So here’s the thing about the Law Committee decision. R. Roth’s teshuvah, advocating that the policy on gays and lesbians remain the same as it’s been–i.e. not ordaining or marrying them–received 13 votes, a majority of the 25-person committee. R. Dorff’s teshuvah–advocating for the ordination and presiding over committment ceremonies of glbt folk–also received a majority of 13 votes.

Which means that someone voted for both of them.

Who is this person?

Now, I’m all the way out here in Jerusalem, and am as such pretty far out of the gossip loop. It could be that his (or her) identity is already well-known at the seminary motherships in NYC and LA. If someone knows the deal, please tell me! Because, otherwise, I’m just left here to speculate–was s/he not paying attention when they called the tshuvot to be voted on? Did s/he just enjoy voting for things? Did s/he vote “yes” on all the tshuvot? Does this person have a complex theology in which things can be permitted and forbidden at the same time? I mean, that’s pretty much the story with the Law Committee–this isn’t the first time they’ve issued two contradictory rulings. But that makes some amount of sense when dealing with a whole legal body, and when the philosophy of the movement is all about giving individual rabbis the power to decide for their communities within certain guidelines–OK, on such-and-such issue you can pick really either A or B. But this was one person who decided to simultaneously permit and forbid.

I’d be very, very curious to hear the story with this one. Anybody know?