Well, since we seem to like the Conservative “teshuvos”, I’ll tell over a good one.
The question was: Do the Conservative recognize Reform conversion?
This was a loaded question. If the answer is no, they would lose their complaint against the Orthodox for not recognizing them. If the answer is yes, they are admitting that they do not follow halacha, since the Reform do not even claim to be following halacha.
They answered: Reform conversion is meaningless, but, Reform converts are Jewish.
They addressed the contradiction by pointing to the gemara in Yevamos, Perek 2, where Beis Hillel and Beis Shamai argue about the status of a tzara erva. It came out according to Beis Hillel, that some of Beis shamai’s families were mamzerim, and accoridng to Beis shamai, some of Beis Hillel’s families were “pagum”. Nevertheless, the gemara says that they used to marry from each other’s families.
The conservative “poskim” pointed to this as proof that even if someone else has an invalid belief, we still accept the results of their action.
They then noted that Rashi states that Beis Hillel and Shamai would tell the others which families were forbidden to them, and they would marry accordingly. However, the conservative stated that the gemara could also be read not like Rashi.
Actually, it is the gemara which says that they would warn each other which families not to marry.
Isn’t that interesting?