I ts

_

Conservative RabbisNarrowly _Reject
Woman Rabbi's Membership Application

DALLAS, Tex. (JTA) —
American Conservative
rabbis, meeting at the 83rd
annual convention here of
their Rabbinical Assembly,
rejected by narrow margins
the application of a
Reform-ordained woman
Rabbi for membership by
the first roll-call vote in the
history of the RA.
A vote of approval would
have made Rabbi Beverly
Magidson the first woman
Conservative rabbi.
The name of Rabbi
Magidson, a hospital chap-
lain ordained by the New
YOrk school of the Hebrew
Union College-Jewish In-
stitute of Religion in 1979,
was submitted to the con-
vention along with the
names of six male rabbis.
There are two proce-
dures for admission to
the RA and to formal
status as a Conservative
rabbi. One is by ordina-
tion by the rabbinical
school of the Jewish
Theological Seminary of
America. The other is by
a process in the RA for
rabbis ordained under
other Jewish auspices.
During the past 40 years,
some 500 rabbis have
been admitted by that
process.
Rabbi Magidson and the
six male rabbis all had been
examined and approved by
the RA membership com-
mittee, the RA Executive
Council and circulation of
their applications among all
1,150 RA members. The
final step is a 75 percent
vote of approval at an RA
convention.
Rabbi Wolfe Kelman, RA
executive vice president,
had said prior to the vote
Tuesday, that because
applicants had passed the
tests of approval by the RA
membership committee and
its executive council, the 75
percent acceptance vote at
convention was routine, but

Ethnic Festival
Slated April 28

Birney Middle . School in
Southfield will hold its an-
nual ethnic festival 5:30-8
p.m. April 28.
The festival will feature
ethnic food, beverages and
entertainment. Additional
parking will be available at
Southfield Lathrup High
School with free shuttle
buses to the festival.
Anyone interested in vol-
unteering for the event
should call Donna Bean,
569-1512.

Diabetes Class
Tuesday. in R.O.

A free class for diabetics
and their families will be of-
fered 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at
William Beaumont Hospi-
tal in Royal Oak.
The session will cover the
diabetes disease process,
foot care, urine testing, diet
management and insulin
injection.
Interested persons should
call the hospital at 288-8986

to register.

that since Rabbi Magidson
was a woman, her-applica-
tion had "an extra dimen-
sion."
Rabbi Kelman's sugges-
tion that Rabbi Magidson's
application presented a
problem was borne out by
results of the voting at the
convention Tuesday.
The six male rabbis
were admitted by the re-
quired 75 percent of the
votes of rabbis "present
and voting."
For Rabbi Magidson's ap-
plication, two votes were
taken. She failed of the re-
quired 75 percent by close
margins. On the first ballot,
278 rabbis voted, 206 for
and 72 opposed, three short
of the required 75 percent.
That vote was by the proce-
dure of each of the 278 rab-
bis present standing and in-
dicating his position orally.
The unprecedented roll-
call tally took place on the
second vote when an addi-
tional seven rabbis came in
for the vote, which was 210
for and 75 opposed, four
short of the required 75 per-

cent.
Rabbi Magidson said, in a
telephoned statement from
her home in St. Louis, that
she would apply again for
admission but did not indi-
cate whether it would be at
the at the 1984 convention.
Rabbi Kelman said he had
no information as to
whether she would apply
next year.
The issue of admitting
women to the Conserva-
tive rabbinate has been
one bitterly fought in re-
cent years, with three
successive RA conven-
tions going on record in
favor of the Jewish
Theological Seminary
ending its policy of refus-
ing to accept women as
rabbinical candidates.
Rabbi Arnold Goodman of
Atlanta, Ga., RA president,
commenting on the voting
of Rabbi Magidson, said "it
is a tribute to the members
that they were willing to
take a public position on
this most sensitive issue."
Rabbi Goodman, who
voted for Rabbi Magidson's
acceptance, said that "it is
obvious that an overwhelm-
Figure Skaters
ing majority of the members
at Joe Louis
support admission of
The 1983 World Figure women into the Rabbinical
Skating Tour will stop in Assembly, and I feel this
Detroit for a performance at vote reflects the feeling of
Joe Louis Arena on May 4. our total membership."
He expressed the hope
Current national and
that
the issue would con-
world champions . Scott
tinue
to be debated within
Hamilton and Rosa Lynn
Sumners will head the list the Conservative move-
of world class skaters on the ment and called upon the
Jewish Theological Semi-
tour.
For tickets and informa- nary, "as the training insit-
tion, call the arena, 567- titution of the movement, to
reassess its current policy in
6000.
the light of today's voting
and to ordain women as
Holocaust Talk
rabbis in the Conservative
at WSU Today
movement."
"Interviewing Holocaust
Rabbi Kelman sum-
Survivors: Listening for the marized the opposing
Silences that Speak" will be views expressed during
the topic of a lecture by U-M the three hours of heated
Dearborn Prof. Sidney Bol- debate that preceded the
kosky 1:30 p.m. today at the voting. He said that those
McGregor Memorial Con- Conservative rabbis
ference Center of Wayne favoring Rabbi Magid-
State University.
son's admission sup-
The presentation is part ported "an equalization
of the 25th annual local his- of the role of men and
tory conference sponsored women in Judaism so
by WSU.
that women can partici-
pate fully in the religious
life of the Jewish people."
Free Films
He said those opposing
at Library
such a step believe that it
The Southfield Public Li- would be "a revolution in
brary will present "The traditional practice which
Many Adventures of Win- ought not to be done
nie the Pooh" and "The Ugly lightly." He also noted that
Duckling" at 7• p.m. Wed- some Conservative rabbis
nesday.
feel that the RA should not
No advance registration admit women as members
will be required for the free as long as the Jewish
films.
Theological Seminary re-
For further information, fuses to ordain them.
At the convention,
call the library, 354-5342.
President Reagan was
by Goodman for
The Fantasticks criticized
labeling nuclear freeze op-
at Meadow Brook ponents as anti-American
"The Fantasticks" will and "dupes of the Com-
open a four-week run at the munist world."
Goodman accused Re-
Meadow Brook Theater on
the campus of Oakland agan of attempting to bully
UniVersity in Rochester the American public into
supporting' his policies on
Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets may be reserved such issues as the nuclear
for all performances of the freeze, abortion, and prayer
musical by calling the thea- in the public schools.
In a related develop-
ter box office, 377-3310.

