By contrast, the fact that in this country same-sex marriage has found recent support in the courts and the executive branch has lent credence to such abhorrent behavior as a valid and legally sanctioned form of conduct, absent of shame or stigma. In the words of Justice Antonin Scalia, writing his dissenting opinion in the case of Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the homosexual agenda is “directed at eliminating the moral opprobrium that has traditionally been attached to (such) conduct.”
The Torah refers to marriage as kiddushin, a sacred, natural bond between man and woman that has the unique potential to bring a distinct sense of purpose and completeness to both partners.
It is for the sake of preserving a strong sense of kiddushin, and all the benefits – physical and spiritual, personal and communal – it engenders, that our leaders have chosen to continuously speak out against same-sex marriage.
Same-sex marriage is not merely another offensive item in the American cultural landscape. Rather, it threatens the very core of our value system, by which we make sense of our world and our place in it. As such, there can be absolutely no room for compromise in this area.
Let us hope that the ongoing efforts of our leaders and activists will shift same-sex marriage back to the realm of moral opprobrium for years to come.
Rabbi Naphtali Hoff is Head of School at Torah Day School of Atlanta. He can be reached at [email protected].
