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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Conservative Jews to Consider Ending a Ban on Same-Sex Unions and Gay Rabbis
In a closed-door meeting this week in an undisclosed site near Baltimore, a committee of Jewish legal experts who set policy for Conservative Judaism will consider whether to lift their movement's ban on gay rabbis and same-sex unions.
In 1992, this same group, the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, declared that Jewish law clearly prohibited commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples and the admission of openly gay people to rabbinical or cantorial schools. The vote was 19 to 3, with one abstention.
Since then, Conservative Jewish leaders say, they have watched as relatives, congregation members and even fellow rabbis publicly revealed their homosexuality. Students at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, the movement's flagship, began wearing buttons saying "Ordination Regardless of Orientation." Rabbis performed same-sex commitment ceremonies despite the ban.
The direction taken by Conservative Jews, who occupy the centrist position in Judaism between the more liberal Reform and the more strict Orthodox, will be closely watched at a time when many Christian denominations are torn over the same issue. Conservative Judaism claims to distinguish itself by adhering to Jewish law and tradition, or halacha, while bending to accommodate modern conditions.
"This is a very difficult moment for the movement," said Rabbi Joel H. Meyers, a nonvoting member of the law committee and executive vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly, which represents the movement's 1,600 rabbis worldwide.
"There are those who are saying, don't change the halacha because the paradigm model of the heterosexual family has to be maintained," said Rabbi Meyers, a stance he said he shared. "On the other hand is a group within the movement who say, look, we will lose thoughtful younger people if we don't make this change, and the movement will look stodgy and behind the times."
Several members of the law committee said in interviews that while anything could happen at their meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, there were more than enough votes to pass a legal opinion (a teshuvah in Hebrew) that would support opening the door to gay clergy members and same-sex unions. The law committee has 25 members, but only six votes are required to validate a legal opinion.
Committee members who oppose a change may try to argue that the decision is so momentous that it falls into a different category and requires many more than six votes to pass, even as many as 20, the members said. Other members may argue that no vote should be taken because the committee and the movement are too divided.
The committee may even adopt conflicting opinions, a move that some members say would simply acknowledge the diversity in Conservative Judaism. The committee's decisions are not binding on rabbis but do set direction for the movement.
"I don't think it is either feasible or desirable for a movement like ours to have one approach to Jewish law," said Rabbi Gordon Tucker of Temple Israel Center, in White Plains, a committee member who has collaborated with three others on a legal opinion advocating lifting the prohibition on homosexuality.
Even if the five Conservative rabbinical schools — in New York, Los Angeles, Jerusalem, Buenos Aires and Budapest — adopted different approaches, Rabbi Tucker said, "I don't think that would necessarily do violence to the movement."
The Conservative movement was long the dominant one in American Judaism, but from 1990 to 2000 its share of the nation's Jews shrank to 33 percent from 43 percent, according to the National Jewish Population Survey. In that same period, the Reform movement's share jumped to 39 percent, from 35, making it the largest, while Orthodox grew to 21 percent, from 16 percent. Estimates are difficult, but there are five to six million Jews in the United States.
Jonathan D. Sarna, a professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University and author of "American Judaism: A History," said, "In the 1950's when Americans believed everybody should be in the middle, the Conservative movement was deeply in sync with a culture that privileged the center. What happens as American society divides on a liberal-conservative axis is that the middle is a very difficult place to be."
Rabbi Meyers, vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly, said he worried that any decision on homosexuality could cause Conservative Jews to migrate to either Reform, which accepts homosexuality, or Orthodoxy, which condemns it. But Dr. Sarna said some studies suggested that many Jews who were more traditional began abandoning the Conservative movement more than 20 years ago, when it began ordaining women.
Few congregants are as preoccupied about homosexuality as are their leaders, said Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky, a professor of Talmud and interreligious studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary, who spends weekends at synagogues around the country as a visiting scholar.