ment, Dr. Egon Mayer, a
Brooklyn sociologist told
the conference that the
number of conversions to
Judaism were "more
than keeping pace with
the rate of intermar-
riage."
Dr. Mayer said the rate of
conversion to Judiamsaism
had increased 300 percent
in the last 30 years.

movie listings

THE ?ETROIT JEWISH MEWS

2990 W. , 12 Mile Rd.
Berkley
LI 2-0330
ALL SEATS
$1.00 AT ALL TIMES
Eddie Murphy & Nick Nolte
"48 HOURS" (R)
Weekdays & Sat. 7:35 & 9:30
Sun. 1:45, 3:40, 5:35,
7:35 & 9:30

BLOOMFIELD THEATRES

Downtown Birmingham

2 Budget Theaters
To Serve You Better!!

• Friday;.

15, 1983 39

Theater Group Offers Comedy

"Wise Child," a comedy
by Simon Gray will be pre-
sented by the theater com-
pany of the University of

Scoliosis Group
Meets Thursday

The Scoliosis Association
of Michigan will meet at
7:30 p.m. Thursday in the
Administrative Services
Building of William
Beaumont Hospital.
The public is invited. For
information, call the asso-
ciation, 288-7221.

_

BERKLEY THEATRE

;

I .

Detroit in weekend per-
formances through the end
of April.
Friday, Saturday and
Sunday performances are
scheduled for 8 p.m. in the
Studio 100 Theater on the
U-D campus.
• For tickets or informa-
tion, contact the theater
group, 927-1130, during
regular business hours.

,

Ennui is the desire of ac-
tivity without the fit means
of gratifying the desire.
—Bancroft

20% OFF

ALL
DINNERS I
KOREAN & MANDARIN DINING

With This Coupon

WOO CHON z°:

0

21711 W. 8 MILE • Detroit 4, I
S.E. CORNER LAHSER RD.
I

537-6111

Expires 4/30/83

JN

WE NOW SERVE

WHOLE FRESH LIVE LOBSTERS

646-0154

I - Budget Movie/Seats $1.50
This Year's Hit Comedy
"48 HOURS" (R)
Every Night at 7:30 & 9:30
Sun. Matinees 1:30 & 3:30
II - Budget Movie/Seats $1.50

HELD OVER 3RD WEEK

Paul Newman in
"THE VERDICT" (R)
Every Night at 7 & 9:30
Sun. Matinees 1 & 3:30

KEEGO CINEMA

Broiled or Steamed

R1RSHAW INN

IN THE ORCHARD MALL
6407 ORCHARD LAKE RD. AT MAPLE

7

Where Movies Cost Less

Orchard Lake & Cass Lake Rds.
11/2 Miles West of Telegraph
682-1900

This ad will entitle bearer to
ONE FREE ADMISSION

Sun.-Tues.-Wed.-Thurs.
When a second. admission
is purchased

Offer expires May 9, 1983

Meryl Streep in
"SOPHIE'S CHOICE" (R)
Weekdays & Sat. 7 & 10
Sun. 1, 4, 7 & 10

WASHINGTON THEATER

426 S. Washington, R.O.

541-0082

Adults $1.50
Seniors 55 & over
50' Sun.-Thurs.
Eddie Murphy, Nick Nolte
"48 HOURS" (R)
Fri., Sat. 7:30, 9:30
Sun. 5:30, 7:30, 9:20
Mon.-Thurs. 7:30, 9:20

851-6400

Carry-Outs and Delivery Available

S

DELI-RESTAURANT

COUNTRY CORNER MALL

30770 SOUTHFIELD ROAD
Just South of 13 Mile 647-7037

DINNER FOR 2

MIX OR MATCH ANY ENTREE

(excluding strip steak)

95

INCLUDES: SOUP OR SALAD,
ENTREE, POT., HOT VEG.,
BREAD & BUTTER,
COFFEE OR TEA

FOR
TWO!

PLUS OUR FABULOUS SPECIALS

From 3 p.m. Daily, All Day Sat. & Sun.

"INFLATION FIGHTER"

Any 'Old Favorite Sandwich,'
Soup or Juice,Sotato Salad or
Cole Slaw and Beverage

$395

"FRENCH CONNECTION"

1 /3

lb. Hamburger on French
Bread, Soup or Juice, French
Fries, Cole Slaw and Beverage.

$395

Please Present This Ad

Mazel Toy On Your Soon-To-Be Simcha!

It's A Special Time .. .
Make It a Special Place

• We can work within any budget to
combine elegance and practicality
• Our experienced staff offers complete
catering services and professional consultation.
• Call today for our BAR or BAT
MITZVAH PACKAGE and REDUCED
•
GROUP ROOM RATES!

RAMADA'

28225 Telegraph Road • Southfield, Michigan 48034 • (313) 355-2929

tinireariMMENIZMIMP

