Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 14, 2006 Page: 2 of 36
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2
Texas Jewish Post
*
In Our 60th Year
December 14,2006
Behind the Headlines
Conflicting Conservative opinions expected to open the way for gays
North Texas rabbis praise
decision-making process,
seek congregants' ideas
By Ben Hams and Steve Israel
NEW YORK (JTA) — Even before the ink
was dry on the Conservative movement’s
decision to accept gay rabbis and allow
same-sex commitment ceremonies, its
impact was already being felt.
Rabbi Jerome Epstein, executive vice
president of the United Synagogue of
Conservative Judaism, the movements
congregational arm, immediately
announced that he was recommending a
change in the organizations hiring prac-
tices, which had required employees to
be observant of Jewish law — effectively
barring gay men and lesbians.
“I see no reason why we should not
revise our hiring policies so we may con-
sider applicants for United Synagogue jobs
no matter what their sexual orientation may
be,” Epstein said in a statement “United
Synagogues leadership will discuss the
issue at our next scheduled meeting."
With advocates on both sides of the
issue warning that the recent decisions by
the Committee on Jewish Law and Stan-
dards could irreparably fracture the
movement, the two-day meeting was
closely monitored around the Jewish world.
In the end, the committee endorsed
three separate teshuvot, or responsa, on
the issue. One, by Rabbi Joel Roth,
affirmed the movements traditional ban
on gay rabbis and commitment cere-
monies. Another, by Rabbis Elliot Dorff,
Daniel Nevins and Avram Reisner,
reversed those positions while upholding
the biblical prohibition on male inter-
course. Both papers earned 13 votes, a
majority of the 25-member committee.
A third opinion,by Rabbi Leonard Levy,
also affirmed the movements traditional
position on homosexuality while rejecting
the now-common view that homosexuality
is an orientation one cannot control. Levy’s
position earned the minimum six votes
required for acceptance.
Roth and Levy, along with Rabbis Mayer
Rabinowitz and Joseph Prouser, resigned
from the Law Committee to protest its
endorsement of the liberal Dorff paper.
In North Texas, several Conservative
rabbis reached by the TJP praised their move-
ment’s decision making process but did not
endorse any of the conflicting teshuvot. They
said they look forward to dialogues with their
congregants and further introspection. While
voicing respect for all human beings regard-
less of sexual orientation, none of the rabbis
was ready' to accept gay rabbis or to officiate
at same-sex commitment ceremonies.
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Said Rabbi William Gershon of Congre-
gation Shearith Israel: “The decision by the
CJLS of the Conservative movement marks
a watershed in the history of the movement.
I believe that the deliberations were ishem
shamayun.for the sake of heaven,’and reflect
the authenticity of the halachic process of
the Conservative movement All of the
teshuvot presented reflected the concept of
kavod habnyot, respect for all human
beings. This is clearly the goal of the Conser-
vative movement as it grapples with these
issues. The teshuvot presented are complex
and important works of halachah and need
careful study and reflection. The fact that the
committee voted to accept opposing pints
of view underscores the movements com-
mitment to the legitimacy of pluralism
within halachah and the primacy of tnara
d'atra. the local decisor of Jewish law for each
community. I look forward to studying the
teshuvot and to learning with my congrega-
tion in the coming months as we graple
with issues of sexual identity within a
halachic framework.”
Rabbi Adam Raskin of Congregation
Beth Torah in Richardson said the Con-
servative movement’s decisions “will not
change the culture at Beth Torah, which
always welcomes and embraces Jews of
all different backgrounds and regardless
of sexual orientation."
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Rabbi Raskin is “prsonally not pre-
pared to officiate at a commitment
ceremony. But synagogue honors, aliyot,
and other activities at the shul are most cer-
tainly available to all Jews at Beth Torah.
News of Conservative leaders’deliber-
ations struck a unique chord with Rabbi
Raskin. “These were my teachers,” he
said.“And however 1 feel about their psi-
tions on the issues, I have a tremendous
amount of respet for the comprehensive
nature of the scholarship on both sides.
I’m proud of the integrity of the process
going back more than a decade.”
Rabbi Raskins seminary teachers
included Rabbis Joel Roth and Elliott
Dorff, who both have figured prominently
in USCI discussions of gay issues. The
Committee on Jewish Law and Standards
endorsed three separate teshuvot, or
respnsa. Rabbi Roth’s respnsum
affirmed the movement’s traditional ban
on gay rabbis and commitment cere-
monies. Rabbis Dorff joined two other
rabbis in reversing those psitions while
upholding the biblical prohibition on male
intercourse. Both paprs earned 13 votes,
a majority of the 25-member committee.
Rabbi Gordon Fuller said he has not been
asked to prform a same-sex commitment
ceremony during his two years on the pulpit
at Congregation Agudath Jacob in Waco.
Rabbi Paul Steinberg, the cai
rabbi and director of Jewish studi<
Ann and Nate Levine Academy,’
Solomon Schechter School, said most
seem to agree that “no matter which
teshuvah you side with, that we have a
responsibility to care for all human
beings, no matter their sexual orientation.
We all agree on that. Now, Judaism has
never had one opinion. Jews have always
argued with each other... rabbis debated
and there were always conflicting opin-
ions. On some levels this is the most
Jewish outcome that I could ever imagine.
Ultimately, my interpretation is there is a
great respet for the observance and the
needs of each particular community and
so the mara d’atra (local decisor) is given
the respnsibility. They can choose which
one serves their own halachic prspective
and understanding of the issues as well
as the needs of their community and
halachah continues to be a living and
breathing thing. I don’t believe that this is
a black-and-white issue, and the Conser-
vative movement is the one that is willing
to take it on and willing to lend credence
and take very seriously all perspectives.”
At the University of fodaism in Los Angeles,
leaders long have made dear their intention to
ordain gay rabbis if the Law Committee
see OPINIONS p. 15
WOMEN'S EVENT CO-CHAIRS
Sandy Cohen Nicole Schultz
Cynthia Feldman Julie Weinberg
The Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas
invites you to the
2007 Women's Event
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Westin Galleria Hotel
13340 Dallas Parkway • Dallas
11:00 a.m. Registration • 11:30 a.m. Program
Cost for lunch 0 and program is $40 plus a minimum
commitment of $365 to the Federations 2007 Annual Campaign
(payable through December 31,2007)*
Advance registration and payment required by Friday, January 5,2007
Registration is available online at www.jewishdallas.org
Valet parking available.
For more information, contact Nancy Immerman
at (214) 615-5256 or nimmerman(d>jfgd.org
• ’First-time donors to the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas are invited
to attend the 2007 Women's Event as the Federation's guest with
the minimum contribution ot $365 to the 2007 Annual Campaign
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Wisch, Rene & Wisch-Ray, Sharon. Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 14, 2006, newspaper, December 14, 2006; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth754063/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .