http://blogs.timesofisrael.com
As I recall at the moment, Rabbi Cohen, in a phone conversation, told me the Aguda is against hate. This statement of his became the basis for a segment on our weekly one hour show.
I would like now to explore the implication of this bill.
Say that I go into a Mikva. I happen to surprise two men who are disrobed there. They are about to engage in what appears to me to be the homosexual act. This act, as we are all aware, is proscribed by the Torah.
In a moment of righteous anger, I use my physical strength to separate the men. They in turn call the police. I am arrested and charged with assault and battery. A judge finds me guilty and I go to jail for six months.
Now, let's change our hypothetical case. At the time I separate them, I yell, "How can you do this?! The Torah has a Posuk forbidding homosexuality! The Rambam rules that way!! Reshaim!" (Confer source below)
Now, they call the police and they call the FBI. I am charged with assault and battery and convicted and serve six months. When I get out, I am charged with a hate crime and convicted and serve ten years in federal prison.
What is the difference between the two cases? The answer is that I quoted the Torah.
The intent of the bill is to label teaching the Torah a hate crime under certain circumstances.
Thus, the effect of the Aguda supporting the hate crimes bill was to make the quoting of the Torah an act of hate punishable under U.S. law in certain circumstances. Those circumstances include doing the Mitzvah of preventing two Jews from transgressing one of the most serious sins in the Torah.
Source of Rambam: Volume Gimmel, Kedusha, Hilchos Issurei Biah, Perek Aleph, Posuk Daled. The Arayos that Bais Din punishes with death, some of them the punishment is carried out through SKILA or stoning. Stoning is the worst of all punishments prescribed by the Torah, which are here listed in order: Skila, Sraifa, Chenek, Kores, Lav, Aseh. And Skila, the worst, is meted out to male homosexuals.
Furthermore, Rabbi Yehuda Levin has shared a letter from the Gaon Reb Moshe zt"l that everyone is obligated to fight against gay rights in the political realm. Jews have to make it known to elected officials that we stand against gay rights. In other words, we Jews are a pack of haters. This is not personal hate -- we hate the perpetrator, and we are obligated by the Torah to hate, and to give him, through Bais Din, the worst punishment of the Torah. Other Gedolim of past generation also taught similarly.
Anybody who says we can't oppose gays because we're against hate, is ignorant of this Rambam.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Joe Orlow
(202) 251-3866 courier@softwine.
