After reading the article on the Conservative movement's decision to east the ban on gay rabbi's, all I could think was, "its about time." In my opinion, I feel that this decision has been a long time coming, and its high time that the council has made some reforms on their opinions regarding homosexuality and Judaism.
It seems to me that the Conservative movement, one that is supposed to identify with the changing culture of American society, would be one that should take into account the beliefs that seem to be important to the society as a whole. Clearly, gay rights have been an issue for some time, and it is surprising to me that it has take so long for the Conservative movement to ease some of the restrictions on homosexuals. Just as womens rights were important, and thus females were allowed to be ordained as rabbis, the same should be true for homosexuals.
I think the responses from the Reform and Orthodox sects are to be expected. However, I still dont understand why they feel the need to critize the decisions of other Jewish communities....nobody is forcing the Orthodox community to ease their ban on homosexuals.
posted by Deana @ 5:38 PM
5 Comments:
I agree with you that it’s time to ease some of the restrictions on homosexuals. Although I am not homosexual, it is people’s right to choose their sexuality. I feel banning on gay rabbis is a kind of discrimination. I remember in the homosexual Jewish movie,“Trembling Before G-d”,David suffered from the disagreement between his sexuality and Jewishness. If the homosexual Jews don’t bother us, why don’t we leave some space to them?
I don't think that the Reform movement is looking down on other movements for their opinons on ordination, not even in the slightest. I think the Reform movement seperate's itself and really presents its ideology as "this is what the movement says; make it your own." So I have to disagree because as some one who is so active in the public policy and the religious policy formation in the Reform Movement through work with the RAC and various Think Tanks, I just don't think that is the case.
I feel the exact same way as you... I even wrote in my blog, its about time! I don't think that anyone should ever have to compromise their true identity in order to pursue a religious leadership position such as a rabbi. How is it even legal to ban students attending a seminary based on their sexual orientation? I don't think that it should be atleast. What is it about homosexuals that prohibts them from becoming an accepted member of a congregation or a rabbinical school? The orthodox movement needs to modernize their beliefs. It's just not right
I guess I didnt make myself clear in my blog, but in response to Liz's comment, I only meant that the Orthodox were being critical of the Conservative movement, the Reform movement are being very supportive of their decision. I just meant that both of these reactions were to be expected.
Remember that the movement's decisions are not wholly accepted by all Conservatives. It just allows some Conservative Jews/congregations/seminaries to have a Conservative generated opinion to hold up as a basis for maintaining their own opinions.
JTS is still deciding whether or not it will allow openly gay applicants, though i was told that UJ in LA already changed its policies.
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