I believe that this post brings up many important points regarding the identity of the Conservative movement, and how its identity crisis has affected and will continue to impact halachic suggestions by the Committee on Law and Standards.
The point that I find most interesting is the de facto effect that the passage of this one lenient opinion will have on Conservative Congregations, JTS, and G/L/B/T Conservative Jews. I wonder, on the congregational level, when there are still so many communities that openly or unconsciously reject the possiblity of hiring female rabbis, how many congregations would hire and embrace gay rabbis? There are indeed still Conservative congregations, especially in Canada, that are not egalitarian.
On the level of the seminaries, I expect that the UJ, generally on the more left-leaning side of the movement will accept g/l/b/t students within the year. JTS, even though its new chancellor is on the record as being in favor of ordaining gay and lesbian rabbis, will probably take a few more years. The Chancellor will have to convince many other individuals before a new policy is adopted. The Masorti movement in Israel will probably outright reject the possibility of accepting g/l/b/t people as well as performing commitment ceremonies for a very long time. However, it should be noted that there are Masorti rabbis here (generally in the Tel Aviv area) that are already officiating at the ceremonies.
Finally, I wonder how many Gays and Lesbians actually identify as Shomrei Mitzvot Jews who want to become Conservative rabbis. I assume there won't be a deluge of applicants now that institutions like Hebrew College and RRC exist. I know of as many 6-7 unhappy, Conservative gay students at HUC, (which isn't always so tolerant of traditional students) who are contemplating transferring. That said, I wonder how many of them would be willing to take the time to transfer and reject an institution, that for all its faults, is so supportive of g/l/b/t equality. Finally, the Conservative movement is still reeling from the effects of women's ordination. Many professors left the institution, and many rabbis went to get smicha from Yeshiva University in reaction to the decision. I know of at least one Talmud teacher at the Seminary that refuses to teach directly to women. How much more so will gay and lesbian students suffer? Is it worth it? How much dedication do they and will they feel to the Seminary considering the unfriendly environment there?
I believe that this post brings up many important points regarding the identity of the Conservative movement, and how its identity crisis has affected and will continue to impact halachic suggestions by the Committee on Law and Standards.
The point that I find most interesting is the de facto effect that the passage of this one lenient opinion will have on Conservative Congregations, JTS, and G/L/B/T Conservative Jews. I wonder, on the congregational level, when there are still so many communities that openly or unconsciously reject the possiblity of hiring female rabbis, how many congregations would hire and embrace gay rabbis? There are indeed still Conservative congregations, especially in Canada, that are not egalitarian.
On the level of the seminaries, I expect that the UJ, generally on the more left-leaning side of the movement will accept g/l/b/t students within the year. JTS, even though its new chancellor is on the record as being in favor of ordaining gay and lesbian rabbis, will probably take a few more years. The Chancellor will have to convince many other individuals before a new policy is adopted. The Masorti movement in Israel will probably outright reject the possibility of accepting g/l/b/t people as well as performing commitment ceremonies for a very long time. However, it should be noted that there are Masorti rabbis here (generally in the Tel Aviv area) that are already officiating at the ceremonies.
Finally, I wonder how many Gays and Lesbians actually identify as Shomrei Mitzvot Jews who want to become Conservative rabbis. I assume there won't be a deluge of applicants now that institutions like Hebrew College and RRC exist. I know of as many 6-7 unhappy, Conservative gay students at HUC, (which isn't always so tolerant of traditional students) who are contemplating transferring. That said, I wonder how many of them would be willing to take the time to transfer and reject an institution, that for all its faults, is so supportive of g/l/b/t equality. Finally, the Conservative movement is still reeling from the effects of women's ordination. Many professors left the institution, and many rabbis went to get smicha from Yeshiva University in reaction to the decision. I know of at least one Talmud teacher at the Seminary that refuses to teach directly to women. How much more so will gay and lesbian students suffer? Is it worth it? How much dedication do they and will they feel to the Seminary considering the unfriendly environment there?