News U.S. A first Orthodox rabbi officiates at same-sex wedding in D.C. Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By J. Correspondent | November 18, 2011 An Orthodox rabbi, Steve Greenberg, officiated at a same-sex wedding. Greenberg, who is gay, married Yoni Bock and Ron Kaplan at the Sixth & I Synagogue in Washington, D.C. last week, Roee Ruttenberg reported in +972 Magazine, a web publication run by Israeli journalists and bloggers. It is believed to be the first time an ordained Orthodox rabbi has officiated at a same-sex marriage in the United States. The ceremony was held under a chuppah and included the breaking of a glass and the exchanging of rings. The ketubah, or marriage contract, was replaced with a shtar shetufim, or partnership contract. “We were encouraged by the legislation of same-sex marriage in our home ‘state’ of Washington, D.C.,” Bock and Kaplan wrote in a guide to the ceremony, according to Ruttenberg. “At the same time, both of us wanted a ceremony that would be meaningful halachically (in terms of religious Jewish law) and create a set of Jewish legal obligations between us.” — jta J. Correspondent Also On J. Religion Meet the Orthodox rabbis who are officiating same-sex weddings Religion Nearly a year after endorsing gay marriages, Orthodox rabbi performs his first Calendar Israelis find ways to marry outside the rabbinate Religion She benefitted from Wexner. Now she's helping sex trafficking victims. Subscribe to our Newsletter Enter Email Sign Up