Ordination of Women As Rabbis Proposed at Reform Convention

The ordination of women as rabbis, a departure from Jewish tradition, was proposed here tonight by Dr. Barnett R. Brickner of Cleveland, in his presidential address, which opened the 66th annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

Adoption of the recommendation, which surprised most of the 400 rabbis attending the four-day gathering, would constitute a complete innovation in Jewish practice, even for Reform or Liberal Judaism which the conference represents, Rabbi Brickner asserted, however, that nothing in Reform prohibits the acceptance of his plan.

The rabbi did not ask immediate action on his plan. He asked that a committee be appointed to report at the next convention. But he did not disguise his general approval of the idea, asserting that women “have a special spiritual fitness to be rabbis, and I believe that many women would be attracted to this calling.”

In advancing his proposal, Rabbi Brickner cited similar moves by “many Protestant denominations.” He said “the Harvard University Theological School will now ordain women, and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church just recently broke a 167-year-old tradition by voting to ordain women as ministers.”

Another reason for the novel idea which the speaker mentioned was the current scarcity of rabbis, as reported by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, indicating that in the last decade new Reform temples are being created at the rate of 30 a year immediate endorsement of Rabbi Brickner’s idea came from the president of the Union parent body of American Reform temples, Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath. “Even our sages would sanction it if they were alive in this age of complete equality of women,” Dr. Eisendrath said.

Referring to the present age as one of “flux” and “transition,” Dr. Brickner called upon his colleagues to give greater support to the United Nations and pleaded with the American Government to expand its foreign aid program and to conclude a defense agreement with the State of Israel.

In discussing the relations between the United States and Israel, Dr. Brickner expressed the hope that the U.S. “will do all in its power to persuade the Arab states to meet with Israel,” and urged the withholding of arms to Arabs until they agree to peace negotiations. Rabbi Brickner praised two recent moves by Reform organizations to establish outposts in Israel. The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is building a branch in Jerusalem, and the union of congregations has offered to aid in the establishment of a Liberal congregation in Israel.

Concerning the leaders of the American Council of Judaism, a group strongly opposed to Zionism, the rabbi said: “They do no justice to democracy and reveal little faith in the integrity and wisdom of the American people if they really believe that the American people will think them less American because Israel has come into existence.” Observed the rabbi: “What is good for Israel is good for America, and vice versa.”