Homosexuality and Conservative Judaism

As I read the links from the email that Professor Cohen sent the class about the Conservative Movement's new position on homosexuality within the movement.

I think that it is very interesting and appropriate that their new decision on the matter was a very ambiguous one. For my final paper, I looked at the manifestations of the Reform and Conservative movements through the lens of their respective summer camps for the Chicago area, Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, and Camp Ramah in Wisconsin.

I interviewed the assistant director of Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, Rabbi Joshua B. Cohen. When I asked Rabbi Cohen on the policy about homosexuality for staff members of the camp, he gave me this response, "The statement that we make is that camp is place for staff members to feel comfortable creating opportunities for relationships for themselves, all of those relationships need to be done with an eye towards who I am as an educational mentor and is this a healthy relationship for me. " He then went on to tell me that there is no statement made to the staff members of any official policy on the matter.

For me, homosexuality is one of the pivotal issues that defines me as a Reform Jew. However, I think that it is fitting that the Conservative movement would be so conflicted on the issue.