A Discussion with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky on âSSAâ - Hakirah.org
A Discussion with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky on âSSAâ - Hakirah.org A Discussion with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky on âSSAâ - Hakirah.org
44 : Hạkirah, the Flatbush Journal of Jewish Law and Thoughtdividuals can positively affect the direction of society and make adifference in our world.We discussed several current examples where religious individualsor organizations were punished for upholding their religious beliefsagainst the current secular societal views. One example involvedhow homosexual activists successfully applied “nondiscrimination”or “hate” laws to a Christian family-owned photographybusiness. In a complaint brought before New Mexico’sHuman Rights Commission, the photographer’s privately ownedcompany was ordered to pay close to $7,000 for declining a demandto take pictures at a same-sex “commitment ceremony” in Taos,N.M., despite the fact that neither marriage nor civil unions are legalfor members of the same sex
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A <str<strong>on</strong>g>Discussi<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>with</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Rabbi</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Shmuel</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Kamenetsky</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> “SSA” : 45from his positi<strong>on</strong> for allegedly making “homophobic” remarks. InFebruary 2011, after a five-m<strong>on</strong>th investigati<strong>on</strong>, the police departmentallowed <str<strong>on</strong>g>Rabbi</str<strong>on</strong>g> Kaplan to remain in his positi<strong>on</strong> and determinedthe statements made were a “technically correct interpretati<strong>on</strong>of Scripture through his role as rabbi” and “were not viewed ashateful.” The case shows, however, how far a homosexual activistgroup will go to achieve its goals.As this topic progressed, the Rosh Yeshiva expressed surpriseand dismay when I cited a measure to ban male circumcisi<strong>on</strong> (brismilah) in San Francisco that is slated to appear <strong>on</strong> this November’sballot. If passed, the measure would make it a misdemeanor to circumcisea boy before he is 18 years old. The maximum penaltywould be a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. No religious exempti<strong>on</strong>sare permitted.Obligati<strong>on</strong> of the Righteous to Act Affirmatively:“It is incumbent up<strong>on</strong> all Jews, particularly the righteous, to havetheir voices heard <strong>on</strong> behalf of Torah values.” (<str<strong>on</strong>g>Rabbi</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Shmuel</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Kamenetsky</str<strong>on</strong>g>)According to the Rosh Yeshiva, we need to distinguish betweenindividuals struggling <str<strong>on</strong>g>with</str<strong>on</strong>g> their identity, and the ever-expandingmovement to use the power of government, media, and secularschools to impose a new order of morality in America. This neworder treats traditi<strong>on</strong>al views of gender, sexuality, and marriage ashateful and discredited bigotry; it also refuses to recognize G-d’smajesty. We discussed, for example, how n<strong>on</strong>–Torah-observant secularJews may ignore the sovereignty of Hashem by quoting theAleinu prayer out of c<strong>on</strong>text. Secularists use certain words of theprayer as support for the claim that G-d seeks tikkun ha’olam(world repair—often referring to social policy legislati<strong>on</strong> that providesextra protecti<strong>on</strong> to those potentially at a disadvantage). However,such individuals often neglect to menti<strong>on</strong> the end of the sentencein the Aleinu: b’malchut Shadai (under the regency of the Almighty),thereby denying G-d’s sovereignty and His commandments.The Rosh Yeshiva expressed distress over the current <strong>on</strong>slaughtof immorality that is sweeping the world. An aggressive movementexists today to provide those practicing immoral behaviors <str<strong>on</strong>g>with</str<strong>on</strong>g>