Welcoming All
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Your
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A group of Coiservative rabbis seeks a place
for gays in the movement.
worldwide to make congre-
When the assembly
gations gay-friendly," he said.
declared
in
1992
that
con-
Staff Writer
"I think it's important that
gregations should welcome
Masorti-Conservative rabbis
gays
and
lesbians,
it
left
it
Ann Arbor
have the conversation about
up to the individual con-
ympathetic to concerns of gay
the place of gay and lesbian
gregations to decide if gays
and lesbian Jews seeking a
rabbis in our community and
may be hired as teachers or
place in their movement, some
our profession."
youth leaders.
Conservative rabbis are, in a way,
Rabbi Dobrusin of Ann
-In
addition,
the
move-
coming out of the closet.
Arbor
said, "I do not believe
ment's
rabbinical
seminar-
Three Ann Arbor rabbis have joined
that
a
group
of this kind
ies
do
not
ordain
openly
with 100 colleagues from the United
Rabbi Dob rusin
should
be
a
viewed
as a source
gay
rabbis,
nor
may
States, Europe and Israel who signed
of
conflict
or
a
divisive
group
Rabbinical Assembly mem-
on this month with a new group
within
the
Rabbinical
Assembly.
I look
bers officiate at gay wedding cere-
called Keshet-Rabbis. The organiza-.
at
it
as
saying
that
while
these
halachic
monies.
tion seeks to provide members of the
Uewish law] discussions continue, there
The assembly's Committee on
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
is
a human issue here which needs to be
Jewish
Law
and
Standards
recently
community with resources to help
addressed
and that is serving the spiritu-
affirmed
the
status
quo
and
will
meet
them find a welcoming place in
al
needs
of
everyone in our communi-
again
in
March
to
examine
several
Conservative Judaism.
ty,"
he
said.
"I signed on because I
or
responsa,
on
the
move-
teshuvot,
Rabbis open to giving guidance to
believe
that
the
Conservative movement
ment's approach to homosexuality.
gays and lesbians are listed on a Web
must
take
active
steps of outreach to the
"Everyone who's signed on [to
site which may be accessed at:
gay
and
lesbian
Jewish
community. This
Keshet-Rabbis]
agrees
that
our
polices
www.keshetrabbis.org
is
another
way
to
express
my and our
at
the
University
of
Judaism
and
the
"I've added my name to Keshet-
congregation's
welcoming
of
all Jews,
Jewish
Theological
Seminary
need
to
Rabbis because I believe that it is spiri-
regardless
of
sexual
orientation,
and of
change,"
said
Rabbi
Menachem
tually devastating for anyone to live in
my
willingness
to
be
of
support
to
gay
Creditor
of
Temple
Israel
in
Sharon,
the closet," said Rabbi Sara O'Donnell
and
lesbian
Jews
and
their
families."
Mass.
Adler, a Conservative rabbi who
Rabbi Janet Ozur Bass, a teacher at
Rabbi Creditor, who is among a
recently moved to Ann Arbor with her
the
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day
small
group
of
rabbis
who
founded
husband, who is doing graduate work
School
in Rockville, Md., said it is
Keshet-Rabbis,
said
he
doesn't
want
at the University of Michigan.
important
that she make herself avail-
the
organization
to
be
seen
as
divisive.
"We now know that homosexuality,
able
as
a
teacher.
"It's not just for gay
"I
don't
think
pushing
a
progressive
is not a choice," she said. "It is not
students,
but
for
straight
students" to
agenda
is
a
slap
in
the
face,"
Rabbi
healthy for someone to live in conflict
know
they
can
talk
about
the subject,
Creditor
said.
"If
the
Rabbinical
over their identity as a gay Jew out of
she
said.
Assembly is going to be responsive, it
fear of being judged or excluded —
needs to have a voice from within."
either by our community or by God.
Not Anti-Gay
Rabbi O'Donnell Adler agrees. "I
If the Conservative movement values
Rabbi Eitan Julius says the Conservative
realize
that
this
process
of
change
caring for the neshamot (souls) of peo-
movement's policies on homosexuality
within
a
tradition
takes
time.
It
is
my
ple and in helping individuals foster a
have driven numerous "top-notch"
hope
that
my
colleagues
and
I
who
positive connection with God, then
potential rabbis into the arms of the
have
joined
Keshet-Rabbis
will
we must re-think the current policies
Reform, Reconstructionist and Renewal
encourage thoughtful and respectful
that exclude people based on sexual
dialogue within our movement to help movements. The pace at which the
orientation."
movement has addressed the issue, he
the process of change come sooner."
In addition to Rabbi O'Donnell
added, is "skewed and unacceptable."
Adler, local Keshet-Rabbis are Robert
Two
Streams
Of
Thought
"We in the field are coming in contact
Dobrusin of Beth Israel Congregation
with"
gay Jews who are "members of our
Rabbi
Peretz
Rodman,
president
of
the
and Rabbi Jason Miller, assistant direc-
congregations
and are in turmoil because
Rabbinical
Assembly's
Israel
region,
tor of University of Michigan Hillel
the
misconception
is that the
considered signing on with Keshet-
Foundation. The three have made
Conservative
movement
is anti-gay —
Rabbis but decided against it.
themselves available for both advocacy
and we're not," said Rabbi Julius of
"I
am
entirely
sympathetic
to
the
and confidential counseling.
goal of Keshet-Rabbis, but I have hesi- Congregation Sinai in San Jose, Calif. In
tated to join because I don't think that the long run, he said, the goal is eventu-
What The Movement Says
Although Keshet-Rabbis is not an offi- it's healthy for us as colleagues to form ally to see lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgendered rabbinical school students
separate organizations other than the
cial arm of the Conservative move-
"who do not have to go into the closet
ment's Rabbinical Assembly and is not Rabbinical Assembly itself," he said.
in order to pursue rabbinic ordination in
"I think it's important to work with-
endorsed by it, all of its members
the Conservative movement." ❑
in
the
U.S.
and
the
Masorti
movement
belong to the assembly.
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2005
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