Gillman, a philosophy professor
at the movement's New York-
based JTS, urged Conservative
Judaism to "abandon its claim
that we are a halachic move-
ment," which he called "irrele-
vant to the vast majority of our
lay people."
Rabbi Gillman proposed a new
definition for the movement
based on "living with ambiguity,"
which he said more precisely
describes a movement that may
be guided by Halachah, but
evolves according to aggada, or
changing social and cultural
norms.
Some, like Rabbi Amy Eilberg,
the first woman ordained by the
Conservative movement 20
years ago, agreed with Rabbi
Gillman's proposal to embrace
ambiguity, but admitted, "it's a
message many in the movement
do not want to hear."
Rabbi Daniel Nevins of Adat
Shalom Synagogue in

Farmington Hills, said, "I don't
agree with Professor Gillman's
approach which severs the link
to tradition and the authoritative
guidance it has given Judaism
for three millennia."
There was no formal discus-
sion at the convention of the
hot-button topic of whether or
not to ordain openly ijay rabbis,
a decision that will be made by
the next JTS chancellor or the
movement's Committee on
Jewish Law and Standards, of
which Rabbi Nevins is a member,
having attended a meeting at
the biennial.
But that didn't stop people
from talking about it. Most said it
will and should happen — and, as
University of Judaism rector
Rabbi Elliot Dorff put it, "it won't
split the movement" the way the
decision to ordain women did.

JN Staff Writer Shelli Liebman

Phone: 248.867.4884
email:naturallymonni@aol.com
www.naturallymonni.com

Dorfman contributed to this report.

A 56 Year Dream Nearly Fulfilled!

Magen David Adorn Israel and the International Committee of the Red Cross

A New Initiative from page 45

Rabbi Krakoff

Rabbi Miller

Shaarey Zedek, non-Jewish members
have been integrated into synagogue
life more than before.
"Our policy on including families
with non-Jewish members is that they
are members of our congregation:'
said Rabbi Joseph Krakoff. "At Shaarey
Zedek, they are welcomed as a family.
Non-Jews are not able to participate
on the board or to have a ritual honor,
but if a non-Jewish family member
wants to participate in a service, he or
she may stand on the bimah with
their family at a b'nai mitzvah. Non. -

Jews are also included in
our services by being
given non-liturgical
readings to feel part of
the celebration of the
day"
Rabbi Elliot Dorff,
rector of the University
of Judaism in Los
Angeles, said, "A lot of
our young people are
intermarried, and we
lose almost all of them.
"I'm not suggesting
our rabbis do intermar-
riages, but we need to find more
ways to make them welcome, so their
children will be Jews and maybe
down the road they'll convert:' he
said.
Rabbi Dorff referred to the new
initiative as "a focus, indicating
where we'll spend our time and ener-
gy.
"We should have been doing this
10 years ago," he said. ❑

Sue Fishkoff of the Jewish Telegraphic

In 1949, Israel ratified the Geneva Conventions and declared that Magen David
Adorn would serve as the equivalent of the Red Cross in Israel. That same year,
the International Red Cross declined MDA's bid to join the international body.
Despite that, and subsequent failed attempts to gain membership, Magen David
Adorn has served the causes of humanity ably without regard to religion, race or
politics for 75 years in Israel and around the world.

With the adoption of the "Red Crystal" as an accepted international humanitarian
symbol by world governments, Magen David Adorn in Israel is just one step away
from gaining full acceptance by the International Committee of the Red Cross -
when the Red Cross meets in March 2006 to accept MDA.

American Friends of Magen David Adorn thanks the Bush and Clinton
administrations, our friends in the US. Senate, House of Representatives and the
American .Red Cross for all their support in our effort to make this a reality. We
urge all our supporters to continue to press for MDA's inclUsion in the world body.

Support AFMDA - the only AUTHORIZED support
organization for MDA in the United States

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF
MAGEN DAVID ADOM

ARMDI • MICHIGAN AREA

SAVING LIVES IN ISRAEL

23470 Riverview Drive • Southfield, Michigan 48034
248.353.0434

www.afmda.org

Agency contributed to this story.

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December 15 • 2005

47

