Rabbi Joel Meyers acknowledged that
despite this position, some
Conservative rabbis officiate at same-
sex ceremonies and — unlike
Conservative rabbis who officiate at
intermarriages — they are allowed to
remain in the Rabbinical Assembly.
Rabbi Meyers does not expect
Reform's move to strain Conservative-
Reform relations. He predicted it would
Although aware that this is not
HELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
have less of an impact than the patrilin-
the final consideration on the sub-
Staff Writer
eal descent issue, which he said "goes to
ject, Rabbi Sleutelberg sees the affir-
the heart of defining [who is a Jew]."
mative vote as "the culmination of
lthough the passing of a resolution by
Rabbi Elliot Pachter of
25 years of dealing with gay and
Reform rabbis to officiate at gay and les-
Congregation
B'nai Moshe in West
lesbian issues."
bian union ceremonies brings varied reac-
Bloomfield agreed that "the bigger
A
rumored
walkout
among
those
tion from other streams of Judaism, the
issue within the movement is in the
in opposition did not pan out. In
decision was marked by an overwhelming affirma-
area of Jewish identity, and who is a
fact, the passing of the resolution
tive voice vote.
Jew
— a major issue between Reform
brought "an exuberant standing
"You could count the two, three, four individual
and
Conservative."
ovation," followed by a spontaneous
nays' scattered around the room," said Rabbi Arnie
Rabbi Pachter sees the approval of
linking of arms, and the recitation
Sleutelberg of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy. He
the
resolution as "consistent with
of the Shehechiyanu, a blessing of
attended the March 23-29 Central Conference of
Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg
Reform
ideology up to this point."
gratitude, Rabbi Sleutelberg said.
American Rabbis convention in Greensboro, N.C.,
The
issue
of homosexuality was not
Some within other
along with upwards of 550 of the 1,800
discussed
at
last week's Conservative
Jewish movements are
CCAR member rabbis.
Rabbinical
Assembly
convention in
not as pleased.
Representing their West Bloomfield-
Philadelphia,
he
said.
"There was not a
Orthodox and
based congregations were Rabbis Joshua
word
about
it
this
year.
It is not on the
Conservative rabbis pre-
Bennett of Temple Israel, Dannel Schwartz
front
burner
right
now."
dict the resolution's
of Temple Shir Shalom and Ernst Conrad,
The Rabbinical Council of America,
passing will undermine
rabbi emeritus of Temple Kol Ami.
the
organization representing 1,100
Jewish unity, but still
Rabbi Sleutelberg recalled how the few
Orthodox rabbis, issued a statement that
find
it
less
divisive
than
who spoke in opposition to the resolution
Do you agree
said, "Conferring legitimacy upon rela-
the 1984 Reform move-
made two points. He said opponents were
with the Reform
tionships our Torah and tradition specif-
ment decision to recog-
concerned "with the effect on klal Yisrael,
movement's decision nize the children of
ically prohibit, is beyond the pale of
the unity of the Jewish people, and the
to sanction union
acceptable Jewish teaching and practice."
Jewish fathers and non-
adverse reaction that could affect it." He
ceremonies for Jews
Rabbi Chaim Bergstein of Bais
Jewish mothers as Jews.
said they also were anxious about how the
of the same sex?
Rabbi
Elliot
Pachter
Chabad
of Farmington Hills described
Not surprisingly, leaders
Reform movement would be viewed in
the
purpose
of marriage as conferring
Give your opinion on
in the Reconstructionist
Israel as a result of this resolution passing.
sanctity upon a relationship. He said
JN Online at
movement
—
which
With the Reform movement being rela-
www.detroit
the union of same-gender couples
recognizes patrilineal
tively new in Israel, they were fearful the
jewishnews.com
should "not be sanctified with the
descent and, in 1993,
"general Israeli society may not be ready
same holiness as the lifestyle God has
supported same-sex
for it and will limit their progress," Rabbi
ordained in the Torah.
commitment ceremonies — backed
Sleutelberg said.
"What revelation at Sinai has taken
the Reform decision. The Secular
He added that he sees an opening for other reli-
place
that we suddenly consecrate
Humanistic movement also sup-
gions now to follow suit. Conventions are planned
something
the Bible describes as a
ports rabbis officiating at same-sex
this summer for the United Methodist, Episcopal
deviant
lifestyle?
No matter how many
unions and recognizes patrilineal
and Presbyterian denominations. "They were really
blessings
are
made,
unless we heard
descent.
looking to us because of our heritage and the Old
from
God,
there
is
no
sanctification,"
Rabbi Richard Hirsh, executive
Testament," he said, adding that the passing of the
Rabbi
Bergstein
said.
director of the 200-member
resolution allows them to say, "Look, even the Jews
Meanwhile, Reform and
Reconstructionist Rabbinical
did it."
Conservative
leaders say they will con-
Association, speculated that the res-
He also noted that the decision to perform such
Rabbi
Chaim
Bergstein
tinue
to
work
together, despite their
olution's passage would encourage
ceremonies is not compulsory, but allows individuals
differences
on
the same-sex issue.
Reform rabbis who do not yet offici-
to follow their rabbinic consciences. This point
Rabbi
Ammiel
Hirsch,
executive director of
ate at same-sex unions to consider doing so.
made it possible for those who will not perform the
the Association of Reform Zionists of America, said
"Having
support
of
the
rabbinic
group
makes
it
ceremonies to still vote for the resolution "because it
he supported the resolution and was particularly
easier for you to make a stand in your own congre-
affirms their right not to perform them," he said.
happy about its compromise language.
gation," he said.
The resolution relates to couples in which both are
He noted that he "could care less what the ultra-
While Orthodox leaders are harshly condemning
Jewish.
Orthodox
say about us," and is far more concerned
the vote, criticism among Conservative leaders is
The decision of what to term a same-gender
about
Reform's
image among its "target audience —
more subdued.
union ceremony also was left to each rabbi. The
all
those
people
between Orthodox and nothing." 0
The executive vice president of the Rabbinical
Reform movement will develop and circulate
Assembly,
which
represents
1,500
Conservative
ketubot, or Jewish marriage contracts, and liturgy for
— Julie Wiener of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
rabbis, said that while his movement supports civil
same-sex ceremonies to its 1,800 rabbis. Many
and national columnist J.J. Goldberg
rights for gays, it does not approve of its rabbis
Reform rabbis had officiated at same-sex ceremonies
contributed to this report. v\*v
officiating at same-sex ceremonies.
414
even before the resolution was passed.

Observation And Reaction

Rabbis disagree on Reform resolution and its impact.

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2000

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