Jewish law traditionally recognized marriage as a union between a man and one or more women. Polygamy was outlawed in Western countries around the year 1000 with Gershom ben Judah's edict which was accepted by Ashkenazi Jews. Others continued polygamy (in Spain til the 14th Century, in Iraq and Yemen til recently.) Israel has some polygamous families among immigrants, but does not allow polygamous marriages to be performed in Israel.

Orthodox Judaism still regards sodomy as a sin because of the Torah and Talmudic passages which criminalized it as conduct abhorrent to God and punishable by death. Because this is, in writings sacred to them, a law revealed by God at Mt. Sinai and unchangeable by mankind, the Reform movement in recent years to tolerate some homosexual acts including sodomy and sanction some homosexual unions has created an irreparable breach in the Jewish people.

Diane:

We all recognize that much the Orthodox believe in is wrong; that's why, after a thorough evaluation, we no longer follow many of their rules and why Reform Judaism is fundamentally different from Orthodox or Hasidic. Just because the Orthodox won't change to our radically new theology is no reason for us not to change when we are convinced that we are right. After all, they will not even consider science, archeology, history, and other facets of modern knowledge in interpreting their religious writings and doctrines. What kind of a jury is it that refuses to hear the testimony of experts, refuses to look at evidence placed before them?

At the same time, we should be realistic and admit that if we as a denomination condone, encourage and bless conduct that they consider a mortal sin expressly outlawed by God, we are creating a rift in the Jewish people which may never be healed. That is the price Jews must be willing to pay to adhere to our beliefs. They can practice their faith and we can practice ours.