The Orthodox Rabbis & the Shame of a Legislator

Robert P. George wrote last week at the Mirror of Justice about the New York congressional race won by a Republican. A factor, he says, was a statement made to Jewish voters by Orthodox rabbis:

In the run up to the election, a group of Orthodox rabbis, most from Brooklyn, but including others, notably Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky and Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen, two nationally prominent Orthodox Jewish authorities, published a letter stating that "it is forbidden to fund, support, or vote for David Weprin."  The reason?  As a member of the New York state legislature, Weprin, despite his Orthodox Jewish beliefs, voted to redefine marriage to include same-sex partnerships.  This, the rabbonim declared, was chillul Hashem---a desecration, or bringing of shame, on God's name. The rabbis went on to say that "Weprin's claim that he is Orthodox makes the chillul Hashem even greater."

A commentator for Catholic Citizens of Illinois writes about this, and notes:

So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent and often even vocal sanction of things as they are.

But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century.

Comments

[James Bradshaw]

So an Orthodox Jew is obliged to enshrine Old Testament law using civil legislation? According to these same laws, anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death (Exod. 35:2). Is this legislator also obligated to criminalize working on the Sabbath? It also condemned consulting mediums or those who tell fortunes (and also imposed death for doing so). Given the number of Pentecostal preachers (rally, false prophets to be accurate) who claim to have "words of knowledge", there would be a lot fewer of them if we outlawed that.

[Rob G]

There's no "enshrining" going on. The Jews in question were instructed not to vote for a specific candidate. No one forced them to vote for his opposition.

[B Cody]

James,
People refuse their vote based on conviction all the time--when you say that the jewish population should not support the rabbis, you are giving the same type of admonition the rabbis themselves gave!

[Deacon Michael D. Harmon]

As someone who occasionally preaches in churches in a charismatic communion, I find myself wishing from time to time that other Christians would be less condemnatory of those who exercise the gifts of the Spirit that St. Paul says are properties of God's church. Is that wish always to be disappointed?

[Robert Buechler]

Dear Deacon Michael,

You wrote: " I find myself wishing from time to time that other Christians would be less condemnatory of those who exercise the gifts of the Spirit that St. Paul says are properties of God's church. Is that wish always to be disappointed?"

I respond, no you will not be always disappointed. As a Lutheran pastor I too have seen the true exercising of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is true that some use the gifts wrongly,and they have been counterfeited. However, it is a shame that too many dismiss what is in fact given to the Church for the proclamation of the Gospel, that is; the power of the Spirit to confirm the Word.

Peace in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Rob Buechler

[Deacon Michael D. Harmon]

Pastor Rob: Thanks for the kind words. Agreed, there are counterfeits, but "by their fruits you shall know them." May our Lord richly bless you and your ministry.