AS IF THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS. IT IS NOW LOOKING TO HAVE MULTIPLE POSITIONS ON A THORNY ISSUE. READ BELOW WHAT HAS BEEN REPRINTED DIRECTLY FROM THE ADVOCATE.COM 9/8/06 POSTING.
September 08, 2006 Conservative Jewish leaders moving to end ban on gay rabbis
A key Conservative Jewish leader is organizing talks nationwide to tell synagogues that the movement will likely roll back its ban on ordaining openly gay rabbis by year's end. He and two religious law experts joining him at the meetings are trying to help congregations prepare for the confusion and discomfort to follow.Rabbi Jerome Epstein, executive vice president of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism in New York City, says a committee of scholars who interpret Jewish law for the movement will likely loosen the prohibition when they vote in December. At the same time, Epstein expects the scholars will endorse a policy aiming to keep more traditional congregations within the fold. Synagogues that believe Jewish law bars same-sex relationships still will be able to hire rabbis who share their view.The vote by the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards will test what Conservative leaders call their "big umbrella" allowing diverse practices within one movement. It will also signal to the wider community how far the Conservative branch will go to reinterpret Jewish law."The committee might accept—will accept, I think—two or more" policies, Epstein said at an Aug. 24 meeting of New York Conservative Jewish leaders. "One that actually reaffirms the current position and at least one that will liberalize it."The effect of the contradictory actions will be that local Jewish communities have more freedom. Conservative seminaries, along with the movement's estimated 750 synagogues and more than 1,000 North American rabbis, will get to decide which policy to follow."It could cause confusion, it could cause tremendous angst, it could cause tremendous tension, it could cause tremendous disagreement," Epstein said.The vote comes as the movement is trying to hold on to a shrinking middle ground between innovation and strict tradition in American Judaism. The Conservative branch follows Jewish law, while allowing limited change for modern circumstances.It's been a hard road to follow. Many Conservative Jews have joined the more liberal Reform stream, which has recently surpassed the Conservative branch as the largest in America. The Reform movement ordains gays and is more accepting of interfaith couples.For Conservative Jews seeking more rigorous observance, the Orthodox branch has become a popular choice. The Orthodox strictly adhere to traditional interpretations of Jewish law, prohibiting women and gays from becoming rabbis.Rabbi Joel Roth, a leading religious scholar and a member of the Conservative Law Committee, questioned whether people with traditional Jewish views on sexuality will stay, even if the panel allows synagogues leeway to accept or reject gay relationships. Roth said he has been "demonized" for saying that he interprets religious law as barring same-gender sex."I know the law as it stands causes pain," he said. "But pain is not to be equated with immorality."Rabbi Elliot Dorff, vice chairman of the Law Committee and also a respected scholar, supports ordaining gays, saying "it is simply not natural" to demand that they remain celibate."We have to interpret God's will in our time," Dorff said.Dorff and Roth are traveling with Epstein, with more stops scheduled for Atlanta, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The trio also spoke last month in Toronto.The debate focuses on the significance of Leviticus 18:22, which states "Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman," and 20:13, which says such an act is punishable by death. The last major Law Committee vote on gay relationships came in 1992, when the panel decided overwhelmingly to maintain the ban on openly gay rabbis.In the latest discussion, the 25-member committee is considering legal opinions called "teshuvot," for and against change. A policy needs six votes to be accepted. Although it occurs rarely, more than one opinion can be endorsed, leaving local leaders to decide which to follow. That is the result Epstein expects.Arnold Eisen, incoming chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, the flagship school for Conservative Judaism, personally supports ordaining gays. But he plans to discuss the issue with faculty and students before any admissions rules are changed.The University of Judaism in Los Angeles, which also trains Conservative rabbis, says only that it will follow whatever policy the committee adopts. However, Dorff is the school's rector and many expect the seminary, if permitted, will admit openly gay students.The conflict over homosexuality mirrors the battles over the issue in mainline Protestant groups including The Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Dozens of individual churches are leaving the Christian denominations because of the disputes.Roth says many Conservative Jewish synagogues already know their position on the issue, but others will be conflicted after the committee votes. "The Committee on Jewish Laws and Standards," he says, "is debating the future of the entire movement. Nothing less." (Rachel Zoll, AP)
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4 comments:
It remains, in my opinion, a thorny issue for Conservative Judaism when the article asserts that the Conservative movement may take multiple positions on the issue. Should we then take multiple positions on kashrut, on observance of religious holidays, on the length and breath of the shabbat service to accommodate the needs of people who have shorter attention spans. Maybe we need not have the service in Hebrew anymore since certain congregants do not understand the Hebrew and what it means. (Latin was ultimately removed from the Catholic service for a similar reason.)
The Conservative movement is a confused movement which lacks leadership and focus. In my opinion, as a convert to Conservative Judaism, I believe the movement must find a core group of principles that are relevant to modern Jews yet conserve the traditions. It must distinguish itself from Reform and Orthodox or else the movement will be swallowed up by the two extreme ends of the spectrum.
Shalom. Jeremy
Without addressing each and every one of the aforementioned points, the true reason why the Conservative movement is addressing this issue is because of Lay-persons. The Conservative movement is re-active, not pro-active. It reflects to the issues in the community. What the movement should be doing is acting as a leadership to guide the Conservative movement. The idea of pluralism works well when one is considering a movement, not necessarily being already affiliated with a movement.
The right to disagree on issues is healthy. I love a good polemic.
The need for pro-active leadership in the Conservative movement, in my opinion is obvious.
The need for the Conservative movement to provide a strong reason for its continued vitality and viability is, in my opinion, obvious.
The need for the Conservative movement to address issues that all major religions are addressing, in one way or another, because of secular pressures is all too obvious.
To suggest that the religious leaders of the Conservative movement are the driving force on this issue, is unfortunately, in the opinion of this writer, misguided and negates the fact that the secular world has forced this issue to become something that the religious world simply cannot ignore.
Make no mistake that the religious leaders of the various religions, including Conservative Judaism are reacting to the secular world.
I truly doubt that the Conservative movement would ever, on its own, open up this can or worms if it were not for the gay rights movement, and/or the domestic partnership laws, and finally the passage of same sex marriage laws in certain European countries, Canada and certain US states.
Instead, the Conservative movement should take on an issue,for example, pro-actively that plagues the Conservative and Reform movements, low birth rates.
Shalom. Jeremy
Yes. We start up the Decada Comm. and begin the process of dealing with the future of FHC and the Conservative movement here at home. Shalom. Jeremy
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