A defense of Conservative Judaism

I was very disappointed with elements of the Dec. 19 Metro article “Reform Judaism gets new leader.”

I had no problem with the discussion of Reform Judaism’s goals, but I was offended by certain characterizations of Conservative Judaism. I belong to a Conservative synagogue in Fairfax, which has a female rabbi and a woman as president of the congregation. Our membership includes many scientists, engineers and highly educated professionals and is welcoming to all. I previously worshiped at a Conservative synagogue in Washington that is home to one of the nation’s first female rabbis.

So imagine my surprise to see the article say that Reform Judaism “is welcoming to science, women . . . ,” implying that other branches of Judaism are not. I do not think that anyone in the Conservative Jewish movement does not welcome discussions of science or the full participation of women in our congregations. There was no reason to imply otherwise.

James Kaplan, Fairfax