Rabbi Gordis Hails Decision to Admit Women to JTS Rabbinical School

A leading Conservative scholar told the opening session of the five-day biennial convention of the United Synagogue of America here Monday that the decision to admit women to the movement’s rabbinical school would “bring into our ranks a very necessary source of idealism and loyalty and human energy for the great tasks that confront us.”

The Faculty Senate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, voted on October 24 to admit women to the Seminary’s rabbinical school, ending years of debate in the Conservative movement on the issue.

Rabbi Robert Gordis speaking to the 2,000 delegates, representing the 800 congregations of the United Synagogue, cited that action in predicting that “the historian of the future will regard the women’s revolution as the single most important event that took place in our time, affecting not only 50 percent of the human race but indirectly the rest.” But he added that “when the ordination of women” in the Conservative movement “ultimately comes into practice, it will not revolutionize Conservative Judaism.”

Gordis cited Pope John Paul’s plea this week to scientists not to engage in research leading to nuclear destruction and added: “There was a time when the voices of prophets resounded throughout the world. We may not be prophets but we are the descendants of prophets and we should take our place in the ranks of those who are dedicated to the cause of peace and social justice.”

Gordis, Professor Emeritus at the Seminary, discussed the differences between Conservative Judaism and Reform and Orthodox Judaism. He said “we refuse to believe that Judaism may be changed at will as one chooses, nor do we believe that Judaism has remained unchangeable, monolithic and seamless for all time.” He asserted that when “tradition is confronted by new conditions, new religious insights, new ethical understanding, there is interaction which results in growth.”