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Same-Sex Civil Marriage
Publication Date: July 2009
Publisher(s): National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (U.S.)
Author(s): Steve Greenberg
Series: CLAL on Culture Archive
Special Collection: Berman Jewish Policy Archive
Topic: Culture and religion (Religion and religious groups)
Social conditions (Marriage and family life)
Keywords: Jewish Law (Halacha); Jewish Values; Homosexuality; Marriage
Type: Brief
Coverage: United States
Abstract:
In light of a number of Canadian cities moving towards legislation to allow civil marriages for same-sex couples, the author, an Orthodox Rabbi discusses same-sex civil marriage in the context of Jewish Law (Halacha). He asserts that while under Halacha, same-sex marriage is not permitted as such, Halacha works by being malleable to the changing social currents. The author asserts that civil marriages are an insitution governed by secular society, and the acceptance of civil unions supports family values and allows for marriages rooted in religious tradition to retain their sanctity.