Same-Sex Marriage Is Kosher!
Siegelmania

In California, judges rule
That same-sex marriages are cool.
A girl may now a female wed,
Two males may share a marriage-bed.
It’s legal, on the up-and-up,
So drain the brimming loving-cup!
This novelty connubial
Is all quite constitutional.
The justices from bench explain
Anatomy is not germane.
What counts and matters, they enthuse,
Is being free to pick and choose.
When one selects one’s future mate,
It’s O.K. now to deviate.
And nodding, everyone agrees
It’s alright to take liberties.
’Cause liberty, the gay folks shout,
Is really what it’s all about.
Will our good judges now endorse
New guides and standards for divorce?
Expect some fresh, creative torts
To be debated in the courts!
Religionists, of many sects,
Are angered, outraged, sorely vexed.
The justices’ decree they spurn
And vow the law to overturn.
Society is plagued by plights:
Religion versus civil rights!
‘Zelbik-Min’ Khasene Iz Kosher
A khasene fun “zelbik min”
Nisht mer iz an aveyre (sin).
In land vi Schwarzenegger voynt,
Di hoykh, hekhst rikhter makht der point:
S’iz yetst O.K. (zog nisht oy vey)
Tsu makhn lib the homo way.
Dos iz, a man meg mit a man
A shidekh makhn! aza plan!
A moyd meg oykhet mit a froy
Baheftn zikh! azelkher ploy!
Anatomia? Nit tsu der zakh!
Alts eyns! Gikh a khupe makh!
Oysklaybn yetst a kumedikn spouse
Iz vos gezets umzist allows,
Abi libhobers, gliklekh, ken
Oysfirn frayhayt, fuln bren!
Yo, frayhayt blaybt yesoydesdik,
Ahin gefint men mazel, glik
Farshpreyt botsiungen, of course,
Ken zayn der veg tsu nokh divorce.
(Advokatn vern fet
Ven klientn zukhn get).
Religie folk, gerayzt fun kaas,
Zey protestirn yetst en masse.
Zey zidlen zikh, zey shrayn foul,
Zey makhn koyles (aza howl!).
Zayer geshrey iz daytlekh, klor — ‘siz “Feh!
“In d’rerd geyt Cal-if-orn-i-eh!”
Comments
how dare you publish such reactive tosh. jewish/human life is not a stone. playfully presented scorn is still scorn. if the idea of two men loving each other in the context of an infinitely loving god is anethema to you, i suggest you get back to your latkes, your knitting and misreable stories. its less than 40 years that women have been able to vote in norway et al. 2 million people are on the point of starvation etc ,etc, etc and youve got time to write a poem against love expressing itself, simply because it comes in a form you do not recognize.
THIS IS BEING UNFORTUNATLY LIKE THE WORLD AROUND US. THIS IS NOT A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS BUT A BLIGHT TO OUR NATION.
(to Hymie Zoltsveis:)- THAT'S MY GRANDPA YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU HOMOPHOBE! and JUST A QUICK FYI- HE'S A FINE JEW AND not A DISCRACE! TO ME, THE FORWARD SHOULD GET more READERS BECAUSE HE'S WRITING FANTASTIC POEMS ABOUT WHAT'S realy HAPPENING, EVEN THOUGH you are denying the truth!!!!!!
This poem, contrary to what you all may think, did not reflect a specific viewpoint one way or the other. It has just spoken for the California law. And guess what, you are all reacting the same way that everyone else reacted when African Americans were given rights in this country...history repeats itself...and guess how that discrimination issue turned out in this country? AN AFRICAN AMERICAN IS NOW THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT!!!! So leave this gifted writer alone and stop your whining.
another wonderful and funny poem, and another opportunity for an unusual yiddish less for my wife who doesn't speak it.
D'you ever get the feeling some people just sit around waiting for their Google alerts to return something about "homosexuality AND Jews" so they can fire off a missive of righteous indignation?
(to 'mouse and moshe): Yes! Thank you!
