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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2000)
nrmmvnnews A smart financial plan begins with just 7 numbers. T he R ight D irection A Jewish leader in Oregon hails a move toward acceptance of same-sex unions by Inga Sorensen 238-6036 WADDELL S r REED The people with a plan fo r you. Congregation Beth Israel has ancient roots— and a modem approach to gay civil rights 4 £ T t was a motion that had to pass. It should have and it did,” reflects Rabbi Emanual Rose of the Portland-based Congregation Beth Israel, Oregon’s largest synagogue. Rose is referring to the Reform rabbinates recent passage of a resolution to support the decisions of individual rabbis to officiate— or not— at Jewish same-gender ceremonies. The vote occurred March 29 during the annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. C C A R represents Reform Judaism, the nations largest Jewish denomina tion, with more than 1.5 million members. The Reform rabbis’ move is the first of its kind by a major U.S. religious denomination. “This bold, historic decision to affirm our relationships sets a new standard for inclusive ness and equality for a major religion,” says Eliz abeth Birch, head of the Human Rights C am paign, a national gay and lesbian political group. “This forward-thinking policy paves the way for voices of reason and fairness within other denominations to step forward and demand that the love that is preached is also practiced.” C C A R ’s resolution calls for the Reform rab binate to develop sample ceremonies for rabbis who choose to officiate such unions and states that relationships of two Jewish people of the same gender are worthy of affirmation through appropriate Jewish ritual. The resolution leaves it up to the individual rabbi to decide whether she or he chooses to officiate at Jewish same-gender ceremonies. “This resolution...is groundbreaking in that it is the first time a major religious body has indi cated its support for any of its clergy who decide to officiate at same-gender ceremonies,” Rabbi Paul Menitoff, professional head of C C A R , said. In order to create a consensus with those opposing same-sex unions, compromise lan guage was added saying C C A R would “recog nize the diversity of opinion” within its ranks. C C A R also passed a resolution stipulating that the affirmation of same-sex unions does not mean such ceremonies are marriages and that it does not explicitly encourage them. The “Resolution on Same-Gender Officia t i n ’’ was originally proposed last year by C C A R ’s Women’s Rabbinic Network, which comprises 275 female rabbis. Said Rabbi Shira Stem , W RN ’s co-presi dent: “This is as much a civil rights issue as it is a religious issue, and we believe that passing this restitution does a great deal toward strengthen ing Jewish families by recognizing the sacred relationship between two Jews— whether they be homosexual or heterosexual.” Portland’s Rose agrees. “Morally and ethically, this needed to pass,” he tells Just Out, “because it’s the right thing.” Congregation Beth Israel dubs itself “a home for members of every age, income and life style... united by our commitment to celebrate Judaism, to leam from one another and to trans mit Jewish values across the generations.” Its Northwest Portland temple is designated on the National Register of Historic Places. Religious services, led by Rose and Rabbi Ariel Stone-Halpem, are held every Friday night and Saturday morning, on the High Holy Days and on all festivals. Over the years, Rose has spoken against anti gay ballot initiatives and legislation in Oregon. He has also worked to deter hate crimes. “Measure 9 was the big one,” he says, refer ring to the highly charged initiative campaign of 1992. “We really worked hard on that one.” Who would have thought there would be serious talk around same-sex marriage fewer than 10 years later.7 “It’s pretty amazing,” Rose notes. Though he has performed child-naming cer emonies in the synagogue for the offspring of same-sex couples, Rose says he has yet to offici ate a union ceremony for a same-sex couple. “I’ve never been asked,” he explains. That may soon change, however, given C C A R ’s freshly approved resolution. So what can a same-sex couple expect if they do ask? They can expect, Rose says, a serious discus sion about their commitment, the depth of their relationship, “all the issues I discuss with het erosexual couples" who plan to marry. “This decision, combined with the Vermont House passing a civil unions bill, shows the incredible momentum toward recognizing same- sex relationships,” says H RC’s Birch. "This trend will continue as more people leam that same-sex couples have the same responsibilities of married couples, but none of the rights.” C C A R has already adopted a number of positions on gay rights. In 1977, it adopted a res olution calling for decriminalization of homo sexual acts between consenting adults and call ing for an end to discrimination against gay men and lesbians. In 1990, C C A R endorsed an Ad Hoc Com mittee on Homosexuality and the Rabbinate report urging that “all rabbis, regardless of sexual orientation, be accorded the opportunity to ful fill the sacred vocation that they have chosen.” The committee also endorsed the view that “all Jews are religiously equal regardless of their sexual orientation.” Strike Back! A Weekend Course With The Padded Attacker 231-1999 One With Heart Martial Arts Institute SE 43rd & Hawthorne Blvd. www.onewithheart.com Eric Brown District Manager 500 NE Multnomah Portland, OR 97232 503/238-6036 M y girlfriend told m e about this vintage car she’s had her eye on. a 60 ’s convertible. She also told me about the great interest rates w e’d be able to receive through G & L Internet Bank to finance the car. So we applied for an auto loan at the G & L web site and were approved in no time at all. We’re both really enjoying the car; I might even let my girlfriend drive once in a while, but only if I'm with her. 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