Conservative Jews must choose faith over trend

By Steve Yuhas

Last week, the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (25 rabbis who decide issues of Jewish law) took the easy way out and postponed until the end of the year the subject of allowing openly gay rabbis or religious blessings of same sex partnerships.

The delay is unnecessary because the subject is and should remain settled for conservative Jewish congregations all over the world and neither openly gay rabbis or gay weddings should be allowed.

Subjects of faith are difficult for any religious organization, but the Committee dealt with this issue in 1992 and in terms of a religion that will celebrate the year 5767 on Rosh Hashanah this year – dealing with the same subject again is the equivalent of dealing with it an hour after the first.

Conservative Judaism is a sect that believes that religious doctrine and teaching must be applied against the modern day elements of life, but those elements must not take away from the religious ideology that is important to the faith. To say that a decision made in 2006 should be different than a decision made in 1992 assumes that culture has changed in such a way that not only would it be proper for an openly gay rabbi to guide his congregation (ignoring those parts of Jewish law that make Judaism a faith instead of a fad) but also presumes that modern culture is ready for gay marriage as well.

Public opinion and religious teaching has not changed on these issues since 1992 and if the Committee voting on the law looked at the modern culture juxtaposed against the faith – there is no change in public opinion concerning either ordination or gay marriage.

In fact, in every instance when the people in the respective groups were given the opportunity to decide issues of politics concerning gay marriage it has decided that marriage should remain a union of one man and one woman. Using the guidelines of the Committee it is incumbent upon them to decide these issues the same way as modern society has decided them and that is to say that a rabbi cannot instruct his congregation on Jewish law or teaching if he lives an openly gay life. Similarly, the Committee must reject, even more strongly given modern public opinion, the notion of gay marriage.

Judaism has been a consistent faith for thousands of years and has not changed quickly over time.  One of the beauties of faith is the everlasting way it maintains itself and the slow changes it makes. To allow openly gay rabbis or gay marriage would not be steps toward ending the faith, but a running leap off the edge into a debate that need not be had.

If the Committee has questions about what will happen it need only look to the Anglican Church for guidance. The same schism that occurred in the Anglican Church when a gay bishop was appointed over the objections of many – including the majority of the flock will happen in Conservative Judaism.

Conservative Jews are in a position where we live a unique style of faith: we do not ignore the necessary fundamentals of our faith simply because a fad comes along, but are smart enough to make necessary changes to allow for the modern world to exist with the ancient traditions.  Neither issue is important enough to cause an end to this delicate balance.

To those who demand that Conservative Judaism change my advice is simple: go to another faith or to a Reform congregation that falls in line with your way of thinking. To demand that our brand of Judaism consistently revisit the issue of sexuality and marriage over and over when everything in society is doing the opposite is selfish and foolhardy.

There is no reason for Conservative Judaism to change because there is already a brand of Judaism that allows anyone to do virtually anything without regard to Torah or rabbinic law. Reform Jews already allow for an ‘anything goes’ mentality and take pleasure in allowing issues of the day to rule their religious beliefs. If that is the faith you seek it is there to be had, but there are those of us who are Conservative Jews and believe that there is more to life than selfish desires, even if we are gay, it does not trump religious teaching or law.

When next the Committee meets it should reaffirm its commitment to the 1992 ruling that openly gay rabbis are inappropriate in a religious setting and that gay marriage is not only wrong to the majority of Americans, but it continues to be wrong for our faith.

Religions are not meant, nor has Conservative Judaism, ever changed with the lightning speed that some wish it to change and for those who want it – look at what is happening to the Anglican Church and ask if you want to drive away many people who love being Jewish, but who cannot (for many reasons) live lives of Orthodox Jewry.

If the Committee makes the wrong decision in December they might as well throw out all Conservative Jewish doctrine and begin passing out pork at synagogue. A religion that changes too fast or in a way contrary to societal norms runs the risk of alienating people who look to their religion as a rock of strength.

A change to the 1992 position by the Committee would be akin to rolling Conservative and Reform Jews into the same sect and that is not only inappropriate, but would be a death knell for those of us who want a modern faith, but who want to adhere to our ancient traditions as well.

Steve Yuhas is a columnist and radio talk show host on KOGO AM 600 and may be reached at www.steveyuhas.com or steve@steveyuhas.com