"There are so many laws in the Torah about sexual behavior that we choose to ignore, so when we zero in on this one, I have to wonder what's really behind it," Rabbi Visotzky said.
The ban on homosexuality is based on Leviticus 18:22, which says, "Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is an abomination," and a similar verse in Leviticus 20:13.
The law committee now has four legal opinions on the table. Although the reasoning in each is different and complex, two opinions essentially oppose any change to the current law disapproving of homosexuality, and one advocates overturning the law.
A fourth, authored by Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, rector and a professor of philosophy at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, argues that the passages in Leviticus refer only to a prohibition on anal sex and that homosexual relationships, rabbis and marriage ceremonies are permissible.
"What we're really trying to do is to maintain the authority of halacha, but also enable gays and lesbians to have a love life sanctioned by Jewish law and guided by Jewish law," said Rabbi Dorff, vice chairman of the law committee.
A change in the ban on homosexuality has been staunchly opposed by the longtime chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi Ismar Schorsch. But Rabbi Schorsch is retiring in June after 20 years, and his successor could greatly affect the policy. Rabbi Schorsch declined to be interviewed for this article. Several Conservative officials said that while Rabbi Schorsch is not a member of the law committee, he is very involved in its deliberations on this issue.
If the law committee does not vote to change the prohibition, some rabbis said, the issue could resurface at the Rabbinical Assembly's convention March 19-23 in Mexico City.
Many students at the seminary say they find the gay ban offensive and would welcome a change, said Daniel Klein, a rabbinical student who helps lead Keshet, a gay rights group on campus. "It's part of the tradition to change, so we're entirely within tradition," he said. Mr. Klein said that even if the law committee did not lift the ban this week, change would come eventually.
"Imagine what will happen 10 years from now when some of my colleagues are on the law committee, when people from my generation are on the law committee," he said. "It's not going to be a close vote."
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/06/national/06rabbi.html
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Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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The juxtaposition of this and the alleged Christian Anglicans is very interesting
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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Commitment ceremonies, without the law to back up the union and the subsequent marrital benefits accorded to hetero unions mean for the most part nothing...... other than on the personal level.
Without legislation which allows recognition of same sex marrige with all the clicks and whistles that go with the status of marrige it is a shout in the wilderness.
As far as allowing Rabbis of gay orientation this is most encouraging.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I agree totally about the need for full partner benefits. These may or may ot exist already in Israel. I know we occasionally have Israeli visitors here, and hope someone will illuminate us over that.
In a society where much is under control of the Rabbinate I see it as hugely positive, whether partner benefits exist or not, that such a debate is being held freely. There remains the Leviticus issue, but the Keshet Rabbis site has a paper "Dear David" which, though complex, suggests a solution comngruent with love, sex and religious ordinance.
We gay people often take two steps forward and one step backward, sometimes three steps backward. The outcome on Wednesday is by no means certain. The debate may be adjourned for a future generation, but it is happening and making world news.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Marc wrote:
Commitment ceremonies, without the law to back up the union and the subsequent marrital benefits accorded to hetero unions mean for the most part nothing...... other than on the personal level.
Of course, you are right. But you are looking at it from the civic point of view. There must be many (hundreds, thousands?) of religious gays all over the world (including the USA) who would like to have a religious ceremony to celebrate their union.
Without legislation which allows recognition of same sex marrige with all the clicks and whistles that go with the status of marrige it is a shout in the wilderness.
I think we have been here before. Marc's comment is perfectly valid in a country like the USA where same-sex marriage has not yet been legalised. But there are already many countries in the world where such unions are legal and there must be many Conservative Jews in those countries who would want to know that their rabbi is permitted to officate at a religious ceremony which celebrates their union.
As far as allowing Rabbis of gay orientation this is most encouraging.
Actually, if we read the article carefully we can detect that it is present day students at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York who are spearheading the demand for this recognition. I have been told that most of them are sporting badges with the legend "Ordination Regardless of Orientation".
