Rabbi Sleutelberg, Shir
Tikvah: If there is a ketuba
and a chuppa and sheva
brachot and breaking of the
glass, there is a wedding. I
do Jewish weddings,
applying the same standards
for gay or straight couples."
weddings are not recognized under
state law, he said, "I'm a rabbi, not a
politician. If there is a ketuba and a
chuppa and sheva brachot and breaking
of the glass, there is a wedding. I do
Jewish weddings, applying the same
standards for gay or straight couples."
Some Reform rabbis, however, do
not conduct same-gender union cere-
monies. Rabbi Syme said at Temple
Beth El, "We have not, at this time,
officiated at marriage or commitment
ceremonies. This is a shared position
with the leadership of the congrega-
tion.
.
"At the present time," he adds, "I'm
still thinking about it, studying it, but
I have not been asked."
At Temple Kol Ami, Rabbi
Norman Roman said the question of
same-gender union ceremonies "has
not arisen to the extent that I have to
give any type of statement or posi-
tion."
With a perspective that is neither -
black nor white, he says he would
Other Views
Below is a look at how other movements view same-gender union cere-
monies:
• Rabbi Sherwin Wine of the Birmingham Temple: "We in Humanistic
Judaism have been doing (same-gender union ceremonies) for the past 30
years. We celebrate and endorse meaningful partnerships in the gay and lesbian
world." Commonly termed a "commitment ceremony," he has no objection to
using the word "wedding" if chosen by the couple. Offering many types of cer-
emonies, he will direct "two non Jews who want to celebrate in a universal
way," or two Jews or a Jew partnered with a non-Jew who values Jewish identi-
ty," all regardless of sexual preference.
• Reconstruaionist Rabbi Debrah Cohen, a local chaplain, would be com-
fortable officiating as long as the ceremony is in a "Jewishly identified
place," with both members Jewish. She does not perform interfaith mar-
riages. The terminology of "wedding" versus "commitment ceremony"
would be up to the couple, she said.
• Rabbi Daniel Nevins: "Adat Shalom Synagogue and Conservative Judaism,
in general, want to make all Jews feel welcome in our synagogue and respect
the dignity of all people. We are also committed to living by the ideals and
traditions of Judaism. The Conservative movement does not recognize mar-
riage or commitment ceremonies for unions that do not meet the traditional
Jewish definition of marriage, including both intermarriage and same-gender
unions."
• Rabbi Avraham Jacobovitz of Machon L'Torah, the Oak Park-based Jewish
Learning Network of Michigan, says although the Orthodox movement
"does not condemn those who are born with homosexual tendencies, we do
condemn the acting out of these tendencies." He adds, "The Torah consid-
ers the act as an abomination," making a same-gender union ceremony an
abomination on top of an abomination." It has no place in "Jewish mar-
riage, which is holy and special."
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