Tuesday, May 17, 2011

One law means no rabbinic law as well

What fits with Australian values is the idea that we are one people bound by one law, not rival peoples with each our own:

Since its inception in 1905, the Sydney Beth Din has been recognised as one of the pre-eminent rabbinic courts in the world. It serves Jewish communities in Australia, New Zealand and Asia as a forum for obtaining Jewish divorces, converting to Judaism, confirming personal status and adjudicating disputes stemming from divorce, business and community issues.
Firmly anchored in the principles of Halacha (Jewish law), the Beth Din conducts its affairs with confidentiality, competence, fairness, and integrity. It provides a modern forum that interfaces effectively with contemporary society in a professional, efficient, and user-friendly manner. The Sydney Beth Din collaborates with Gedolai Yisrael and the Israeli Chief Rabbinate on significant halachic issues.

Whoever wants to make their own private or religious arrangements about living together can do so, provided they do not conflict with Australian law. But for the law to specifically endorse verdicts of religious groups is to give them a power and legal standing that seems at odds with not just our notion of one law for all, but with our Constitution’s insistence on a separation of church and state:


116. The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.

Note, by the way, how multiculturalism encourages those who want to retribalise Australia, rather than stress what unites us.

2 comments:

  1. Perhaps Ms Gillard,, and co . in their haste to reform so many of the other world problems , could be the first to start sending these people back to where they come from ,,,,,, now “ that “ would surely win them a few votes …… NO????????

    Clean up the country .. make it a place where Australians can enjoy being Australian .

    What a great display of leadership that would be for the rest of the world !!!!!!

    We all know there is ONLY ONE SOLUTION to this madness.

    Now where is the politician strong enough to take the necessary measures?

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  2. Exactly. And I can assure you 'Mum_Of_6_245', that you're not the first to express those sentiments.

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