Conservative Rabbis receive same-sex wedding guidelines
The Conservative Jewish movement in the United States has approved a set of guidelines Rabbis can follow when performing same-sex marriages.
The guidelines passed the Rabbinical Assembly’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards with a 13 to 0 vote and one abstention.
Director of the Religious Action Centre for Reform Judaism Rabbi David Saperstein (pictured) said the guidelines are a step forward in recognising that all people are created equal in ‘the image of the Divine’.
“The Reform Movement’s experience sanctifying same-sex marriage has made it absolutely clear that, like heterosexual couples, gay, bisexual, and lesbian men and women find happiness and strength in the holiness of their relationships,” he said.
“That holiness is reflected in stronger ties to God and to their Jewish faith, both of which the Rabbinical Assembly has now helped further.”
Prior to the guidelines being approved Rabbis had been improvising same-sex ceremonies since the ban on same-sex couples was lifted in 2006.
According to the executive vice president of the movement’s Rabbinical Assembly, Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, there are now two sets of guidelines for same-sex ceremonies which Rabbis can elect to follow.
“We are a big-tent movement. There remain people for whom this is not what they understand Jewish law to dictate. They don’t have an obligation,” she said.
“The guidance is considered thoughtful and helpful to do what it was intended to do ... to bring sanctity between people who want to build a Jewish home.
“There is a tremendous sense of appreciation, of celebration.”
Despite these recent steps toward equality a conservative Rabbi is not allowed to perform a marriage between a Jew and non-Jew regardless of whether it’s a same-sex or heterosexual couple.
- Tags: Blaze, Conservative Judaism, marriage-equality, MCV, Queensland Pride, Rabbi David Saperstein, Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, Same-sex Marriage, SX
About the Author
Alex Dunkin
"Tall, dark and handsome", and a borderline coffee addict. Grew up in country South Australia prior to travelling and living overseas and then returning to the state to undertake university degrees in journalism and international studies with a focus on the Italian language. Constantly writing new material, both journalistic and creative, with a couple of recent awards under his belt including the youth prize in the New Mardi Gras literature prize.
Comments (5)
As a Jew reading this article brought a big smile to my face this sort of thing makes me proud to be a gay Jew
i'd like to think Judaism being the "father" of other western religions can be a beacon that Christian and g-d willing Islamic faiths can look to see how mature religions grow with the times
i fervently believe that one day not too long from now the marriage will be for any two people who want it
we all just need to have some hope and some faith in man kind
Philosphically equal Stuart, not mathematically equal. That being said, until you consider yourself equal to those around you, it strikes me that nothing any governmental or religious organisation says or does will be of any use to you - based on your comments on GNN. That heterosexuals 'vastly out-number us' is a natural state, provided by nature. Just as your sexuality is a natural state, provided by nature. You need to reflect on your comments above. And a pat on the back for the Religious Action Centre for Reform Judaism and what they are doing for SSA jews might well be in order - even if you feel left out.
TerraMatt, wouldn't it be nice if you knew who you were talking to, instead of a cyberspace non-de-plume? Yes, being vastly "out-numbered" is a "natural state". However, human-beings differ from other animals, in that our behaviour is also culturally determined. So, most people could have "learnt" to be straight, "philosophically" speaking.
Back to the rabbi, queer people in Israel haven't a hope in Hell of ever being equal, as all marriage there is religiously based. Perhaps Rabbi Superstein should concern himself with what's going on at home, instead of some satellite outpost.
Rmyerthall, maybe you'll become the Messiah and make it happen!
It's a joke. How can Rabbi Saperstein say we're "created equal" when LGBTI people are a minority? Where's the "happiness, strength and holiness of our relationships", when heterosexuals vastly out-number us? Where's the "tremendous sense of appreciation, of celebration" when you've never had a partner.