About a month ago I posted regarding a survey I was asked to fill out regarding the Conservative movement and its recent ruling on gays in Judaism. (Click here for original post) At the time I argued that the confusing ruling was just another example of the lack of clear direction coming out of Conservative Jewry. That Conservative Jewry tries to be all thing to all people so that it will attract the most families as possible.Less than an united movement Conservative Jewry, is more like a loose confederation of Jews who don't want to be Orthodox or Reform. The problem is-- loose confederations don't last
Today I received a copy of the full results of the survey I took last month and sadly, it confirmed my fears. The results show that the movement (which I am affiliated with) is all over the place in observance and belief. I am talking about issues that go way beyond Gays roles in Judaism, basic Jewish beliefs such as who wrote the Torah?
On the issue of Gay clergy the survey reported overwhelmingly that clergy, Shul presidents and other leaders support having Gay Clergy. According to a press release I received from the incoming Chancellor of JTS this was a decision constant with Conservative Jewry principals.
The remarkably consistent support for gay ordination across the board among Conservative Jews in the
The no-less-striking consistency among survey respondents is concerning their commitment to a number of key principles of Conservative Judaism, notably the centrality of halakhah and egalitarianism; the need for a centralized Rabbinical Assembly Law Committee; and opposition to both patrilineal descent and rabbis officiating at mixed marriages.
...I believe that as a movement we Conservative Jews do have a clear profile. It tells us, as well, that the vast majority of those on both sides of the ordination issue recognize the legitimacy of those who disagree with them and their rightful presence in the Conservative Movement.
After reading the full report, I realized that incoming Chancellor, Arnold Eisen may be living in a dream land with his analysis, there are sizable splits in the movement.
Confusing Responses to a Confusing Gay Ruling
- The survey showed an overwhelming majority of those polled supported gay clergy, just as overwhelmingly they supported Conservative Jewry being a Halakhic based movement (65-67%), how can we reconcile the two?
- There is that "sticky" quote in the Torah about homosexuality being an abomination. The way that the rabbinical committee got around that is by saying that it is OK to be gay but males could not have "homosexual intercourse." Over 50% of those who answered that question opposed that part of the ruling.
- Across the board people felt embarrassed by the ruling---almost 70% of clergy almost 60% of other professionals and lay leaders.
- Except for the clergy over half of those questioned felt the ruling was confusing (a third of the clergy)
- Significant amounts of the respondents felt that the ruling was outside of acceptable halakich reasoning (35% of Clergy, 28% 0f lay leaders). True these numbers are less than half, but this sizable minority like this can end up splitting the movement.
- Almost a third of all respondents feel that the “gay ruling" will lead to fewer committed Conservative Jews.
- Two thirds of the respondents that answered felt that the committee should have circulated their decisions for interested members of the movement prior to releasing their decision.
Other Issues
- Almost 40% of all respondents (including 36% of all clergy!!!!) believe that the Torah was written by man, not G-d. How can you be a Halakcha-based movement if you don't believe one of the basic tenants of Judaism....that the Torah was written by G-d?
- 41% of clergy believe that the 35 year-old ruling that it was OK to drive to Shul on Shabbos was a mistake. (I'l l bet they don't change it)
- Kashrut, only 65% percent of Shul's lay leaders keep Kosher at home, and only 75% of other leaders.
- Shabbos: Over 60% of Conservative Jewish Clergy Use Lights on Shabbos. I found this very surprising.
To be honest I am surprised and saddened by the results of this survey. Most of the respondents agreed with the decisions about gays overall, but were not happy with the way it was done. They felt that the ruling was confusing and were embarrassed by the way it was announced.
The diversity of belief and observance, especially between Clergy and lay leaders prove that there is no clear direction in the movement. After reading this survey you got to feel that Conservative Jewry is less about a "movement," more about a compromise and not being Orthodox or Reform. What you are left with is polarization and confusion.
I have come to realize that the thing that disturbs me the most is the fact that there was a survey at all. You see, unlike those 36% of Conservative Rabbis, I happen to believe that the Torah was written by G-d. Not only where there more than 600 thousand souls there as witnesses that is one of the main differences between Judaism and other religions, G-d gave us the law directly, not to a prophet or a priest but to US
The Alsheich, in his commentary and explanation on the Song of Songs, brings down a medrash explaining a verse in the Torah that the people saw and heard every word. How can one see a word? As the words came out of Hashem's mouth (and when the people became too terrified and asked after the first two commandments that Moshe continue instead), each word stood in front of each Jew and asked if he/she believed, if he/she understood. When the individual said yes, they kissed him/her.
