Orthodox Jews Come Out for Marriage Equality in Maryland

[Ian David]

When most people think of Orthodox Jews and marriage equality they think of opposition to marriage equality. This is no different than the perceptions about devout Catholics or evangelical Protestants. However, as with every other community, there is not uniformity despite the public perception. Last night, I received an email from a friend that lives in Maryland and was a letter written to members of the Maryland legislature by Orthodox Jews that support marriage equality. The text of the letter is below the fold.

Dear Maryland State Senators and Delegates,

As Orthodox Jewish supporters of marriage equality in Maryland, we urge you to support marriage equality for all committed and loving Maryland families. Tens of thousands of gay and lesbian Marylanders deserve to be treated just like everyone else.

The United States and Maryland offer unprecedented freedom for Jews to practice their religion, and as Orthodox Jews we benefit from this on a daily basis. However, as important as our freedom to practice our religion is to us, we are equally committed to the separation of church and state and do not wish to impose our religious beliefs on others.

Marriage is not just a religious institution; it carries significant civil and legal consequences. Disallowing part of Maryland's population access to those civil and legal consequences based on religious convictions represents an unwarranted and unwelcome commingling of religion and politics.

<snip>

This letter does not tiptoe around, or address, any religious arguments for or against marriage equality. Instead, it dismisses them as irrelevant in a secular state where religion and state are separated. It focuses on what marriage equality is — a civil rights issue — and the communal good that comes from guaranteeing equal rights to all citizens.

When it discusses marriage as both a civil and religious institution, and the separation of religion and state, it explicitly rebukes the arguments made against marriage equality. Remember, those arguments are about the "sanctity" of marriage. That, necessarily, grounds itself in religion and disavows a secular purpose. Remember, if the secular purpose is procreation, and the raising of those children, then elderly couples should not be allowed to marry and there should be tests to determine fertility before marriage.

More:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/20/1066802/-Orthodox-Jews-Come-Out-for-Marriage-Equality-in-Maryland

[xchrom]

1. du rec. nt

[MrBig]

2. Really happy to see this

Only recently have Conservative Jews (for those that don't know, conservative is a sect of Judaism completely unrelated to politics) started to embrace marriage equality, and that's been very very slow.

This is quite the pleasant surprise.

[qb]

3. K&R & a big Thank You to our Jewish allies.

[immoderate]

4. I'm a Jewish atheist...

And I hang on to that tribal identity for a few reasons (e.g.: lox and a bagel, yum!) and I'm happy to see that Jews are moving progressive ideas.

Actually I'm glad when anyone promotes progressivism, but can they make a good kishka?

--imm

[EgaLitE]

5. This is why I respect Jews

Despite being non-religious I really respect the Jewish people. Even religious Jewish people are pretty tolerant and don't judge.

I read how people of the Jewish faith participated in the Civil Rights movement, with groups like the NAACP. And how there are many good Jewish people in the ACLU and other progressive organizations.

People of the Jewish faith (and also non-religious Jews) should get the recognition they deserve as fellow-fighters in the war on inequality and hatred.

[ellisonz]

7. Thank you.

Welcome to DU!

Shalom

[RetiredTrotskyite]

6. Great To See This!

[Behind the Aegis]

8. I am really not hugely surprised.

I am glad to see this though.