Gay orthodox rabbi nudging Judaism

SEATTLE—Rabbi Steven Greenberg is not shy about proclaiming who he is, though it raises eyebrows.

He is, he says, the world’s first openly gay Orthodox rabbi.

And since he came out in 1999, Greenberg has traveled the world, speaking at Jewish organizations, community groups, forums..

His aim: To get congregations to be more welcoming and understanding of gays and lesbians - which sometimes means just helping them learn how to even bring the topic up.

Ultimately, he hopes the work he’s doing can, over time, lead to changes in people’s hearts, and to corresponding changes in Jewish theology and law.

“By addressing the realities of human life, Jewish law does move,” Greenberg said. “It just moves slowly.”

Greenberg, 53, doesn’t lead a congregation, but instead works with a New York City-based Jewish educational center.

Among the three main streams of Judaism - Reform, Conservative and Orthodox - Reform Judaism has allowed the ordination of openly gay and lesbian clergy for about 20 years. Conservative Judaism has allowed that since 2006, though it’s up to each individual synagogue whether to accept gay rabbis.  Read Article

By Janet I. Tu