The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday that the Schechter Rabbinical School in Jerusalem, the Israeli seminary of the Conservative Movement, opposes the American Conservative movement’s decision to ordain Gay and Lesbian Rabbis and Cantors. This week, 35 American Rabbinical students wanted to celebrate the one year anniversary of the movement’s decision. But Machon Schechter wouldn’t allow it unless they also discussed the opposing view, the other teshuva that maintained the status quo.

I had the pleasure of speaking at Machon Schechter about 8 years ago, and though the students brought me, they weren’t allowed to make it an official event, or even use the space. We did it on their lunch hour outside on the lawn. It was a beautiful day, but that’s not the point.

So things have come a long way, and there’s still a long way to go.

This week also saw an official day of celebration and learning at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. It was the work of some dedicated students, most notably Aaron Weininger, one of the first 2 Queer students to enter the seminary for rabbinical school. I’ll try to get some photos and video to post about that great event.

Here’s the original article on the Jerusalem Post and the post on Queerty

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