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Next month, Congregation Beth Israel, New England's largest synagogue, will join the growing circle of synagogues with openly gay clergy with the installation of Elissa Kohen as associate rabbi. "It was important for me to be open with the congregation, but also to stress to them that my agenda is a Jewish agenda," she said. Beth Israel officials say they chose Kohen because of her skills, not her sexual orientation. "We were not looking to make a statement," said Senior Rabbi Stephen Fuchs. "We were looking for the best rabbi . . . and I believe we found her." Victor Feigenbaum, president of the board of trustees and co-chairman of the search committee, said reaction to Kohen's appointment has been mostly positive among Beth Israel's 1,500 families. He said he has not received one phone call opposing the selection. Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish movement in the United States, embraces the belief that Judaism must change with the times and in 1997 began supporting same-sex marriages. Yet some members of Beth Israel are troubled by Kohen's appointment. "Many of us older people do not like the idea that she is a homosexual," said longtime member Charles Norwood. "But it doesn't matter to me. I personally feel it's none of my business." Other branches of Judaism have differing views. Most Orthodox Jews believe homosexuality violates Jewish law and Conservative Jews do not ordain homosexuals. Kohen, 28, holds a degree in drama from the University of Michigan and earned a master's in Hebrew letters from Hebrew Union College. She starts her new job June 28. She said there is more about her than just being pegged as "the lesbian rabbi." Just under 5-feet-tall, Kohen said she could have easily been dubbed "the short rabbi," or the rabbi who hails from Virginia. "The important thing for me is to be the best rabbi I can be," she said. (Copyright 1999 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT |
West Hartford synagogue to install lesbian rabbi