Reform Rabbis Agree To Allow Same-Sex Unions

The vote, the first by a major religious denomination, was hailed by gays
and lesbians as a milestone in their struggle for acceptance. It was
denounced by conservative and orthodox Jewish movements as divisive and
contrary to biblical teaching.
 
Leaders of the Reform Jewish movement, the dominant strand of American
Judaism, said they hoped their action might influence liberal Protestant
denominations now debating the treatment of gays and lesbians. Later this
year, the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and United Methodist churches are
expected to debate a variety of policies regarding homosexuality.
 
After the vote, the 500 Reform rabbis gathered here spontaneously broke into
song, chanting in Hebrew a prayer that Jews recite to thank God for allowing
them to experience a special moment. At a news conference just after the
vote, the group's president, Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff, said: ''I've never
been prouder to be a rabbi - I think this is one of our finest days.''

''My dream is that every gay and lesbian Jew in America will feel
comfortable in every Reform synagogue throughout our land, and I also hope
that other clergy groups will hear us loud and clear and that they'll be
inspired to move in the same direction,'' said Kroloff, who is president of
the 1,800-member Central Conference of American Rabbis. ''In my mind this is
the direction of history - this is where we're all headed, to affirm the
rights of our fellow Jews and our fellow human beings.''
 
The resolution approved by the Reform rabbis does not use the words
''wedding'' or ''marriage,'' and does not require any rabbi to perform any
ceremony. Instead, the resolution says that ''the relationship of a Jewish
same-gender couple is worthy of affirmation through Jewish ritual.'' The
resolution also says the rabbis will support those who officiate at
''rituals of union'' for same-gender couples, as well as those who do not
officiate at such ceremonies. The resolution also calls on the rabbis' group
to develop educational and liturgical material about such ceremonies.

More than 500 of the 1,800 Reform rabbis have said they are performing or
are willing to perform same-gender ceremonies, and some are using the word
''wedding,'' while others use phrases such as ''commitment ceremony.'' Many
ceremonies include elements associated with a Jewish wedding - a couple
standing under a canopy, the recitation of seven blessings, and the smashing
of a glass.
 
Individual clergy members in some other America denominations, in particular
the United Church of Christ and the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, are
performing same-sex union ceremonies. And the Unitarian Universalist
Association, which does not espouse a creed, has long supported gay
marriage.
 
For the Reform rabbis, the nearly unanimous vote yesterday brought an end to
years of controversy. Even though the group voted 10 years ago to endorse
the ordination of gays and lesbians as rabbis, the issue of gay
relationships was so divisive that two years ago the group withdrew a
resolution from its annual convention rather than endure heated debate.

The change, the rabbis said, followed years of debate and reflection, and
via moments such as an emotional prayer service here on Tuesday at which
about 50 gay and lesbian Reform rabbis stood together before their
colleagues and recited a traditional prayer honoring Jewish teachers.
 
Rabbi Clifford E. Librach of Sharon, Mass., voted in favor only after the
language was changed to more clearly acknowledge ''the pluralism within our
ranks on this issue.''
 
There are still concerns, said historian Jonathan D. Sarna of Brandeis
University: ''There is a fear on the part of some rabbis that a willingness
to perform gay weddings will be a litmus test.''
 
The rabbis did not allow reporters to witness yesterday's vote, and no vote
count was taken, but those present said that only two or three rabbis spoke
against the measure, and fewer than 10 voted gainst it. A handful of antigay
protesters demonstrated outside the rabbis' hotel.

Among the proponents were all four rabbis from Temple Israel of Boston,
which has been performing same-sex ceremonies for years. ''This is a
statement that just as God is present in a marriage between a man and a
woman, two men or two women can have divinity in their relationship,'' said
Rabbi Jonah D. Pesner of Temple Israel.
 
The vote marks another sharp break between the Reform movement and the more
traditional conservative and orthodox movements.
 
''I'm deeply distressed by the passage of this resolution, because it drives
another wedge in the united fabric of the Jewish people,'' said Rabbi Steven
M. Dworken, executive vice president of the Rabbical Council of America,
which represents Orthodox rabbis.
 
But gay and lesbian groups hailed the vote.
''It is certainly one of the most definitive statements we've had from a
religious faith supporting the unions of same-sex couples,'' said Mary L.
Bonauto of Boston, an attorney for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.