(AgapePress) - Conservative Judaism may review the denomination's ban on ordaining homosexuals and blessing same-sex couples.

The chairman of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has the authority to take up the issue. Although he wants to keep the ban in place, he intends to step down this spring and could be replaced by a rabbi who openly condones homosexual behavior.

Orthodox Rabbi David Eidensohn, who is with the National Non-Sectarian Council of Pro-Family Activists, says reviewing the homosexual issue -- something he points out is happening in all religions -- could potentially create a great rift in the conservative movement, if not destroy it.

"The movement was split earlier over the issue of ordaining women as rabbis," Eidensohn explains. "There's a great fear that the movement will now split because of the issue of homosexuals as rabbis and the blessing of [homosexual] unions by rabbis."

Eidensohn says unlike his denomination, conservatives believe Jewish law should adapt to modern culture.

"The conservative and the reform say 'Let's take people as they are and try to give them what they'll accept' -- and you know, there's something to be said for that," he says. "So if you have such a religion ... you follow the street -- and if in the street homosexuality is accepted in the culture, you accept it in the religion."

Most Orthodox Jews like Eidensohn believe homosexuality is an abomination. The rabbi believes the homosexual issue will be at the forefront of religious struggle and strife over the next decade.

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