NEWS Sinai Hospital welcomes Detroit area physicians and nurses to attend the Gay Rabbis Continued from Pagel Annual David Feld Memorial Lecture 8 a.m. June 12 Zuckerman Auditorium Sinai Hospital 8 -9 a.m. "Controversial Aspects of Ectopic Pregnancy" Alan H. DeCherney, M.D. John Slade Ely Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Director of Reproductive Endocrinology Yale University School of Medicine 9 - 10 a.m. "Hysteroscopic Diagnosis and Management of Submucous Fibroids" Milton H. Goldrath, M.D. Section Chief of Gynecology Sinai Hospital 10 - 11 a.m. "Induction of Ovulation: Lessons Learned from Assisted Reproductive Technology" Alan H. DeCherney, M.D. This free lecture is held in association with Hutzel Hospital and the Wayne State University School of Medicine. It is in memory of David Feld, M.D., former chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sinai Hospital. For reservations call 493-5220. eNtinal I I PJ MANZ • X411111 MASSIMO IOSA GHINI 1 9 8 9 DETROIT SHOWING MAY 29 JUNE 23, 90 •k<,4.:4;k%, 15 East Kirby Street Detroit Mi. 48202 Tel: 8 7 3 2 7 0 7 22 FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1990 In 1984, the Reconstruc- tionist Rabbinical College adopted a policy of admitting students without regard to sexual preference. The Reconstructionist Rab- binical Association automatically accepts any graduate of the college. The Episcopal and Unitarian Universalist churches have also admitted gay clergy. Rabbi Joseph Glaser, CCAR's executive vice pres- ident and an ex-officio mem- ber of the 17-person com- mittee, said that he and his colleagues were aware of the recommendations' potential- ly divisive impact, but that the decision was ultimately based on the principles of Reform Judaism. But bowing to pragmatic considerations, the report, in effect, urges gay and lesbian rabbis not to flaunt their sexual preference. Put more diplomatically, the report warns that "publicly acknowledging one's homosexuality is a personal decision which can have grave professional con- sequences." Pointing to the difficulty of assuring tenure to gay or lesbian rabbis who come out of the closet, the report notes that "the committee does not want to encourage col- leagues to put their careers at risk." This reference to a con- gregation's possible opposi- tion to a gay or lesbian rabbi is re-emphasized by pointing out that "rabbis are both role models and exemplars. Therefore, the committee calls upon all rabbis — without regard of their sex- ual orientation — to conduct their private lives with discretion and with full regard to the mores and sen- sibilities of their com- munities." Rabbi Yoel Kahn, a mem- ber of the Reform panel and religious leader of a San Francisco congregation with special outreach to the les- bian and gay community, said he believes it is "increasingly possible for rabbis who are gay or les- bian to be employed by syn- agogues." He expressed confidence that just as women rabbis were once shunned and later welcomed into the Reform movement, lesbian and gay rabbis will eventually be ac- cepted. Committee members ad- mitted that their task was made more complex by the unanimous condemnation of homosexual behavior by Jewish tradition, and by scientific disagreement on whether homosexuality is a matter of conscious choice or whether it is innate and therefore unchangeable. A majority of the com- mittee strongly affirmed the "centrality of monogamous, heterosexual, procreative marriage in Jewish tradi- tion," and declined to en- dorse wedding-like ceremonies between part- ners of the same sex. After urging all rabbis and congregations to treat with respect and fully integrate all Jews into the life of the community, the committee "strongly endorsed the view that all Jews are religiously equal, regardless of their sexual orientation." After vigorous debate, the full report was backed by a majority of 13 committee members, with two opposed and two abstentions, Glaser said. In New York, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congrega- tions of America condemned the Reform panel's recom- mendation, saying "the en- tire idea is an abomination." "The Torah in the most unambiguous terms says that the gay lifestyle is a sin and is against the natural order. People who teach the Torah are expected to uphold its standards," Rabbi Pin- chas Stolper, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, said Tuesday. Rabbi Chaim Shnur, California director of Agudath Israel, said the report "simply confirms that the Reform movement is basically rudderless when it comes to halachic tradition." By contrast, Rabbi Harold Schulweis of Los Angeles, a leading Conservative rabbi, said he was giving the Reform movement "a great deal of credit for tackling an issue that has long been muted and suppressed." He urged that the Conser- vative movement re- examine and reappraise its own position on the issue. Two weeks ago, the Con- servative movement's Rab- binical Assembly voted overwhelmingly to endorse full civil equality for les- bians and gay men, and said such Jews should be welcome in synagogues. It also called on the Conser- vative movement "to in- crease awareness, under- standing and concern for our fellow Jews who are gay and lesbian." But the assembly did not take a stand on admitting openly gay rabbis to the Conservative rabbinate. 0 Jewish Telegraphic Agency