ENCINO : Temple to Present Panels on Gay Issues

A Conservative synagogue in Encino plans to tear down old barriers in presenting a seminar on gay and lesbian issues Sunday. The seminar will be the first of its kind in a Conservative temple in Los Angeles.

Valley Beth Shalom’s daylong program of panel discussions and workshops is designed to advance understanding of homosexuals, to address issues facing Jewish lesbians and gays and to reduce homophobia.

The workshops--meant for gays, lesbians, their families and friends--will feature topics such as gays and lesbians raising children, gays in the workplace and “coming out”--or publicly acknowledging homosexuality.

Not only will the wide-ranging workshop be the first of its kind locally, but rabbis who have dealt with these issues say it may also be the first in the state.

“It’s the first time (for a program) of this scope,” said Rabbi Denise Eger of the predominantly gay and lesbian Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood.

Rabbi Yoel Kahn of Congregation Shaar Zahaz in San Francisco, whose congregation is also largely gay, said that as far as he knows it will be the most extensive program on gays and lesbians ever done by a Conservative temple.

Conservatives follow the Torah, or Jewish law, more strictly than liberal Reform Jews, but not as rigorously as Orthodox Jews. Reform Judaism approved the ordination of gay rabbis in 1990.

Gay rabbis and other religious leaders who have dealt with gay issues said the Encino seminar is a welcome sign that the Conservative branch of the Jewish religion is opening up to homosexuals.

“I think it’s great,” said Rabbi Lisa Edwards of Beth Chayim Chadashim, a predominantly gay temple near Beverly Hills. “I’m going to be there, and a number of my congregants are going to be there. I’m really excited that they’re interested in showing support.”

Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson of the Congregation Eilat, a Conservative temple in Mission Viejo, will be a panelist at the seminar. A Conservative, he has argued for the integration of homosexuality into Jewish law. “The perspective of Conservative Judaism is that Jewish law develops to integrate new ethical insights and that we show God’s love by how we practice our religion,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the way religion has always treated homosexuals has been hateful, so I’m delighted that (the temple) is addressing the issue and recognizing that they are God’s children.”

The seminar will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 15739 Ventura Blvd. It will feature Sheila Kuehl, a lesbian who recently won a primary election for the state Assembly and Robin Tyler, a comedian and community activist. The cost will be $35.

Dean Desman, a Hebrew school teacher who lives near West Hollywood, said he will be attending to lend support for the idea of Conservative Judaism opening up to gays and to learn from the workshops.

Five years ago Desman, then an Orthodox Jew living in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles, decided to come out as a gay man to his best friends, who were also Orthodox Jews.

“They said, ‘You can’t be a part of our lives anymore,’ ” recalled Desman, 36. “Suddenly I was in L.A. and I didn’t know anyone anymore.”

Desman said he hopes the seminar will be a step toward acceptance of gays and lesbians among the more conservative segments of the Jewish religion.

He said it will give gays and lesbians with a Conservative background “an outlet to express their Jewishness other than the Reform movement.”