The move in that direction is essential and inevitable to the movement. The opposition to this decision is equally essential and inevitable within Orthodoxy.
The big losers should the approval be passed, will be the Reconstructionist and Reform seminaries who will have to compete with a substantial powerhouse seminary.
Meanwhile, gay bloggers are waiting on "shpilkes" to hear the news.
JTA UPDATE:
Wednesday, December 6, 2006 4:00 PM ET
The Conservative movement’s highest legal body moved to allow commitment ceremonies for gays and the ordination of gay rabbis.
The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards endorsed three opinions Wednesday on homosexuality.
Two opinions upheld earlier prohibitions on homosexual activity, but the third endorsed commitment ceremonies and the ordination of gay rabbis, while retaining the biblical ban on male sodomy.
Two other opinions that were under consideration, which would have removed all restrictions on gay activity, were declared takanot, or substantial breaks from tradition that would require an absolute majority of the committee members for adoption.
They were defeated.
"(E)xpect to hear fundamentalist rhetoric in response to the decision today by the Conservative movement to permit the ordination of gays."
ReplyDeleteAlso expect to hear very rational people express their protests, only to have certain elements accuse them of being fundamentalists.