he says. “I believe this is under control.””
IF Aguda truly cared about fighting they would have had phone rallies months ago and not oppose all those Jewish Organizations who suggested they do what their doing that over a month ago when it would have had a much higher likelihood of success. though phone calls are still important and when calling Skelos and the other senators be sure to link it with are votes and say no religious exemptions will mitaher a sheretz (no matter what religious exemptions are included). Anyone who truly watched the comments in the media by swing senators and had a basic understanding of politics would have known what was going on over a month ago
that this may happen and also who the swing votes were. I was told today by Lefkowitz that he believes that this has around a 60% chance of CV passing.
I’m 100 % sure that all the previous few generations gedoliem are now regretting they ever found the Aguda(s rishiem).
Agreed. They should be ralllying the public and having demonstrations. A few ads in the Jewish papers mean little. The bill is likely to pass this week. Agudah likes to work behind the scenes. What did it accomplish now?
Some are wondering, who cares is its Adam and Eve or Adam and Steve. It has nothing to do with us and our lifestyle.
You are wrong.
Imagine that in a few years there will be a law that all schools that take public funds must hire some mushchasim in their staff. So now in your heiliga son’s cheder, you must bring this shmutz in. And then the math teacher, Mr. Adam, forgot some sheets at home, so he asks his husband to drop it off for him. And of course, Mr. Adam wants to introduce his family to your young Chaim Yankel. Next thing you know is that Chaim Yankel is embraced by Moshe Zev on your front couch….. ….. …..
This isn’t just bad for Jews – it is bad for society.
Sadom and Amora were destroyed because they wrote kesubos (sanctioned marriage) between two men.
WAKE UP!!