Judaism's Greatest Dilemma

"A man shall not lie with another male as he lies with a woman, for it is an abomination" (Leviticus 18:22). Though its meaning is ambiguous, this verse in the Bible serves as the current justification for traditional Judaism's denunciation of homosexuality. As a result, openly gay students who identify as Conservative Jews are currently prohibited from attending rabbinical school at either the Jewish Theological Seminary or the University of Judaism.

Additionally, gay and lesbian conservative Jews wishing to participate in same-sex commitment ceremonies are confronted with rabbis reluctant to announce or even perform such marriages for fear of backlash. But today the Jewish community is on the verge of a momentous change. For the first time in over a decade, the Conservative Jewish movement, a Jewish sect of over 1 million American adherents, will decide whether to reinterpret this famous verse.

The law of the Conservative Judaism movement, as it stands since 1992, holds that while gay and lesbian Jews are welcome members in the Conservative Jewish community, they are forbidden from attending rabbinical and cantorial schools, entering into same-sex marriages, and engaging in homosexual relations. Also, individual rabbis are permitted by Conservative Jewish law to discriminate against gays and lesbians on all levels, from employment in the synagogue to high religious honors. The current laws force gay and lesbian Jews to choose between participating in their faith communities and living an honest life.

JTS is affiliated with Columbia and Barnard and is also the main academic and spiritual center of the Conservative Jewish movement. Therefore, while the decision to include gays and lesbians as equals impacts thousands of Conservative Jewish communities across the country, its impact on our community here at Columbia and JTS is particularly profound. The unequivocal inclusion of gay and lesbian students into the JTS and Columbia communities will help to realize both schools' shared commitment to diversity and affirm the fundamental Jewish principle that all people are created in the image of G-d. Such a policy change would also serve to help reconcile the often painful struggle that gay Jews are forced to endure.

Over the next two days, the 25 rabbis who compose the lawmaking body for the Conservative Judaism movement, the Committee on Jewish Laws and Standards, will select the new legal precedent from six proposed positions, called teshuvot. Only ordained Conservative Jewish rabbis have received copies of the position papers. However, media speculation reports that three papers advocate wider gay inclusion while the other three uphold the status quo. Although the content of the individual papers is unknown to the public, the media point to a particular expected outcome.

It is expected that the committee will affirm two contradictory positions. One position is expected to restate the status quo, opposing the ordination of gay and lesbian rabbis and cantors. The other position that is expected to pass will likely advocate greater inclusion of gays and lesbians in the Conservative Jewish community, including admission to rabbinical school. However, it is anticipated that this position will uphold the ban on same-sex intercourse, and commitment ceremonies will not be able to be called kiddushin, the Hebrew name for a marriage contract.

Approving two opposing teshuvot is not unprecedented. This was the result of a debate over the ordination of female rabbis over 20 years ago. It shifts responsibility from the committee to individual schools, communities, and rabbis. Here at JTS, the responsibility ultimately lies with Chancellor-elect Arnold Eisen, who has publicly expressed his personal support for inclusion but has said that the decision falls on all JTS faculty and administration. This process may take months.

We have a right as members of the JTS and Columbia communities to express our opinions. The executive boards of Gayava and JTS Students for Change stand behind this statement and encourage the University community to learn more and take action. Chancellor-elect Eisen has asked students to contact him via the JTS Web site to express their opinions.

Gayava and JTS Students for Change welcome comments and concerns as well-both organizations will hold various events leading up to and following the announcement of the impending decision. These events will include opportunities for confidential counseling and group discussion.

Every morning Jews around the world begin their day with the following prayer: how good it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity. It is with this thought that we pray for a decision that will bring all Jews-gay and straight alike-together as one family.

Jason Bello is a Columbia College junior majoring in economics and the publisher of the Columbia Political Union. Ira Stup is a sophomore in the School of General Studies and JTS. He is also the head of JTS Students for Change.