The United States Supreme Court was not making a moral decision with its ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, but DOMA is a moral issue nonetheless, says Rabbi David Elgazi, one of the leaders of the Jewish community of Queens in New York City.

The court’s ruling was “more of an economic, civil rights decision” than a moral decision, he explained. “In some ways I understand the decision of the court not to discriminate against a certain group of people,” he said.

However, he said, referring to homosexual relationships as “marriage” is a change. “Blurring the lines of language has a very dangerous impact on the morality of society,” he warned.

Rabbi Elgazi gave examples of other blurred language that poses a threat.

He noted that Israelis have to be particularly careful when it comes to demanding "gay marriage." For Israelis to reject Torah law on a personal level is one thing, he said, but to reject Torah law on a societal level could put Israel on the path to ultimately no longer being a Jewish State.