It was dishonest of the author to go on about "Conservative" rabbis, when he knows that "Conservative" Judaism is not conservative or Judaism.
Here's a good background paper for the Conservative Rabbis:
(WARNING! Linked article contains verbal descriptions including GRAPHIC
adult content, presented in context)
Judaism’s Sexual Revolution: Why Judaism (and then Christianity) Rejected Homosexuality
by Dennis Prager
http://catholiceducation.org/articles/homosexuality/ho0003.html
The devil is alive and well in the world.
If they become "gay," that will be the end of the Conservative movement. Homosexuality is a dead end (gays are few in number, they don't reproduce and they get sick and die young because of their "lifestyle"). There is no future for an organization that appeals to that demographic. Look at how many liberal churches are dying.
Who cares what rabbis and priests have to say about anything? It's time to move on! Time to bring intellect and logic and compassion and experience to bear. And time to put our ancient history to bed.
Leviticus is extremely specific about this crime.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
This cannot be serious. Have these rabbis ever bothered to read the Old Testament?
If this commandment is "outdated" what about Leviticus 18:21: Do not make any of your children walk through the fire of Molech [a form of human sacrifice] and do not profance the Name of G-d, I am the Lord.
Or how about Leviticus 18:23: Do not lie with an animal to be contaminated by it; nor shall any woman be mounted by an animal--it is a perversion.
"Advance word is that the panel – the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards – will approve conflicting answers."
That's the Conservative Movement. Neither here nor there on anything. They don't know what the heck they believe on any issue! They assign study groups of the confused to figure out what they believe. If they aren't the funniest and most pitiful "religious" act in town, who is?
More like a middle ground between complete non-belief and Orthodoxy - which leaves you with something that really isn't Jewish in the historical or religious sense. It is similar, but significantly different.
Either one accepts that the Torah was given to Moses by G-d at Mt. Sinai, or you don't. If you do, then actions like this are impossible, as G-d Himself has said that lying with another man is an abomination. If, OTOH, you don't accept that G-d gave the Torah to Moses at Mt. Sinai, an interesting question arises: why do ANYTHING required in the Torah, and why refrain from doing ANYTHING prohobited by it? In other words, if it isn't Divine, why pay any attention at all - why not just make things up as you go along? That is, in fact, the view of Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist Jewry. So, if that's the case, why even call yourself Jewish - what's the point?
"The Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Jewish Law and Standards..."
"The Rabbinical Assembly Committee on the Standardless State of Jewish Law as We'd Like it to Be (at This Moment in Time)" is a more accurate description.
"The way it looks, it will be decided on a more liberal understanding of the law," Rabbi Irwin Kula, president of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, told Reuters. "It would be a very big, big surprise if that's not the case." [Note: this is a quote from a different article on the same subject; emphasis added.]
"...a more liberal understanding of the law" is a code phrase for "we'll decide based on any standard that we can come up with, or which one of us is able to shove down the throats of the others, all of which can change at any time" (especially if you only need 6 out of 25 votes).
You know, if someone or some group wants to decide things that way, fine - its their choice. Just don't call the process something that it isn't, and thereby misrepresent who you are and what you're doing. To claim that such a ruling or decision is based on a more liberal interpretation of "The Law" is wholly inaccurate - since "The Law" doesn't leave any kind of discretion like this concerning homosexuality. "The Law" is very clear - it is an abomination. Agree or disagree - but THAT is The Law - and if you disagree that strongly, at least be honest enough to say that you are starting up a new religion.
Insanity. If the Conservatives do this, they might as well join with the (liberal) Reforms and I'll just mosey over to the Orthodox's, where they don't pee on G-d's words.
With each other?
Well, why not!! America is going down anyway. We have already pushed God so far out of America that we have lost favor with Him. If anyone doubts that, just look at what's happening in America! We are under Judgment. If you think it's bad now, just wait. Things are going to get much, much worse. When so called "men of God" would even consider this, we are in big trouble. Homosexuality is one of the sins that have brought swift and severe punishment in the Bible. There is NO doubt how God feels about it. He could NOT have been more clear!