New York, NY – Diamond District Orthodox Jewelers Conflicted on Ring Sales to Gays

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    FileNew York, NY – While Diamond District jewelers try to attract same-sex couples looking to mark their newly-legal unions with sparkly bling, the new demographic isn’t sitting well with some religious merchants in the area.

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    Officials from the 47th Street Business Improvement District, which represents the hundreds of diamond and jewelry retailers along the stretch, gathered at the Diamond Exchange Thursday to kick off a campaign to encourage same-sex couples to shop at their stores.

    “We’re happy to welcome the LGBT community today,” BID Executive Director Michael Grumet told reporters before cutting a ceremonial cake to celebrate the unions, which officially become legal in the state on Sunday. “We’re happy to have you here.”

    Grumet told DNAinfo he sees big potential for the 282 licensed dealers on the stretch.

    “There’s a new market for engagement rings for men and women that didn’t exist before,” he said.

    But not everyone in the district, which has a large Orthodox Jewish presence, supports the BID’s push to attract more same-sex business.
    “I don’t approve of it,” said one bearded Orthodox man dressed in traditional black suit and hat, who said he’s worked in the district for the past 20 years. Like numerous others approached by DNAinfo, he refused to give his name.

    “This is terrible to talk about even,” said another man who works in the district and described the initiative as a “very bad” idea before quickly marching off.

    Read more at DNA Info


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    42 Comments
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    ExpatriateOwl
    ExpatriateOwl
    12 years ago

    Pikuach Kessef!

    AlbertEinstein
    AlbertEinstein
    12 years ago

    This is a real Hallachic question. Since mishkav zachor is assur even to an AKu”M, the issue of lifnei eveir must be considered. However, since selling a diamond ring is not necessarily encouraging the aveirah itself, and most likely is not misaye’a l’devar aveirah, the answer is not clear.

    These merchants should ask their poskim before passing judgement one way or the other.

    gematria12
    gematria12
    12 years ago

    what about an intermarried couple then you have no problem selling to them huh…

    MosheM
    MosheM
    12 years ago

    Thanks for not selling your Torah for a few bucks.

    12 years ago

    Israelis do business quietly with Arab and Moslem countries which are officially at war with EY. Business is business; therefore, in this instance, the same attitude should apply. It does not mean that the personal lives of the recipients of the diamond rings are being sanctioned by the diamond sellers.

    Paulie123
    Paulie123
    12 years ago

    Why mix religion with Parnassah?

    Babishka
    Member
    Babishka
    12 years ago

    With the economy the way it is, you would think they would be thrilled to sell a diamond ring to anyone who wants to buy one!

    hmmmm
    hmmmm
    12 years ago

    Very smart answer. If they come buy, I’m sure the man will sell them. But don’t make a party about it.

    12 years ago

    Now those people put their money where their mouth is. I’m very proud of them not that I agree 100% but they have morals.

    12 years ago

    Who cares what they’re buying rings for.
    It’s not like your ‘officiating’ these “marriages”!
    Pretend they’re buying for themself.

    ChuchemAtik
    ChuchemAtik
    12 years ago

    Don’t jewish jewelers make cross necklaces?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    12 years ago

    Wait till these gays book vayoel moshe and other heimisha halls for their weddings. And when they enroll their adopted kids into yeshivas filling out mothers name as chayim. Maybe then will wake up.

    Secular
    Secular
    12 years ago

    They didn’t seem conflicted, in their vote for Cuomo.

    ishbibele
    ishbibele
    12 years ago

    Don’t think its a problem all tzeloomim necklace are manufctured by our yidelech ,just don’t throw around cake its an ugly toeivah approved by so called gentleman and unfortunately by some orthodox yiden ,

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    12 years ago

    We still have a chance to show our opposition. This sunday July 24 there will be. A mass rally at 3 pm. At 633 -3 rd Ave. Nyc. Be there. You can google it. Its between 40 and 41 st. Call Agudah and ou to show up. Git shabbos.

    Member
    12 years ago

    Sure they can refuse to sell a ring. It would be unlawful and I would think that the sensible people and there are many will boycott buying diamonds from those retailers. Works both ways.

    tehillim_119_72
    tehillim_119_72
    12 years ago

    next time we should follow the psak of all the gedoliem who told us it is assur to vote for trefe politicians.

    ShalomCon
    ShalomCon
    12 years ago

    What’s the problem? Sounds like a brilliant marketing strategy to me. Do these jewelers always approve of – or even KNOW where their diamonds are going? Do they really believe that expensive baubles never go to mistresses and wedding bands are not used in intermarriages? What difference does it make? It’s not as if gay couples (male or female) are going to stop being gay just because some jeweler doesn’t approve. As mentioned above, they will simply spread the word within their community and take their money to more welcoming merchants.

    Anon Ibid Opcit
    Anon Ibid Opcit
    12 years ago

    If they don’t sell the rings someone else will.

    Glassman
    Glassman
    12 years ago

    It is not tofes kiddishin. Therefore not a marriage. So wouldn’t it just be one buying a diamond for the other?

    Tzi_Bar_David
    Tzi_Bar_David
    12 years ago

    Companies in EY sell nuclear info and technology to Iran…so why not have the NY jewlers sell the trinkets for a few dollars to the goyim. Not like they are going to nuke EY, is it?

    12 years ago

    I will sell a diamond to anyone. What do I care what he/she does with it?

    mrmoose
    mrmoose
    12 years ago

    Ask a rabbi but I think its not assur if they are goyim since we paskan that their is no issur of mysaye leovrei avayrah by akum.

    mewhoze
    mewhoze
    12 years ago

    this whole thing is ridiculous. if i were a jeweler and someone came in looking to spend ten thousand dollars on a ring wh should i concern myself about who the ring goes to. as a previous poster said ….do you think you havent sold baubels for someones mistress or non jewish girlfriend?
    cmon….seriously.
    what will a clothing store owner do when two men come in for matching suits or tuxedos for ‘their” wedding?
    this can go on and on………………
    so essentially what some are saying is give the parnassah to the non jewish stores?

    12 years ago

    Why is it the jeweler’s business what people do in the privacy of their bedrooms? I know many of these jewelers involved and more than a few have mistresses themselves. Who are they to judge others?

    gitteryid
    gitteryid
    12 years ago

    Come on jeweler’s what r u talking about so if a gay or lesbo couple came in to to a resteraunt, the store owner should boycott them,? and to whom r u allowed to sell your diamonds, for jewish couples weddings? Didn’t all the rabbi’s banned it, so whom are u trying to fool, us or yourself? Stop with the cra…enough is enough!

    12 years ago

    Oh mighty dollar can buy anything.

    12 years ago

    This issue just makes me wanna throw up!

    The_Beadle
    The_Beadle
    12 years ago

    Because someone who is gay is going to become straight if a chareidi jeweller won’t sell him a ring!

    GB_Jew
    GB_Jew
    12 years ago

    How many *men* have any of you ever seen wearing a diamond ring?

    12 years ago

    It seems to me that selling engagement and/or wedding rings to homosexual couples who want to get “married” is a clear violation of the issur of lifnei eiver…( do not place a stumbling block before the blind ). This applies whether the couple is Jewish or gentile.

    noreminah
    noreminah
    12 years ago

    Just a silly question. Which partner gets the ring? Which one pays for it?