The other "witness" to the fact that G-d authored the Torah is that ONLY a divinely written document can be as relevant to the lifestyle of today as it was to the lifestyle of three thousand years ago.
Detailed Results
Your Position in Conservative Judaism
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Are members of the Board of Directors of the USCJ | 1% | 1% | 8% | 0% |
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Hold positions of leadership with respect to JTS | 6% | 1% | 2% | 2% |
Your Views on the Issues
What are your views on the relevant issues and related matters, recently addressed by the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards?
| | | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Ordination of gay rabbis | Favor | 65% | 74% | 66% | 68% |
| Oppose | 27% | 18% | 24% | 23% | |
| Investiture of gay cantors | Favor | 66% | 75% | 67% | 69% |
| Oppose | 26% | 16% | 23% | 20% | |
| Rabbis performing same-sex commitment ceremonies | Favor | 63% | 76% | 68% | 70% |
| Oppose | 28% | 16% | 23% | 21% | |
| Rabbis marrying same-sex couples in a Jewish marriage ceremony | Favor | 31% | 48% | 36% | 48% |
| Oppose | 52% | 33% | 46% | 36% | |
| Prohibiting “male homosexual intercourse” | Favor | 36% | 21% | 30% | 27% |
| Oppose | 44% | 55% | 45% | 51% | |
| Banning homosexual physical intimacy | Favor | 13% | 7% | 12% | 10% |
| Oppose | 75% | 83% | 76% | 79% | |
| Advocating “reparative therapy” | Favor | 6% | 3% | 5% | 3% |
| Oppose | 83% | 89% | 84% | 87% |
Your Initial reactions
In which of the following ways did you react when you heard of the CJLS decisions?
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Relieved | 43% | 38% | 32% | 35% |
| Confused | 36% | 51% | 52% | 53% |
| Marginalized in the Cons. Movement | 26% | 20% | 23% | 22% |
| Proud to be a Conservative Jew | 37% | 36% | 38% | 33% |
| I could not defend the stance of the Conservative movement | 36% | 34% | 36% | 36% |
| Somewhat embarrassed | 67% | 59% | 58% | 57% |
| CJLS decisions did not go far enough in legitimizing gay relationships | 39% | 49% | 35% | 43% |
| Pleased that the Committee had endorsed multiple opposing opinions | 38% | 34% | 34% | 34% |
| The decisions were an interim step towards full equality of gays in the Conservative Jewish community | 63% | 63% | 60% | 60% |
| The decisions were an accommodation to political correctness | 41% | 43% | 49% | 44% |
Your views on the CJLS Decisions – and Related Issues
Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
| | | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| The CJLS will help Conservative Judaism appeal to younger Jews | Agree | 49% | 51% | 50% | 50% |
| Disagree | 28% | 22% | 25% | 23% | |
| In the long run, the CJLS decisions will mean fewer committed conservative Jews | Agree | 30% | 27% | 29% | 31% |
| Disagree | 52% | 51% | 50% | 48% | |
| My close friends seem to largely support the CJLS decision permitting ordaining gay rabbis | Agree | 61% | 62% | 52% | 56% |
| Disagree | 20% | 15% | 19% | 17% | |
| My fellow congregants seem to largely oppose the CJLS decision | Agree | 22% | 15% | 20% | 18% |
| Disagree | 49% | 46% | 44% | 37% | |
| The CJLS decisions blur the boundary between Conservative and Reform Judaism | Agree | 44% | 34% | 39% | 39% |
| Disagree | 50% | 55% | 49% | 48% | |
| The CJLS decisions widen the gap between Conservatism and Orthodoxy | Agree | 84% | 81% | 85% | 80% |
| Disagree | 11% | 11% | 8% | 10% | |
| If my congregation employs gay rabbis and cantors I will join another synagogue | Agree | 16% | 10% | 15% | 14% |
| Disagree | 76% | 83% | 74% | 74% | |
| If my congregation employs gay rabbis and cantors I will join another movement | Agree | 12% | 9% | 11% | 13% |
| Disagree | 80% | 85% | 79% | 77% | |
| It doesn’t matter to me if my rabbi or cantor would be openly gay | Agree | 62% | 72% | 61% | 64% |
| Disagree | 30% | 21% | 28% | 26% | |