But, you know, it's not only this Jewish sect that is going through this process, which - as Timmy hints elsewhere in this thread - seems almost inevitable sooner or later. A few days ago I saw somewhere on the web that >>in an unusual public dissent with their leaders, 19 Quebec Roman Catholic priests published yesterday an open letter taking issue with the church's opposition to both same-sex marriage and the ordination of active gays into the priesthood.<<
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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timmy wrote:
I agree totally about the need for full partner benefits. These may or may not exist already in Israel. I know we occasionally have Israeli visitors here, and hope someone will illuminate us over that.
What would we do without Wikipedia??? Timmy, here's your answer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_rights_in_Israel
As far as recognition of same-sex marriage in Israel is concerned: there is going to be a general election in Israel on March 28th. Recently a newspaper published the stance of the various parties on various issues. This is what was reported by the newspaper as being the stance of the party most likely to win the election:
>>We believe in the right of every person, family and community to choose the way of life that they want within the framework of the law, with no discrimnination on the basis of sex or life-style.<<
Hmmmmm. I wonder what that means. 
[Updated on: Mon, 06 March 2006 18:22] by Moderator
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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Marc you are right. You can make a commitment without all the fuss and bother of a weddin gand stuff.
The thing I have wondered about is that for years the hetro folk have proven that marriage doenst work. whats the divorce rate?(over 50%). Looks like we would learn from them. In fact I heard that the first couple to get married in Vermont, has filed for a divorce. How promissing.
I believe in Karma....what you give is what you get returned........
Affirmation........Savage Garden
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Marriage requires hard work. Married couples are nto alwasy frineds with each other. To love someone you do not need to like them all the time.
The chemicals produced when we fall n love are said to last for between 6 and 9 years, after which a partnership is vulnerable. That either is borne out by divorce stats or is a self fulfilling prophecy allowing people to feel good about separating.
The issue is twofold, though. Love and marriage or partnership is one thing, but imagine being unable to visit your partner in hospital or make life or death decidions about him because he and oyu are the same gender.
Imagine being unable to ensure that he inherits with tax benefits of partnership when you die because he is not legally your partner
Imagine not being able to provide part of a pension benefit for him because he is not legally your partner
Imagine falling for someone of another nationality and their being deported because your partnership is not legally recognised
Imagine entering into a civil partnership with legal benefits in the UK and travelling to live in the USA where your partnership is not recognised
Put simply, imagine having the state, any state, trample over your love for each other because legally your partnership does not exist
Marc argues rightly for full legal recognition of committed partnerships with total congruence of rights with those of heterosexual couples. The Rabbinate in the Conservative branch (hope that is the right term) of Judaism is making a great start by discussing it. May their hands be guided by good sense when they vote, if vote is what they will do.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Timmy,
>The chemicals produced when we fall n love are said to last for between 6 and 9 years, after which a partnership is vulnerable.
I've never heard this before. Do you have a source? Do you know what chemical it is? And why can't the body go on producing it for more than 6 to 9 years?
From a purely evolutionary point of view, it sounds silly to me. It should last, if anything, about 15 to 18 years so that any offspring can reach maturity.
Just interested. Not trying to be confrontational.
David
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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My source is vague, I'm afraid - TV documentaries of arbitrary pedigree. I imagine they are endorphins and it is not that they "cannot continue in production", but that the "do not", at least with this partner. It may have something to do withy reasonable viability of offspring and the male protecting the emale and child for that period.
Probably this would merit its own thread, so please research it and see what you find.
A reasonable question is "If this is to do with children, why do the chemicals work for gay people?"
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Timmy:
>A reasonable question is "If this is to do with children, why do the chemicals work for gay people?"
Good question, though basically it comes down to the age-old: If sexual love is, from an evolutionary (and, for that matter, religious) point of view, about coupling two compatible mates to produce a child, why do gay people exist at all?
I'm not convinced anyone knows the answer to that!
I'll have a look and create a new thread if I find anything interesting.
