Policies & Reports
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Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, President of the URJ, 2004-2005 Regional Biennial speech affirmed that "Reform Jews will fight the battle" and "will not bend " with regard to advocating support for same-sex marriage. Rabbi Yoffie makes the point, "the fact that gay marriage is widely unpopular in some places cannot obscure the fact that it is morally momentous and morally right." He urges those in the Reform movement to "educate our fellow citizens" on the basis "America does not mistreat people because of what they are." He goes on to champion the point-of-view that same-sex marriage is not a "special right," rather, "it is simply a component of equal citizenship."
Rabbi David Ellenson, President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion stakes out a position in opposition to religious literalists of all faiths prone to claiming they are "speaking on behalf of religion" regarding issues concering gay and lesbian rights. Rabbi Ellenson discusses both bibical and Tamudic passages and builds the case for advocating "full rights be extended to lesbians and gays."
Text of report to the CCAR Convention, June, 1998, concluding "that kiddushah may be present in committed, same gender relationships between two Jews" and laying a foundation for the 2000 CCAR Resolution on Same Gender Officiation. The report includes an extensive description of Reform Jewish sexual values as the basis for the committee's conclusion.
At their convention in 1991, members of the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) voted and approved a policy statement of acknowledgement that "there are members of the organization who are gay and lesbian, and they be accorded the opportunity to fulfill the sacred vocation which they have chosen." The statement goes on to note ACC is in agreement with the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) "urging cantors, rabbis and congregations to treat with respect and integrate fully all Jews into the life of the community regardless of sexual orientation."
Text of report, adopted by the CCAR, that summarizes the committee's deliberations, conclusions and recommendations on homosexuality and the rabbinate. The report covers Concern for Gay and Lesbian Colleagues, Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights, Origin and Nature of Sexual Orientation, Sexual Morality and the Rabbi, Our Relationship to Klal Yisrael and the Non-Jewish Community, Congregational Issues, Admissions Policy of the College-Institute, Membership in the CCAR, and Placement.
