JTS Pick: 'Heschel My Hero,' Yes To Ordaining Gay Rabbis

[Ian David]

JTS Pick: 'Heschel My Hero,' Yes To Ordaining Gay Rabbis
By Jennifer Siegel
April 14, 2006

Arnold Eisen traveled to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America 35 years
ago, ostensibly to interview the legendary professor Rabbi Abraham Joshua
Heschel for the student newspaper at the University of Pennsylvania. But for
the young religious studies major the encounter with the spiritual icon and
civil rights activist was more than just an assignment.

"He saw at once that I had personal questions to ask him," Eisen recalled
this week, "and he was, in a Buberian sense, totally there for me, totally
present, for two solid hours, and the guy changed my life."

Now Eisen is poised to do what Heschel never could: change the seminary
from within.

This week, Eisen was officially named the seventh chancellor of the
seminary, a post widely viewed as the titular head of Conservative Judaism.
Currently the head of Stanford University's religious studies department,
Eisen is not slated to start full time in his new post until the summer of
2007; but he's already speaking out on a range of issues facing the
movement, including the contentious question of whether or not the seminary
should drop its ban on ordaination of gay rabbis.

"My personal vote right now is, I'm in favor of the ordination of gay and
lesbian rabbis," Eisen, 54, told the Forward just hours after his
appointment. "I want to learn from my colleagues and I want to talk to
people, but this is my strong conviction right now."

Eisen quickly added his belief that the Conservative movement's top
lawmaking body, which is expected to vote on the issue in December, should
make the final decision. Still, he said, striking a more open tone than many
movement leaders, the collective voice of the JTS faculty should be heard
before then, as should the voice of the laity.

More:
http://www.forward.com/articles/7657

[saltpoint]

1. More institutions should have more brave people like Eisen.

The federal government of the United States, for example.

Good post.

[BayCityProgressive]

2. For some reason

I thought that many sects within the Jewish faith were already in favor of gay rights?? Am I mistaken in this thought?

[saltpoint]

3. Many Reform Jews are among the most politically aware and progressive

of all American voters. But I'm not so sure with the Conservative and Orthodox communities. I think there may be a big difference in perceptions of sexual identity and kinds of affirmation as you move toward the more conservative side of the scale, as with the various denominations of Christianity.

Just not sure.

[Ian David]

4. "Conservative" Judaism is generally SOCIALLY progressive...

but scripturally conservative.

Also, only 16% of Jews are Republicans. Compare that to 22% of gays that voted for Bush in 2004.

Even the Orthodox Jews tend to favor a strict separation between Church and State, and abhor getting involved in secular, government affairs. The most of the Orthodox may discriminate within the walls of their own community, but couldn't care less what the rest of us do in ours. Similar to The Amish, who are convinced the rest of us are all going to hell, yet don't evangelize that we should ban the automobile.

And then there are the loud, ugly exceptions like Daniel Lapin who is anti-gay and anti-recycling and his equally evil lesser minions like Rebbe Korff.

[saltpoint]

5. Ah. Ok. Thank you for that information, IanDB1. I appreciate the

sure-footed insights and hope that Eisner inspires many, many more to hve a similar impact on their congregations in temples all over the place.

I also appreciated seeing that 16% total. It's a gauge of the perception of an evolved culture like U.S. Jews when they reject in overwhelming, landslide numbers, a crass presidency like this one.

I say bravo for them, and more of the same!

[xchrom]

6. good!

it's always good to get news like that!