Conservative Jews ponder ordination of gays
thejournalnews.com
By SUZAN CLARKE
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original Publication: December 6, 2005)
ORANGEBURG — The rights of gays in the Conservative Jewish movement are being debated by congregants as their tradition's rabbinic rule-making body prepares to make a judgment on the issue early next year.
Paula Mack Drill, associate rabbi of the Orangetown Jewish Center, thought the timing was right for her congregation to have an open discussion on the matter.
"I actually spoke about homosexuality on the second day of Rosh Hashana, and there were people who were uncomfortable, which I think is normal and OK because we were looking to open dialogue," she said. "There were also more than 50 e-mails from people, most of whom were saying, 'Thank you. That's what leadership is.' "
Conservative Judaism, which tries to reconcile traditional Jewish teachings with the modern world, generally calls for equality for gays and lesbians in civil life, but not in Jewish spiritual life. The movement does not currently ordain gay rabbis or allow the blessing of same-sex unions, but that could change with the new ruling.
The Rabbinical Assembly's Committee on Jewish Laws and Standards, which is the movement's central authority on Jewish law and tradition, or Halacha, is expected to rule as early as March on whether gays and lesbians may be ordained as rabbis and cantors, or whether Conservative rabbis may perform same-sex commitment ceremonies.
Any decisions — the body may issue minority opinions as well — will set a nonbinding standard. Individual congregations ultimately look to their own rabbis as the final arbiters of most Halachic questions, and the rabbis use the committee's rulings as a guide.
Judaism's other major movements are divided on the subject. The Reform tradition has endorsed the right of gays to civil unions and to become rabbis, but Orthodox Jews view gay sexual relations as a sin and believe gays and lesbians need religious counsel.
To further the discussion, the Orangetown Jewish Center on Dec. 11 will screen "Trembling Before God," a controversial and celebrated documentary that examines homosexuality among the Orthodox and Hasidim.
Drill called the film "a beautiful depiction of people who are committed to the community and the values of their community" but who find themselves cut off from full spiritual richness because of community views and scriptural teachings.
A meeting last week on Halacha and homosexuality drew about 30 members of the synagogue, who listened as Drill and Rabbi Craig Scheff examined the scriptural pronouncements on gay sexual relations.
Despite an oft-quoted Biblical verse, Leviticus 18:22, that advises that men should not "lie with a male as with a woman," some feel that proscription on gay relations should not apply to a loving, committed gay relationship because the passage was written eons before there was context for such relationships, the rabbis said.
"We believe that the law is dynamic. It is not static. It is not stuck in the 19th century," Scheff said.
Helen Atlas, an Orangeburg resident who has been a member of the Orangetown Jewish Center since 1969, believes the Conservative movement should welcome gays. Even so, she said, the issue of ordination of gays and lesbians is "a sticking point."
"The Torah is very, very clear on that point," Atlas said yesterday. "Whether you believe the Torah was given to us by God or written by scribes, it's still there and it is still something that has been observed." |