(to Siegelman's granddaughter --which, btw, would be a great name for a klezmer/fusion band): You are rightly proud of your granddad, and I'm sure you bring him nakhes.
(to Siegelman himself): Bravo! Schwarzenegger is a name that's been waiting to be in a Yiddish poem. and rhyming “Feh" and "Cal-if-orn-i-eh"? Genius!
Du bist zedreit?
(reponse to The GRANDAUGHTER) How could Hymie be talking about your grandfather? If your grandfather married another man, he wouldn't have children or grandchildren. Chances are your granfather married your grandmother, which if I'm not mistaken would be a traditional marriage.
The worst thing about this ruling, not by a public vote but by four or five all-knowing people in black robes, is the confused gender roles of future generations. Could you imagine a little boy at a wedding being told "When you grow up, you can marry a man or a woman?" Children will grow up being confused as to the roles of boys and girls and their own sexuality. This ruling is a disaster.
Gee, I didn't realize this ruling was going to regulate what parents say to their young children at weddings.
(to Dave Cohen)- yes, true. he couldnt have had kids but that is NOT the point in here. the point is that California judges agreed to same-gender marriages; not they couldnt have kids.
and P.S i am not over 10 yrs of age so dont talk to me in adult words I CANT UNDERSTAND!!! :)
not to be rude
Would someone be so kind as to translate the last stanza of the Yiddish version? From the little I can understand, it seems quite different.
In response to Ted Sternberg: Stanley Siegelman, originator of the Siegelmania narshkeit, provides the following free translation of the final stanza: (Not only is the translation free, but there's no charge for the poem per se!)
Widespread intercourse of course, Can pave the way to more divorce. (Attorneys are enriched-e.g., "get fat"- When their clients seek divorces). Religious folks, vexed and angry, Now are protesting en masse. They curse and shout "foul" They make loud cries (such a howl!). Their cry is clear--it's "feh!" "To hell goes Cal-if-orn-i-eh!"
This is verse to be proud of, clever and wise. The last line says it all, and, as such, spells out the shanda for the Jewish people that any part of our religion should ever be in conflict with human/civil rights. Thank God among us are people like Stanley Siegelman, who has a precious granddaughter who appreciates him (a la her comment, below, which we hear loud and clear). At least the next generation will be on the right path! Thank you, Stan Siegelman. Please continue!
Most U.S. Citizens in California, do not support homosexual behavior. It's an abomination according to the Torah. Unfortunately, the 9th Circuit Court continually nullifies the will of the people by using the excuse that it's unconstitutional to prohibit homosexual marriage. The issue will be voted upon again this fall.
Once again, we Jews are trying to be politically correct, catering to the latest societal whim of the moment. How sad. What happened to Jewish family values? I used to agree with Conservative Judaism, but now I can only agree with their Israeli branch, since Conservative in North America has almost become Reform, based on their latest politically correct moves. Any other religious orphans out there like me?

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You think that you are SO CLEVER, don't you?
It is SO CLEVER and CHIC to spit on the Torah (the word of Hashem) and say that 6,000 years of culture---ALL MAJOR RELIGIONS---are wrong. To four appointed "justices" the people of California are spit--to be ignored by a four appointed pervert judges.
It took 300 pages of dancing, for the fools in black robes to spit on 6,000 years of culure and history. It took a few minutes for these pervert judges to PERVERT culture, pervert sanity, and nullify the right of the California people to overwhelmingly confirm that marriage can ONLY be between one man and one women.
Your cute ditty is a disgace to Judaism, to Jews and to you. You vile offal is one more reason why the Forward gets thinner every week, and why I ( a long time subscriber) will NOT renew my subscription, when it expires. Your audience will soon be yourself and a few others who love to spit on Torah.
Let gay people be happy. Let them get mental health treatment, if that is what they choose. Let them find their beshert of the opposite sex---or let them live in sin with someone of the same sex. But, let the degenerates and fools, stay away from destroying Torah and World culture.
Sir---you are a disgrace and a fool.