Yesterday the Chicago Board of Rabbis voted to accept rabbis ordained at the Hebrew Seminary for the Deaf as members of the CBR. This is a big step forward for my seminary and for Judaism.
Over the last decade, several new rabbinic programs have started up; one in Boston at the Hebrew College, The Academy for Jewish Religion in New York City and now in Los Angeles, and the Hebrew Seminary for the Deaf. There may be others that I am unaware of.
All of these schools are not affiliated with the "official" streams; Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative or Orthodox. "Official" is a difficult term and I don't want to break it apart right here. What I want to do is point out that this change is part of a pluralization of Judaism that has always existed but at times has been hidden and hushed to create the impression of a monolithic religion. The irony of this is that the orthodox community, which in many ways has been most challenged by the elasticity of Jewish engagement with our religion, is probably the most pluralistic in their numerous divisions and schools.
Anyway, I am very grateful for the bold step of the Chicago Board of Rabbis, and I look forward to my ordination and entrance into this important organization in my Chicago community.
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1 comment:
David,
Congratulations! This is wonderful.
Interesting notion, that the orthodox community is actually more open to different schools and divisions.
All the other streams of Judaism like to think of ourselves as open and diverse. It makes you think again...
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