Halakhic Status of Gay Men and Lesbians

The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards met to consider the halakhic status of gay men and lesbians. We respond to decisions made on December 6 here.

You can read the texts of the teshuvot. Three passed:

one by Rabbi Joel Roth, with 13 votes;
one co-written by Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Rabbi Daniel Nevins, and Rabbi Avram Reisner, with 13 votes;
and one by Rabbi Leonard Levy, with 6 votes.

Two were considered to be takanot, and did not pass:

one by Rabbi Gordon Tucker
and one by Rabbi Myron Geller, Rabbi Robert Fine, and Rabbi David Fine

In the fall 2006 United Synagogue Review, Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson wrote about diversity and unity in the Conservative movement, Rabbi Joseph Prouser explained why he is against changing the halakha affecting gay men and lesbians, and Rabbi Aaron Mackler described why he is in favor of such change.

On August 24, in one of a series of panels to be held across North America, Rabbi Joel Roth and Rabbi Elliot Dorff discussed the issue. Click here and here to read newspaper articles about the panel.

A three-part video was also filmed that evening:

To see a guide to the video, click here.