09.21.08
Gay wedding held in Australian synagogue
A same-sex commitment ceremony was held in a synagogue in Sydney, an Australian first.
The pair, who had a secular commitment ceremony six years ago, exchanged rings, smashed a glass and walked around each other three-and-a-half times.
The celebration follows a decision in May 2007 by the Council of Progressive Rabbis of Asia, Australia and New Zealand to allow its rabbis to officiate at same-sex commitment ceremonies.
“We wanted to be recognized by our community and officiated by our rabbi, that was important to us. he told the Sydney Star Observer, a gay newspaper.
In a recent letter to congregants, Rabbi Kamins defended his decision: “Contemporary knowledge from biology, psychology and other fields has led to a far deeper understanding of human sexuality.
“Gay or lesbian relationships are not ‘deviant’, but part of human behavior.”
He noted that Orthodox Judaism would not endorse the violation of Shabbat “but neither would it shun a person who drove on Shabbat.”
Dayenu, a gay and lesbian Jewish group, held a Shabbat dinner Friday night in honor of the couple.
It is still illegal for homosexual couples to marry under Australian law.