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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.”
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Portland, OR 97232
503/238-6036
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