| I would not attend a same-sex Jewish commitment ceremony | Agree | 25% | 13% | 19% | 16% |
| Disagree | 65% | 79% | 71% | 74% | |
| I hope the 4 rabbis who resigned from the CJLS will return | Agree | 62% | 48% | 55% | 45% |
| Disagree | 20% | 18% | 12% | 17% | |
| The CJLS should have circulated the draft teshuvot for study by interested members of the Conservative movement | Agree | 51% | 52% | 51% | 59% |
| Disagree | 31% | 22% | 25% | 13% | |
| CJLS members who voted to liberalize the stance on gays were strongly influenced by family, friends and congregants | Agree | 41% | 26% | 26% | 28% |
| Disagree | 21% | 19% | 15% | 12% | |
| CJLS members who voted to keep the previous stance on gays were strongly influenced by family, friends and congregants | Agree | 20% | 16% | 17% | 19% |
| Disagree | 39% | 26% | 23% | 19% | |
| Homosexuality is in-born, not chosen voluntarily | Agree | 77% | 82% | 78% | 80% |
| Disagree | 7% | 4% | 7% | 6% | |
| With reparative therapy, many homosexuals can change their sexual orientation | Agree | 5% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Disagree | 82% | 89% | 86% | 88% | |
| The legal reasoning in the permissive paper that was approved by the CJLS was outside the pale of acceptability of halakhic reasoning | Agree | 35% | 25% | 29% | 28% |
| Disagree | 50% | 42% | 41% | 35% | |
| Those who walk to shul on Shabbat are really orthodox | Agree | 4% | 7% | 8% | 10% |
| Disagree | 94% | 88% | 87% | 83% | |
| It was a mistake for the CJLS, years ago, to have legitimated driving to shul on Shabbat | Agree | 41% | 22% | 13% | 27% |
| Disagree | 50% | 70% | 81% | 61% | |
| Conservative Judaism would be better served if there were no centralized Law Committee | Agree | 15% | 8% | 7% | 8% |
| Disagree | 68% | 65% | 69% | 60% | |
| Conservative Judaism is a halakhic movement | Agree | 65% | 64% | 67% | 59% |
| Disagree | 20% | 16% | 12% | 16% | |
| Conservative Judaism should stop pretending it is a halakhic movement | Agree | 24% | 20% | 14% | 19% |
| Disagree | 62% | 60% | 65% | 55% | |
| The torah was written by people and not by God or by Divine inspiration | Agree | 36% | 39% | 42% | 36% |
| Disagree | 53% | 42% | 38% | 41% | |
| I would not want a women to serve as rabbi of my congregation | Agree | 8% | 9% | 8% | 14% |
| Disagree | 89% | 86% | 87% | 80% | |
| I would not want a women to serve as cantor of my congregation | Agree | 10% | 9% | 8% | 14% |
| Disagree | 87% | 86% | 88% | 81% | |
| Conservative congregations that are not fully gender egalitarian should leave the movement | Agree | 18% | 25% | 19% | 24% |
| Disagree | 75% | 64% | 72% | 60% | |
| Conservative congregations that won’t hire gay rabbis or cantors should leave the movement | Agree | 11% | 17% | 11% | 17% |
| Disagree | 80% | 69% | 77% | 66% | |
| Conservative Judaism should adopt “patrilineal descent” | Agree | 15% | 27% | 27% | 24% |
| Disagree | 76% | 56% | 54% | 58% | |
| Conservative rabbis ought to be allowed to officiate at marriages between Jews and non-Jews | Agree | 6% | 17% | 21% | 21% |
| Disagree | 89% | 70% | 66% | 63% |
The Seminaries
Would you favor or oppose the following actions by three of the movement’s training institutions?
| | | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Accepting gay and lesbian students at the JTS rabbinical school | Favor | 65% | 76% | 68% | 70% |
| Oppose | 27% | 15% | 21% | 20% | |
| Accepting gay and lesbian students at the UJ’s rabbinical school | Favor | 67% | 77% | 68% | 71% |
| Oppose | 24% | 14% | 20% | 19% | |
| Accepting gay and lesbian students at the Machon Schechter rabbinical school | Favor | 59% | 74% | 67% | 68% |
| Oppose | 29% | 16% | 21% | 20% | |
| Accepting gay cantorial students at JTS | Favor | 66% | 78% | 70% | 73% |
| Oppose | 26% | 14% | 20% | 18% |
Gay and Lesbian Jews in Positions of Conservative Leadership
Would you favor or oppose engaging an openly gay or lesbian person in the following positions?
| | | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Congregational rabbi | Favor | 65% | 74% | 62% | 65% |
| Oppose | 28% | 18% | 27% | 24% | |
| Cantor | Favor | 66% | 75% | 65% | 68% |
| Oppose | 27% | 16% | 23% | 20% | |
| Head of religious school | Favor | 72% | 76% | 65% | 74% |
| Oppose | 19% | 13% | 21% | 16% | |
| Executive director of a congregation | Favor | 84% | 84% | 78% | 82% |
| Oppose | 7% | 6% | 9% | 8% | |
| President of the congregation | Favor | 83% | 85% | 77% | 82% |
| Oppose | 8% | 6% | 9% | 8% | |
| Schechter principal | Favor | 72% | 76% | 66% | 74% |
| Oppose | 19% | 13% | 20% | 16% | |
| Schechter teacher of general studies | Favor | 82% | 82% | 72% | 81% |
| Oppose | 10% | 8% | 14% | 9% | |
| Ramah camp counselor | Favor | 72% | 75% | 63% | 76% |
| Oppose | 18% | 12% | 21% | 13% | |
| USY director | Favor | 73% | 76% | 64% | 78% |
| Oppose | 18% | 12% | 21% | 13% |
Personal Patterns of Observance and Belief
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Dine in restaurants without a kashrut certificate | 87% | 94% | 98% | 93% |
| (If yes) Eat warmed food (e.g., fish) prepared at such restaurants | 81% | 90% | 97% | 89% |
| (If yes) Eat cooked meat at such restaurants | 9% | 36% | 57% | 40% |
| Keep kosher at home | 96% | 75% | 65% | 73% |
| Fast at least part of the day on Tisha b’Av | 90% | 62% | 43% | 63% |
| Say daily prayers at least 3 times a week | 83% | 40% | 33% | 33% |
| Attend Shabbat services at least 3 times a month | 95% | 79% | 82% | 69% |
| Refrain from shopping on Shabbat | 94% | 60% | 43% | 49% |
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Refrain from turning lights on, on Shabbat | 37% | 17% | 6% | 19% |
| Refrain from driving to shul on Shabbat | 64% | 27% | 11% | 31% |
| Engage in Jewish text study more than once a week | 86% | 55% | 44% | 48% |
With respect to other conservative leaders in similar position or status as yourself, do you see yourself as…
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other | |
| Theologically… | Conservative | 24% | 29% | 31% | 32% |
| Moderate | 41% | 32% | 41% | 33% | |
| Liberal | 35% | 38% | 28% | 34% | |
| Observance… | Conservative | 39% | 32% | 30% | 32% |
| Moderate | 41% | 37% | 43% | 37% | |
| Liberal | 20% | 31% | 27% | 31% | |
Background Information
You are…
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Male | 74% | 35% | 59% | 46% |
| Female | 26% | 65% | 41% | 54% |
You are…
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Under 25 | 8% | 10% | 0% | 53% |
| 25- 44 | 36% | 36% | 16% | 17% |
| 45- 59 | 38% | 39% | 59% | 19% |
| 60+ | 18% | 15% | 25% | 12% |
You are…
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Married | 76% | 67% | 88% | 34% |
| Never married | 12% | 16% | 3% | 47% |
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Divorced or separated | 5% | 6% | 3% | 2% |
| Widowed | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| In a committed relationship with a person of the opposite sex | 5% | 7% | 2% | 13% |
| In a committed relationship with a person of the same sex | 2% | 3% | 1% | 2% |
You live in…
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| The | 90% | 93% | 96% | 93% |
| | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| | 5% | 3% | 0% | 3% |
| Elsewhere | 2% | 0% | 0% | 1% |
About how many families belong to the synagogue with which you are affiliated?
