MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Gerald S. Cohen

Director of Public Affairs
215.576.0800 ext. 133


Reconstructionist Movement to Respond to Vote of Conservative Movement on Homosexuality

Wyncote, PA, Dec. 5 -- Leaders of the Reconstructionist branch of Judaism will issue a statement immediately following the expected vote this week by the Conservative movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards on its approach to homosexuality. The CJLS is positioned to vote Wednesday.

Spokespersons for the Reconstructionist movement also will be available for a conference call Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. (see call-in information below) with interested representatives of the media. If results of a vote are known at that time, the spokespersons will discuss the vote and Reconstructionist stances on these issues. Otherwise, the spokespersons will offer explanations of Reconstructionist positions on rabbinical ordination of gay men and lesbians, civil unions and other related topics.

The Reconstructionist movement has long been a leading voice on these issues, with all three branches of the movement united in endorsing the rights of gay men and lesbians. In 1984, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College became the first rabbinical seminary to accept openly gay and lesbian students and was the first to endorse the ordination of gay and lesbian rabbis. In 1985, the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, which represents about 110 Reconstructionist congregations, adopted a resolution welcoming congregations that primarily serve gay and lesbian Jews. In 1990, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, the professional association for Reconstructionist rabbis, recommended that the movement establish a nondiscrimination policy in rabbinic placement. In 1992, the movement issued a position paper on homosexuality and Judaism, which reviewed the traditional arguments against acceptance of gay and lesbian Jews and affirmed full equality in light on new understandings. And in 2004, all branches of the movement endorsed civil marriage for same-sex couples.

The Reconstructionist movement has consistently taken progressive positions in favor of sexual egalitarianism. In 1922, the intellectual founder of Reconstructionist Judaism, Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, presided over his daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, the first in Jewish history. When the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College was founded in 1968, it was the first rabbinical seminary to open its doors with a policy, from the very beginning, of accepting women.

The following will be available for comment on the conference call:

· Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz, president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (215.576.0800 ext. 129)

· Rabbi Richard Hirsh, executive director of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association (215.576.0800 ext. 302)

· Carl Sheingold, Ph.D., executive vice president of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (215.782.8500 ext. 21)

RRC is the rabbinical training institution of Reconstructionist Judaism. Founded in 1968, RRC is a fully accredited academic institution that offers a five- to six-year curriculum leading to a master’s degree in Hebrew letters and the title of rabbi. The rabbinical school prepares men and women for leadership and service in synagogues, universities, campus Hillel programs, social service agencies, homes for the elderly and chaplaincy.

The JRF is the congregational arm of the Reconstructionist movement serving 70,000 American Jews affiliated with Reconstructionist synagogues.

The RRA, established in 1974, is the professional association of Reconstructionist rabbis. Its membership includes 285 rabbis.

Conference Call information:
Toll Free Dial–In Number: 1-866-866-2244
International Dial-In Number: 1-404-260-1415

When prompted, dial the following access code followed by the # sign:
5624115