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Hawaii Governor Decision – Calling All Rabbis- Show Respect for Equality

Posted by: Lez Get Real on June 13, 2010.

6-13-10 Melanie Nathan

San Francisco- Today my Israeli born wife and my American Citizen little daughter are on a plane for Israel. Together with my 13 year old, who just celebrated her bat mitzvah, we are a Jewish family, steeped in Shtetl, pogroms past, holocaust, shul and tradition.

During California’s window of opportunity our Rabbi, Stacy Friedman at Marin County’s Rodef Sholom married us, and it was a joyous event. We had so many people from so many faiths and denominations there to share in the happy day. It included Christians, Orthodox Jews, even some Chabad friends.

Recently in my activism together with Todd Fernandez, I authored a Petition calling on the Catholic Bishops ( USCCB ) and the Christian Evangelicals ( NAE ) to cease and desist in their active lobby against the gay community. Dumbfounded by the Chutzpah that they can interfere in the civil life of any American citizen or resident.

No religious argument about anything at all, no matter where it comes from should impact our civil rights under the law. Bottom line – With great respect -BUTT out!

“Rabbis Itchel Krasnjansky and Peter Schaktman hail from different branches of Judaism and hold starkly contrasting views on whether same-sex couples should be permitted to form civil unions in Hawaii. What they have in common is the ear of Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, from Hawaii, who has until June 21 to announce whether she may veto the only pending civil unions legislation in the nation.” (Associated Press Reports.)

Lingle, also Jewish, in the final months of her second and last term, faces a momentous decision that carries political and legal implications. For the rabbis, with whom the governor has consulted on the issue, her choice is about much more.

While Rabbi Schaktman, who leads the Reform Temple Emanu-El, insists, like my Rabbi Friedman, Judaism teaches that all people regardless of sexual orientation are and should be treated as “children of God,” and thus should not face discrimination.”

Krasnjansky, who heads the Orthodox community group Chabad of Hawaii, said the Torah teaches that homosexuality, and by extension same-sex marriage, “is not something that should be condoned or should be legalized,” he said.

With respect Rabbi – what business does Torah have with US civil law? Would you deny my children the same rights as other American Children? I do not think that is what you mean to do Rabbi as it is not the way of the Torah to hurt innocent victims and with your interference that is what you are doing – you are hurting my and many other Jewish and none Jewish children.

Rabbi, even Israel’s Knesset has passed law which allows Gay marriage. Nothing Chabad can say or do would stop the rights bestowed by civil law on Israeli gay people. Not even Torah Rabbi! So like I said to the Bishops and the Evangelicals if you are going to hurt an entire minority community, PLEASE cease and desist – BUTT out!

The Bill would allow same sex and different sex couples a Domestic Partnership conferring legal rights and obligations, as if marries.

This ought not be a question about whether homosexuality is right or wrong. How much louder can I shout – BUTT OUT!

As far as the Governor is concerned, from one Jew to another, ‘Governor Lingle, you know the difference between right and wrong; the fact that government cannot establish a religion, not one from another or any for that matter (First Amendment.) You should not be taking any advisory in the name of G-d or any religious figure/ deity. As a Jew you should know you must not put Republican lockstep ahead of the people you represent – you have your conscience and hopefully you will do the right thing. Our children are depending on you.

This is a Call to all Rabbis in the USA – Make one call – Urge your fellow Rabbis to support Equality Unconditionally and to keep religion out of Government. Calling all Jewish Congregants in Hawaii – find your Jewish heart and call upon your Rabbis to refrain from oppressing the civil rights of citizens and people who live in the USA.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
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http://lezgetreal.com/2010/06/activists-call-halt-the-harm-june-9th-anti-uafa-lobby-by-catholic-bishops-evangelicals/