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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Actually, I saw a news article on the TV within the last few weeks and the person speaking said that the chemical thing lasted about 18 months....
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Yep I saw the same thing on tv about the chemical reaction which causes the feelings of love only last between 12 and 18 months.
I believe in Karma....what you give is what you get returned........
Affirmation........Savage Garden
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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What show was it?
Can you remember?
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Marc, it was either The Learning Channel or Scienc Channel, but I dont remember the name of the show.
I believe in Karma....what you give is what you get returned........
Affirmation........Savage Garden
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A propos gay rights and the upcoming Israeli election:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3224695,00.html
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Something struck me here.
Jews are global.
Same Gender unions are not global by any means.
Homosexuality is global.
There is thus the potential for a Rabbi to celebrate a same gender union in nations where the actual union is not lawful, assuming this proposition is treated positively on Wednesday.
So this is not a "Jews in Israel" local thing, but a global phenomenon.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy wrote:
So this is not a "Jews in Israel" local thing, but a global phenomenon.
Ah! The penny has dropped! (This was what I was trying to say in my response to Marc.)
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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I understand....
But without attaching the basic rights hetero couples gain with marrige it is a hollow victory.
And I want you all to please understand that I say this because Kevin and I HAVE gone through a civil ceremony..... Executed by a duely authorized justice of the prace in the state of Vermont..... Witnessed by a cadre of friends and verified in the city offices for validation.....
We have made our life choice..... We live as equal partners in a copurchased household..... BUT.... We hold no rights of marrige....
Kevin and I live a clean life, we seldome go out, we don't party, are active in local civic events as well as gay support groups (PFLAG), we work hard at building a business that provides a local need (Arny-Navy surplus and uniforming for fire, police, EMT departments) and we provide at no charge equipment to under privileged kids involved in Scouting as well as other groups, Kevin is enrolled full time at university as well as working full time. I operate a slowly growing website development and graphics design business which also provides free design and site maintainance to local charetible and non-profit organizations.
Why are lesser people because we are of the same sex? Why does the person down the street working on his 3rd wife with 7 kids by 3 women, living on the state tab because he is too drunk and lazy to find a job worth more to society then Kevy???? A person that would die rather than hurt a fly... A person willing to help everyone he passes...
I know fully well Kevin is going to outlive me (barring accident)..... Why should our society make it impossible for him to inheret my share of our possessions? Why should our society make it so difficult for him to visit me in the hospital (if I ever get the gonads to visit one?
Why do we have to go through the expense (2-3 thousand $$$) of hiring an atorney to prepare a set od documents designed to side step the law?
Why are we lesser people than any other??????????????
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Yes, why indeed!
In Norway a registrered partnership gives two gay partners the same rights as a married couple has, with the exception of adoption. The law of partnership was passed in 1993 with very little resistance and is now commonly accepted, at least among young people.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I support everything you say. Or what I mean is everything you and other couples wish for and deserve.
I think the only answer is that when we need to take two steps and are offered one only, it seems wise to take the one on offer and work towards the other.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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... you and Kevy are NOT lesser people. You are the victims of a society that purports to separate religion from the state but is in fact more influenced by (very dubious!) religion than almost any other Western country. But, as Timmy says, small steps in the right direction should never be dismissed simply because they are small.
If the worst comes to the worst, you can always emigrate to the UK - but I'd feel that I had an obligation to visit and force-feed haggis to the pair of you!
My very best wishes to you both. Please try to be strong because, inevitably, one day your campaign will succeed - and I hope that day is soon.
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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I lived in the UK when going through grad school..... I would like to live there again someday......
As for haggis.....There is nothing on Gods green earth that could force a morsel past my lips...... Ans as for Kevy... Well, you're on your own there... but I guarantee he would be one bitchy Kevy if you placed a helping before him....
Thanks for the nice thoughts..... and I am sure that one day we all will live in a world of enlightment......
