Sunday, December 17, 2006

Regarding the Dec. 7 front-page article "Conservative Rabbis Allow Ordained Gays, Same- Sex Unions":

The Conservative movement's decision to both prohibit and legitimize full inclusion of homosexuals has something important to teach Americans. On many issues -- the war, abortion, homosexual marriage -- Americans are deeply divided. Rather than either side needing to win, there is a lesson to be learned in the spiritual insight that there is partial truth in contradictory opinions. Keeping polarized opinions in a conversation is precisely the way to discover more inclusive truths that create new possibilities and opportunities.

With this courageous decision, the right learns that real people are genuinely diminished by the prohibitions surrounding homosexuality. The left learns that this issue is not simply one of individual rights but has psychological and social implications that generate tremendous fear.

May the conversation continue.

RABBI IRWIN KULA

President

National Jewish Center

for Learning and Leadership

New York