On Monday evening, April 16, Temple Beth El’s Board of Directors unanimously passed the following resolution:
WHEREAS Temple Beth El’s mission is to be a welcoming Reform congregation providing opportunity for ALL people to engage in Jewish life through social action, and its vision emphasizes inclusion and egalitarianism;
WHEREAS Temple Beth El seeks to be a sanctuary providing support, safety, healing, and justice, for the suffering and disenfranchised;
WHEREAS the Torah commands us to give the needy what they lack, in this case legal protection, civil rights and human dignity for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender individuals, so Jewish ethics demand us to act;
WHEREAS justice and human dignity are cherished Jewish values;
WHEREAS the Torah has one text, yet the interpretation is never fixed but ever in flux;
WHEREAS our Reform Jewish tradition teaches us that all human beings — man, woman, gay, straight, bisexual, transgender — are made in the image of God; that God and holiness can be present in all loving, permanent Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) and heterosexual relationships;
WHEREAS the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) stated: “All Jews are religiously equal regardless of their sexual orientation”;
WHEREAS in March 2000, the CCAR’s resolution on Same Gender Officiation states, “that the relationship of a Jewish, same gender couple is worthy of affirmation through appropriate Jewish ritual”;
WHEREAS the LGBT members of Temple Beth El are an integral part of our congregation, and that Keshet and its predecessor Chavurah Keshet have been active for over 15 years;
WHEREAS the current political climate challenges the human rights of members of our community and our nation because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and denies them legal rights;
WHEREAS Amendment #1 will appear on the North Carolina ballot on May 8, 2012, and it reads: “That marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State”; and this amendment clearly is antithetical to what Judaism and Temple Beth El stand for as outlined above;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Temple Beth El opposes Amendment #1 that will appear on the North Carolina Ballot on May 8, 2012;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President, the Board, and the Clergy, of Temple Beth El and will go on public record, through a letter to the congregation, educating and advocating against this Amendment on May 8, 2012.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the President, the Board, and the Clergy of Temple Beth El, publically endorse Keshet’s active engagement with, and support of, other synagogues and houses of worship in North Carolina as allies in the efforts to advocate against this Amendment.
2 Responses
It felt good to be present when the TBE Board affirmed this resolution unanimously and with little debate.
We imagine God to be forgiving, loving, kind, and accepting. I believe each of us has one main mission on earth. It is to strive to be like God. Murder, hatred, bullying and prejudice are the antithesis of God-like acts. In today’s world, those who subscribe literally to the Leviticus 18:22 teaching are NOT pursuing God-like paths. If you have never befriended a person who is Gay or Lesbian, you have no right to such discrimination. Fear of others unlike yourself, or xenophobia, reinforces this predisposition. It has been my humble experience, that every person I have known who is Gay or Lesbian, is kindhearted, caring, creative, and gentle – attributes we associate with God.
Most religions evolve along with society – Catholics are no longer commanded to refrain from meat on Fridays, many Jews no longer keep Kosher, Women can be Prostestant Ministers & Jewish Rabbis. The swing in modern religions is toward Liberalism, but the path is often painful & controversial. I do not believe God intended mankind to constiute prejudice of ANY nature.
The entire country will be watching NC on May 8th. Historians will chronicle the outcome.Please strive to be worthy of your freedom.