Conservative Judaism Opens Up

The major seminary and flagship institution of Conservative Judaism, the Jewish Theological Seminary, will start accepting openly gay and lesbian students after scholars who interpret Jewish law for the movement voted to allow it.

The Conservative branch holds the middle ground in American Judaism, adhering to tradition while allowing some change for modern circumstances. The larger and more liberal Reform Jewish movement, as well as the smaller Reconstructionist wing, allow gays to become rabbis; the Orthodox branch bars gays and women from ordination.
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