Chasm over gays deepens among Conservative Jews

The Boston Globe ^ | April 9, 2006 | Charles A. Radin

[ConservativeStatement]

The reading of the Torah ended, and Cantor Charles D. Osborne led the congregation at Temple Emanuel in Newton in a poignant prayer for renewal.

It was time for the sermon.

Rabbi Michelle Robinson rose and delivered the most stirring sermon of her young career -- an impassioned demand that the Conservative movement in Judaism sanction same-sex unions and other Jewish rituals for gays and lesbians. If movement leaders, who are in the midst of a deep debate over these issues, disagree, Emanuel, one of the wealthiest and most influential Conservative synagogues in New England, should sanctify such unions anyway, she said.

[billorites]

Oh great, "Gay Jews."

Now I'll have this guy on my mind all day.

[WorkingClassFilth]

The use of the term "conservative" to describe a schism of Judaism that has female Rabbis and considers homosexual unions is farcical. Somehow, I think, Moses and the long list of Patriarchs would have declined membership in this congregation.

[Aetius]

That's what I was thinking too.

[Lewite]

"new textual interpretations"

Where in the Torah does it tell me I can interpret it's loving instruction any way I want. We are instructed to be able to live with our Creator and our fellow man. One of the instructions forbid queer and lesbian life styles. Oh well I know of groups who have cut down the number of Commandments from ten to nine to even to zero.

[jdm]

"Chasm over gays deepens"

That headline is just wrong. And to think I was going to enjoy a nice dinner.

[freedom9]

"new textual interpretations"

(Same as ever)

The men dishonor theirselves and the wife of the covenant.

The women dishonor the Lord.

Mal 2:14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

Mal 2:15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

Mal 2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

[NYer]

Rabbi Michelle Robinson rose and delivered the most stirring sermon of her young career -- an impassioned demand that the Conservative movement in Judaism sanction same-sex unions and other Jewish rituals for gays and lesbians.

How conservative can this group be if they have a female rabbi?

[LA Conservative]

Not to nitpick, but Richard Simmons is not Jewish, but Gene Simmons is.

[muawiyah]

The tradition of "female rabbis" has a totally different origin than any recent schism. It's always wise to keep that in mind when condemning any particular Jewish group for maintaining that practice ~ some of them are quite legitimate.

The gay marriage stuff, however, is different. I think even Jacob Schmiddlapp (one of the early Jewish leaders who literally paid for it's creation in America) would think Reform Judaism was totally out of its mind buying into gay marriage, and definitely he'd suspect the "Conservative" and any "Orthodox" had stepped right off the planet for getting into that sort of thing.

For a religious group that's into practicing the most ancient feast-day ceremony known to humanity, it's really amazing how easily so many have lost their knowledge of the true Jewish position on homosexual behavior.

[Alouette]

.[W]e must not allow the weight of tradition to stop us from supporting new textual interpretations"

Michelle, go start your own freaking religion and leave the Torah alone, m'kay?

FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel/Russian Jewry ping list.

Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.

[PetroniusMaximus]

"it's really amazing how easily so many have lost their knowledge of the true Jewish position on homosexual behavior."


"And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed."

2 Peter

[rmlew]

Why is Robinson a rabbi?
It is quite clear that she has no concern for God's Law or Tradition.

[timsbella]

The Torah really couldn't be more clear on the issue.

[Frank_N_Sense]

I'm so thrilled that I no longer have to live by the law of Moses, or of G D, and circumcision hurts. Oh oh too late for that.

[FormerLib]

News bulletin for the day: any faith that embraces the sodomites dies.

[FormerLib]

Clarity is irrelevant to those who would deny Truth.

[justiceseeker93]

If you read the entire story, you'll see that the former DNC national chairman is mentioned as one of the heavyweights of the congregation. Just wondering if the Rabbi(ness) is more interested in promoting the Democrat agenda than the Jewish one.

[Alexander Rubin]

Its my denomination.

Though, you're right. These days, it a bit of a misnomer. It's supposed to be the bridge between Reform and Orthodox; combining traditional beliefs with normal life (as Reform tried to do; it was a counter movement to Reform, a happy middle, so to speak). These days, though, the Modern Orthodox denomination does it best. And the Conservative denomination is just becoming Reform with kippot.

[Alexander Rubin]

Its the name of the denomination.

Reform, Conservative, Modern Orthodox, Orthodox (including both Haredim and Hasidim) and Reconstructionist.

Reform basically ignores everything, Reconstructionists pick and choose (Ooooh! Religious heritage buffet!), Conservatives are supposed to be between Orthodox and Reform but end up just being Reform these days.

They kind of dropped a lot of the heritage and the doctrine for a more politically correct, socially conscious, whatever you're calling it these days structure.

Which is why I'm considering switching denominations.