The Rabbis Vote
The Reform movement presents a resolution to
sanction same-gender commitment ceremonies.
and Rabbi Susan B. Stone of South
Euclid, Ohio, are co-presidents of the
StaffWriter
175-member Women's Rabbinic
Network.
ext week, in the final ses-
Although CCAR President Rabbi
sion of this year's annual
Charles Kroloff of Westfield, N.J.,
convention of Reform rab-
endorses the resolution and 530 of
bis, a resolution will be
1,800 North American Reform rabbis
voted upon that already has ignited
signed
a document within the last year
fiery contention.
voicing
their willingness to perform
In one of the most divisive procla-
same-gender
commitment ceremonies,
mations in the Reform
dissension
on the issue
movement's history, the
remains.
Central Conference of
"Israeli rabbis are con-
American Rabbis (CCAR),
cerned that their work in
will vote on a pronounce-
Israel will be hampered
ment sanctioning officiat-
by reaction" from coun-
ing at same-gender corn-
trymen who do not sup-
mitment ceremonies.
port the issue, if the reso-
At issue is not whether
lution passes, said Rabbi
Reform rabbis can or must
Arnie
Sleutelberg of
officiate at such cere-
Temple
Shir Tikvah in
monies, because essentially
Troy. He is among the
Reform rabbis are free to
CCAR members who
act according to their con-
science. Instead, the debate Rabbi Dan nel Schwartz have received e-mails
from Israeli rabbis saying
centers on what kind of
they plan to walk out of
statement the movement
the
plenary
when
the resolution is
should make. On the topic, two reso-
read.
"They
want
to be able to go
lutions will be voted upon and one
home
and
say,
'We
had nothing to do
proposal has been written and circu-
with
this.
We
weren't
even there for
lated.
the vote,'" Rabbi Sleutelberg said.
The much-smaller
Another group of rabbis, in support
Reconstructionist and Secular
of same-gender commitment cere-
Humanistic movements are currently
monies but opposed to the resolution's
the only Jewish groups sanctioning
wording,
are sponsoring a counter-
same-sex ceremonies.
proposal.
Rabbi Dannel Schwartz of
"The debate and the discussion on
Temple
Shir
Shalom in West
the issue will be the most fascinating
Bloomfield
is
among them.
part of the convention, regardless of
Rabbi Schwartz has officiated at
the outcome," said Rabbi Daniel
such ceremonies for more than 23
Syme of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield
years. His concern is not that the reso-
Township.
lution will pass, but rather that it is
In March 1999, the Women's
not inclusive or totally honest. The
Rabbinic Network, an association of
resolution up for vote states it is based
Reform women rabbis within the
on
a CCAR responsa committee's
New York-based CCAR, passed a res-
"minority
opinion advocating rabbinic
olution urging the conference to
officiation
at ceremonies for Jewish
bring the issue to the floor of the
same-gender couples." Rabbi Schwartz
March 23-29 convention plenum in
said the majority point of view was
Greensboro, N.C.
that officiating at such ceremonies
"This is not a women's issue, not a
goes against Jewish law. Though he is
gay and lesbian issue. It is a human
in agreement with the minority, he
issue," said Rabbi Shira Stern of South
feels if the resolution passes in its pre-
River, N.J., about the resolution. She
sent form, those who don't perform
Shelli Liebman Dorfman can be reached the ceremonies may be "ridiculed,
ousted or hurt politically:"
at (248) 354-6060, ext. 246, or by e-mail
"Rabbis should do it if they wish,
at sdolfman@thewishnews.com
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
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