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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My sources tell me that this has been adjourned until December for more research (!) and consideration
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Jewish Law and Standards Moves Vote on Papers Concerning Human Sexuality to Dec. Meeting Reaffirms Inclusive Approach to Gays in Conservative Jewish Life No Change in Current Ruling on Sexual Behavior
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Shira Dicker
212. 663.4643/917.403.3989
New York, NY, March 8, 2006 – Following an “intense yet respectful” two-day closed meeting, the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) of the Rabbinical Assembly, the central halakhic authority for the Conservative movement,the committee moved to schedule a vote for its December 2006 meeting on papers that were drafted by committee members on the movement’s current ruling concerning homosexuality, due to the need for “extensive” revisions to the papers by their authors.
At the same time, the committee reaffirmed a statement enforcing the movement’s inclusive approach to gays in Jewish life. The statement appears below.
Rabbi Kassel Abelson, chairman of the CJLS, will be briefing the members of the Rabbinical Assembly on the proceedings of the meeting at the upcoming RA Convention in Mexico City, March 19-23. The convention is open to members of the press.
The Conservative movement is concerned with maintaining its bonds to Jewish tradition and halakhic integrity even as it undertakes a topic of great social relevance and controversy. The CJLS has met several times over the past three years in consideration of this matter. Four papers by leading scholars of the movement were presented at this month’s meeting. This is the second time in which teshuvot, responsa on various aspects of the issue, were presented.
“It was an intense yet respectful meeting in which we looked at many dimensions of the issue,” reported Rabbi Joel Meyers, executive vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly, in the wake of the meeting. “The committee members expressed their opinions in a passionate and forthright manner. Due to the extensive revisions that the authors of the various teshuvot now need to make, we will be meeting next on this matter in December.”
In addition to its March and December meetings, the CJLS also typically meets in June and September.
Although there are a range of views currently held by members of the Committee, the spirit of the latest discussions was one that seeks to involve gay and lesbian Jews in Conservative Jewish communities in much fuller ways, obliging them to religious and communal responsibilities, and extending to them membership and leadership rights to the greatest extent permitted by halakhah (Jewish law).
At the conclusion of its meeting, the CJLS affirmed a four-point Statement for the Conservative Community, which was originally drafted at the conclusion of last year’s meeting. It reads as follows:
• At the heart of the Torah is the concept of holiness (kedushah) expressed in its command, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord am holy.” Flowing from this declaration are policies regulating the spiritual, ritual, social and sexual lives of Jews. Kiddushin, the sanctification of love in heterosexual marriage, is a centerpiece of Jewish life.
• For a variety of reasons, the Jewish ideal of heterosexual marriage is unrealistic for some Jews. We emphatically recognize the human dignity (k’vod habriot) of all such individuals, and invite them to participate within our religious communities.
• Recalling the Torah’s command, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, I am the Lord,” we rededicate our movement to making its congregations and educational institutions inclusive and welcoming of all Jews regardless of their marital status or sexual orientation
• The parameters of sexual conduct for gay and lesbian Jews, their eligibility for admission to rabbinical and cantorial school, and commitment ceremonies remain the subject of a lively debate within the ongoing deliberations of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards.
The CJLS last reviewed the issue in 1992, when it emphasized the acceptance of gays and lesbians within congregational life yet upheld the biblical injunction against homosexual behavior
For further information on this matter or any other matter relating to the Rabbinical Assembly or to the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, to get information about the upcoming Rabbinical Assembly convention in Mexico City, March 19-23, or to set up interviews with RA leadership, please contact Shira Dicker . The process will resume at future meetings of the committee.
The CJLS is the sole body empowered to deal with, and rule on halakhic issues within the Conservative movement. Chaired by Rabbi Abelson, it is composed of 25 rabbis and 6 non-rabbinical members who are non-voting and who serve on a rotating basis for a period of at least 5 years. A list of committee members is appended to this release.
The Rabbinical Assembly, founded in 1901, is the international association of Conservative rabbis. The Assembly actively promotes the cause of Conservative Judaism, publishes learned texts, prayer books and works of Jewish interest, and administers the work of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards for the Conservative movement.