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| 0- 99 | 9% | 6% | 8% | 10% |
| 100- 249 | 21% | 18% | 20% | 21% |
| 250- 499 | 31% | 30% | 35% | 30% |
| 500- 749 | 17% | 19% | 17% | 16% |
| 750- 999 | 10% | 12% | 8% | 8% |
| 1000 or more | 13% | 15% | 11% | 15% |
Ever attended…
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Jewish day school | 38% | 28% | 16% | 42% |
| | 46% | 28% | 15% | 36% |
| Active in USY or LTF | 50% | 51% | 38% | 59% |
| Studied for a summer or more in | 80% | 54% | 25% | 46% |
| JTS | 75% | 20% | 3% | 11% |
| UJ | 17% | 7% | 1% | 3% |
| Machon Schechter | 33% | 3% | 1% | 2% |
Are openly gay…
| | Clerical Leaders | Professional Leaders | Lay Leaders | Other |
| Members of extended family | 34% | 38% | 35% | 34% |
| Close friends | 61% | 64% | 48% | 64% |
| Friends’ children, grandchildren, or parents | 55% | 54% | 50% | 43% |
| You | 2% | 5% | 2% | 6% |
The Instrument
Dear respondent to the JTS Study:
The three teshuvot accepted by the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards embrace a wide range of conclusions. They may be described succinctly in simplified form as follows:
- One teshuva reaffirmed the prior position of the CJLS, which denied ordination as clergy to active homosexuals and also prohibited same-sex commitment ceremonies or marriage.
- One teshuva, while retaining the Torah’s explicit prohibition as understood by the rabbis banning male homosexual intercourse, argued for the full normalization of the status of gay and lesbian Jews. Under this ruling, gay and lesbian Jews may be ordained as clergy and their committed relationships may be recognized, although not as sanctified marriage.
- A third teshuva upheld the traditional prohibitions, argued that homosexuality is not a unitary condition, and urged the development of educational programs within the community to achieve understanding, compassion, and dignity for gays and lesbians.
5 comments:
Thanks for showing the full results. Based on your comments you should just become orthodox already. We will greet you with open arms. I did not comment on my blog about the results just posted that they were out. Now that i see you have all the results plus commentary I will direct people to your post. What I find most shocking about this survey is that over 90 percent of the movement does not eat kosher! What does that say? Only 94 percents of Clerical leaders don't shop on shabbos! How can the other 6 percent be in leadership positions if they openly viloate shabbos and are not embarassed? The people of this movement are so blind if they really think these decisions are going to increase membership numbers. Like I concluded in one of my posts, if the movement was smart they would ask the people who left the movement what they should do to increase membership, not the leadership of the movement who is continually causing membership to fall.
I agree with Frum With Questions. It seems obvious that the right wing of the conservative movement really isn't conservative, they're Modern Orthodox. No one agrees 100% with the opinions of the other Jews at their shul, but the differences between the right wing of Conservativism and what appears to be the mainstream of that movement seems to be too great, while the differences between the right wing of Con. movement and Modern Orthodoxy are rather small.
Historical evidence (secular) just isn't there to back up the Exodus.
No matter how anyone wants to spin it, it just isn't there, and the more that is learned about the biblical days through archaeological studies, the more doubt arises. And unlike previously, the major archaeological findings are coming out of Israeli universities.
The literal bible has been shattered by science as well.
And you can't even get 2 Rabbis to agree on what is supposedly God's word. Why would he make it so hard to figure out?
I guess ya gotta have faith to believe that the bible was written by God.
Biblical Archeology does not always prove that the Tproah did not happen. I am a subscriber to the BAR magazine and read every issue. There are lots of details on every find and the outcome depends upon the political agenda the archaologists have. At JTS they discuss this in their Intro to Bible class and show how there are two sides to every find. The problem with these Bible Critics and the archeaologists is that there opinion changes with a new find and they are not consistent. The Torah has stayed consisitent for thousands or years where science changes on a daily bases and things are proved and disproved with every new study.
I was also one of those who participated in the survey and I was equally dismayed by the results. I was one of those few who believes in the divine origin of the Torah, keeps kosher, and thinks the movement needs to take a more active stand for what it does stand for and not just be the "catch-all" for those who aren't happy with Orthodoxy or Reform.
My shul has consistently been described as "Conservadox" or "Egalitarian Modern Orthodox" (were such a thing to exist). The primary difference between our shul and MO is the role of women. The differences between our shul and the rest of the Conservative movement are too numerous to list.
While this is one of many things that concerns me about the future of the Conservative movement, it certainly does make life interesting, if also pointing toward an unknown and potentially apprehensive future.
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