The Movement for Reform Judaism has officially backed gay marriages in a week in which church leaders have renewed their opposition to marriage equality for gays. The Reform Movement said such a move “can only strengthen society and the institution of marriage”. The Movement joined Liberal Judaism, Unitarians and Quakers in officially supporting equal marriage rights for gay couples. It has conducted gay commitment ceremonies since February 2011, recognising a greater diversity of relationships within its communities in what it called a “general move to greater inclusivity”. Representing 42 synagogues with a membership of approximately 30,000, together with Liberal Judaism the groups represent about a third of British Jewry. Rabbi Colin Eimer, who chaired the Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK working party said: “We are focused on what constitutes good Jewish relationships, be they heterosexual or homosexual. “Religious ceremonies exist in Jewish life for heterosexual couples to express their love,

Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition Also see:  Gay Israel story Gay Israel News and Reports 2000-02 Gay Israel News and Reports 2003-04 Judaism and Homosexuality 1 A second look on homosexuality 2/04 2 New books: ‘Wrestling With God & Men: Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition’ and ‘Queer Theory and the Jewish Question: between queer and Jewish identities’ 5/04 3 Comment: Reflections on Yom Kippur and homosexuality within Judaism 9/09 Rabbi Harold Schulweis Archives 24 February 2004 1 A second look on homosexuality by Rabi Harold M. Schulweis The rabbis in the Talmudic era declared that two bachelors are permitted to sleep beneath the same blanket because Jews are not suspect of homosexuality. (Kiddushin 82a) Were the rabbis treating homosexuality in the first centuries the way we once dealt with drug addiction, alcoholism, wife abuse and declared, “This is not a Jewish problem”? We can pretend that it is not a Jewish concern, though a