The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has been functioning since 1927 as a guide for the Conservative Movement in matters of Jewish law.
# # #
For further information on this matter or any other matter relating to the Rabbinical Assembly or to the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, to get information about the upcoming Rabbinical Assembly convention in Mexico City, March 19-23, or to set up interviews with RA leadership, please contact Shira Dicker at 212.663.4643/917.403.3989 or by e-mail at shira.dicker@sd-media.com. Please visit http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org.
Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Jewish Law and Standards
Chairman: Rabbi Kassel Abelson
Vice Chairman: Rabbi Elliot Dorff
2006
Rabbi Ben Zion Bergman – Univ of Judaism, Bel Air, CA
Rabbi Robert Fine – Cong. B’nai Israel, Rumson, NJ
Hazzan Sheldon Levin* -- Neve Shalom, Metuchen, NJ
Rabbi Aaron Mackler – Duquesne Univ. Theology Dept, Pittsburgh, PA
Rabbi Joseph Prouser – Little Neck Jewish Center, Little Neck, NY
Rabbi Paul Schneider – Krieger Schechter Day School, Baltimore, MD
Dr. Marilyn Wind – Bethesda, MD
2007
Rabbi Jerome Epstein – United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, NYC
Rabbi Susan Grossman – Beth Shalom Congregation, Columbia, MD
Rabbi Vernon Kurtz – North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL
Rabbi Avram Reisner – Baltimore, M D
Mr. Mark Rotenberg* -- Minneapolis, MN
Rabbi Gordon Tucker – Temple Israel Center, White Plains, NY
2008
Rabbi Kassel Abelson – Beth El Synagogue, Minneapolis, MN
Rabbi Pamela Barmash – Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Mr. Marc Gary* – Atlanta, GA
Rabbi Myron Geller – Temple Ahavat Achim, Gloucester, MA
Rabbi Paul Plotkin – Temple Beth Am, Margate, FL
Rabbi Joel Roth – The Jewish Theological Seminary, NYC
2009
Mr. Franklin Kreutzer* -- Miami, FL
Rabbi Leonard Levy – The Jewish Theological Seminary, NYC
Rabbi Alan Lucas – Temple Beth Sholom, Roslyn Heights, NY
Rabbi Daniel Nevins – Adat Shalom Synagogue, Farmington Hills, MI
Rabbi Mayer Rabinowitz – The Jewish Theological Seminary, NYC
Rabbi Philip Scheim – Beth David B’nai Israel Beth Am, Toronto, Ont., CA
2010
Rabbi Elliot Dorff –
n
* Non-Voting Members
University of Judaism, Bel Air, CA
Rabbi Myron Fenster – Roslyn, NY
Rabbi Israel Francus – The Jewish Theological Seminary, NYC
Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl – Beth Tzedec Cong., Toronto, Ont., CA
Ms. Rosalind Judd* -- Albany, NY
Rabbi Loel Weiss – Temple Beth Am, Randolph, MA
Secretary
Rabbi Melissa Crespy – The Rabbinical Assembly, NYC
Ex-Officio
Rabbi Perry Raphael Rank – Midway Jewish Center, Syosset, NY
Rabbi Joel Meyers – The Rabbinical Assembly, NYC
* Non-Voting Members
Rabbi Jan Caryl Kaufman The Rabbinical Assembly
212-280-6000 x 6056 direct line 3080 Broadway
212-749-9166 fax New York, NY 10027
jkaufman@rabbinicalassembly.org http://www.RabbinicalAssembly.org
**************************************************************************
**************************************************************************
Rabbi Jan Caryl Kaufman The Rabbinical Assembly
212-280-6000 x 6056 direct line 3080 Broadway
212-749-9166 fax New York, NY 10027
jkaufman@rabbinicalassembly.org http://www.RabbinicalAssembly.org
**************************************************************************
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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