In a historic move that could divide Conservative Jews, the Jewish Theological Seminary announced yesterday that it has lifted a ban on admitting openly gay and lesbian rabbinical students.

Known as the heart of Conservative Judaism in North America, the New York City seminary said it extended its enrollment deadline for the fall to the end of June to accommodate prospective applicants.

The monumental policy shift comes three months after a committee of Judaism's so-called Conservative Movement, which has 1.3 million followers, voted to allow seminaries to enroll homosexuals and to let rabbis bless same-sex couples.

Last week, the only other Conservative seminary in the country, the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, opened its doors to gays and lesbians.

Arnold Eisen, chancellor-elect of the Jewish Theological Seminary and a supporter of gay ordination, cast the decision as one that remains true to tradition and responsive to modern America.

"How shall we learn Torah, live Torah, teach Torah in this time and place?" Eisen said. "We decided, after careful thought, that it is in keeping with the best of our movement, a balance of tradition in one hand and immersion into society in the other."

He acknowledged the presence of "serious disagreement" on the issue, but predicted the movement would stay intact.

The Reform branch of the religion and the smaller Reconstructionist Movement allow gay clergy, while the Orthodox forbids gays and women from being rabbis.

Rabbi Joel Roth, a JTS professor and opponent of gay ordination on Jewish legal grounds, doubted the decision would spur mass defection from the movement.

But he worried that the decision could lead to silencing right-leaning Conservative Jews in the future.

"Will the day come in a few years where a congregation in the Conservative Movement will say, 'We don't want a gay rabbi,' and not have a choice in it?" Roth asked. "It's hard to be pluralistic, and that's going to be the challenge."

The change was welcomed by a group of JTS students and faculty who have lobbied for gay inclusion at the Morningside Heights campus.

"I think this is a thrilling, monumental change," said Sarah Freidson, a heterosexual rabbinical student and co-chairwoman of the group Keshet. "It will allow us access to a fuller range of talent and passion."

Gay applicants also rejoiced.

"I've known I wanted to be a rabbi since high school," said Aaron Weininger, an openly gay senior at Washington University in St. Louis whose application to JTS had been put on hold.

"Today's decision will allow me to enter rabbinical school with the entirety of my mind, heart and soul."

Copyright 2008 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.