Share and sharia alike
I got a nice shout-out today in the Washington Post, thanks to Eugene Robinson, who mentions my column on sharia law:
Andrew Silow-Carroll, the editor in chief of the New Jersey Jewish News, cited that case in a column last month blasting Gingrich’s “sharia-phobia.” Silow-Carroll pointed out two things: First, the system worked — the judge made a boneheaded call, and he was overturned. Second, our system already allows some civil matters — but not crimes — to be settled through other means of arbitration. “Among those alternative mechanisms is the beit din, or rabbinic law court,” Silow-Carroll wrote. “Every day, Jews go before batei din to arbitrate real estate deals, nasty divorces and business disputes.”
If Newt were aware of this, would he blow a gasket? Somehow, I doubt it. His objection seems to be faith-specific.
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JustASC is written by Andrew Silow-Carroll, Editor-in-Chief of the 
September 25th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Mr Silow-Carroll, Shalom
I am a Muslim woman and have just read your article of August 25 on sharia. Sir, I honor you and salute you. I want to tell you that you are the embodiment of Pirke Avot and the Sages must look upon you from on high with immense pride.
” What is it to test Reality?
To work against holiness;
to fail to hear the cry of justice,
to refuse to listen to words of wisdom.
Life is forever whispering its secrets;
justice, love, compassion.
the greater unity within and beyond all diversity.”
From V:7 (By the way, if you can enlighten me as to which Sage this is ascribed to, I will be very grateful. I have the modern reading of Pirke Avot by Rabi Shapiro. It is a volume which, without fail, moves me to tears)
Let us pray for those of every faith, mired in ignorance, who have not been touched by the beautiful Reality. PEACE.