Conservative Rabbis Permit Same-Sex Unions, Gay Ordinations

The governing committee of Conservative Judaism has ruled to permit same-sex commitment ceremonies and the ordination of gay and lesbian rabbis. They did not, however, go so far as to approve same-sex marriage. Although the committee’s decision was not unanimous, enough members approved to make it valid, “meaning that it is a well-founded interpretation of Jewish law, not that it is the only legitimate position.” Individual rabbis may still chose whether or not to perform the ceremonies and ordinations.

As the Washington Post reports, Rabbi Elliot Dorff, who supported the decision, said “he hoped that the adoption of two optional, conflicting positions would serve as a model for other religious groups of how to handle deep disagreements, ‘so movements don’t have to split up over these kinds of things.'”

While I might have wished for a stronger decision in support of LGBT inclusion, I have to admire Dorff’s approach. A religion that includes multiple interpretations. Now there’s something many other denominations could learn from.