Emor and Marriage Equality
Rabbi Joseph R. Black
Temple Emanuel – Denver, CO
May 11, 2012
This week’s Torah portion, Emor, teaches
about the restrictions placed on those who serve as priests in the Temple. Priests are prohibited from marrying widows
or divorcees, they cannot have any physical or mental deformities – their lives
are regulated and controlled.
There are many responses that we can have when
confronting this text – the first one that comes to mind is – “I’m glad I’m not
a priest – and I’m glad that these laws no longer apply.” The truth is – these laws had their origins
in times that are very different than our own.
The concept that a person would be prohibited from serving in a sacred
capacity because of physical deformity is completely foreign to us. Ours is a society that prides itself in being
open to all – of providing access and equal rights to everyone – right?
Well – not everyone. There are still
people who are denied basic human rights and legal protection simply because of
how they love and who they love… And
this is wrong.
As I’ve said on many occasions, as a
Rabbi, I believe that the most important verses in the Bible can be found in
Genesis 1:27. There we find it written
that God created Humanity in the Divine Image.
We are the image of God.
We are all holy creatures. God created us.
God loves us.
God gave us the ability to love and to hate – to kill and to create. How we use these abilities is directly
proportional to our awareness of the holiness that is implanted within us.
This is why it is essential for
religious communities to become involved in the struggle for LGBT rights. For if we stand idly by and do nothing when
basic human rights are denied:
·
The
right to legal protection for families
·
The
right to job security.
·
The
right to housing;
·
The
right to live free from fear.
·
The
right to ensure that we can carry out the wishes of our spouses and partners
when they become incapacitated;
·
The
right to visit our loved ones when they are in the hospital;
·
the
right to insurance;
·
and
so many others…..
Then we are denying the holiness
implanted not only within our GLBT brothers and sisters – but within ourselves
as well.
I’m sure that you are all aware of recent
events surround the issue of Civil Unions and Gay marriage – here in our
legislature and in other states around the country. Two days ago, President Obama stated his
support for Gay Marriage. This came on
the heels of voters in North Carolina who, on Tuesday approved
Amendment One, a fiercely debated and highly restrictive amendment to the state
constitution that defines marriage as the legal union of a man and a woman is
very upsetting.
The North Carolina amendment not only outlaws same-sex marriage — already illegal in the state — but bans civil unions and domestic partnerships for gay or straight couples. Family law experts say it will threaten domestic partnership health benefits for local government workers and strip unmarried couples, both gay and straight, of their rights to make financial or emergency medical decisions for an incapacitated partner.
And here in our own State of Colorado: the leadership of our State Legislature felt it necessary to derail a bill that would allow citizens to enter into a Domestic partnership that would provide them basic legal protections – I find this to be cruel, inhumane and, frankly, immoral. I am proud of Governor Hickenlooper for calling a special legislative session to address this bill and others that were also killed by those who were afraid of the consequences of a vote.
My friends, as Jews, I believe that we
have a moral obligation to support those in our society who are asking to be
granted the ability to express their love and to receive the same basic rights
as other couples.
This is not about “supporting” homosexuality. The bill is very clear in its language that
no one needs to change their views on marriage, love or relationships. It merely states that every human being has
the right to love another human being – and to receive the same benefits as
those who are legally married.
Our state constitution defines
marriage as being between one man and one woman. That is law.
The current bill will not change that.
All that it will do is grant basic rights to couples who want nothing
more than the ability to share their lives together.
The people who will benefit if this
bill is passed are not zealots or radicals – they are our friends, our
relatives, our teachers, our doctors and lawyers and productive, healthy
members of our society – in other words – they are you and me.
I recently posted a photo on my
Facebook page (by the way – feel free to “friend” me if you haven’t done so
already…), This photo was of a beautiful
family – Rhonda, Jessica and their daughter, Emily. Rhonda and Jessica were the first same-sex
couple at whose wedding I officiated.
Emily is a happy, healthy, beautiful and intelligent young woman who
wrote the following to her parents in anticipation of Mothers’ day:
For those who are afraid that domestic
partnerships will somehow impact the sanctity of Traditional marriage – all I
have to say is how will two people who love one another – who want nothing more
than to raise their families in loving homes – in JEWISH homes – where shared
values are discussed and God’s presence is felt in the sanctity of consecrated
commitment – how will these individuals impact the sanctity of marriage more
than those who mock marriage through serial divorce, the exploitation of
sexuality and love that we see reflected in the mass media and on the internet?
There is a very good chance that
representative McNulty – the current speak of the House, will try to use other
legislative means to ensure that the Civil Unions Bill will not come to a vote. He can do this by shifting it to another
committee that will prevent it from being brought forward. We need
to let him know that this is wrong. We
need to let our voices be heard. Please
contact him and let him know your concern.
His phone number is: (303)866-2346. His email is frank.mcnulty.house@state.co.us
We have no more business legislating who is
fit to love and how they express that love in sacred commitment - than we have
the right to state that those who possess a physical deformity are incapable of
holding sacred office. The tide has
shifted. We need to let our legislators
know that we, as people of faith, want to see equality in marriage.
In addition, I am proud that Temple Emanuel is
joining with several other synagogues in the Denver area to march on June 17,
in the annual pridefest parade – alongside Keshet – an organization that
supports Jewish GLBT issues. I hope that
you will be able to join with me as we march together in solidarity. You will be hearing more about this in days
and weeks to come.
Shabbat Shalom.
