Resolutions

Background “And when you sell something to your fellow, or buy from the hand of your fellow, don't oppress each other” (Leviticus 25:14). Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel teaches, “To us a single act of injustice – cheating in business,...

Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly has, over many decades, adopted resolutions in support of better working conditions and poverty relief, going back to a resolution in support of the California Grape Boycott (1987); Whereas agricultural workers,...

Background The United States Farm Bill, a comprehensive piece of legislation addressing many aspects of U.S. agriculture and food policy, is up for reauthorization in 2012 (see Resolution #7 which affirms RA support of SNAP [formerly known as...

Whereas the Palestinian leadership plans to offer a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2011 calling for the unilateral recognition of an independent Palestinian state in opposition to the position of the Quartet (the...

WHEREAS the Masorti Movement, writ large, includes more than 50 kehilot, many formal and informal educational programs, Machon Schechter and the efforts of the USCJ; and WHEREAS Masorti continues to work to secure Israeli’s spiritual future; and...

WHEREAS the President of the United States, George W. Bush, all those serving in our Armed Forces, and all firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency/rescue personnel, deserve the dedicated, wholehearted support and sincere gratitude of...

WHEREAS a healthy Diaspora is a critical component of modern Jewish life, and all Jews in the Diaspora are precious and worthy of our support, and the institution of the synagogue is central to the Diaspora for organization, vigor, education, and...

WHEREAS the heinous attacks of September 11, 2001 were explicitly against America and American values; and WHEREAS one of the touchstones of American life is our regard for the civil rights and civil liberties protected by our laws and...

WHEREAS the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and her Arab neighbors has occupied much of the attention of American journalism, in all of its forms, since the founding of the modern State of Israel in 1948, making Israel a daily staple of...

WHEREAS the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 illustrated the very worst of human nature, in the suffering and destruction that is caused by hatred of a people, a nation or a group; and WHEREAS the firemen, police, rescue workers, and...

WHEREAS Jewish tradition has its paramount principle the sanctity and pursuit of life as exemplified in the Torah with the words, “You shall keep My Laws and rules, by the pursuit of which one shall live” (Lev. 18:5) and Jewish tradition teaches...

WHEREAS the State of Israel is the spiritual homeland of the Jewish People and an object of ultimate concern for Jews, creating an unbreakable bond between Israel and Jews all over the world; and WHEREAS the hope of the Oslo peace accords was that...

Background: The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Created as part of the historic, bipartisan Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is the largest single expansion of health...

WHEREAS Jewish tradition teaches “Open your hand [to the poor person] and provide sufficient for the need” (Deut. 15:8), and “Just as God clothed the naked…so too you must supply clothes for the naked [poor]” (Talmud B. Sotah 14a);” and WHEREAS...

Whereas the Internet has been a great advance in human communication, and in particular has provided far-reaching resources and opportunities for Jewish study; Whereas the Internet has also opened many opportunities for invasion of privacy,...

Whereas Jewish law mandates that the community provide affordable health care, as evidenced in a responsum on Medical Issues: “It has been enacted that in every place in which Jews live, the community sets aside a fund for care of the sick. ...

"You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 10:19) Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly has continuously and consistently advocated for the rights of immigrants in resolutions passed in 1992, 1995,...

Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly has passed three resolutions (1992, 1994 and 1995) supporting clemency for Jonathan Pollard; Whereas this past year marked twenty-five years of incarceration for Jonathan Pollard; Whereas his sentence of life in...

Whereas the book of Psalms teaches, “Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from deceitful speech. Shun evil and do good, seek amity and pursue it.” (Psalms 34:14-15); Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly is on record with previous resolutions...

Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly passed resolutions in 1990, 2001, 2007 and 2009 in support of conversions of those committed to Jewish life in accordance with halakhah in the State of Israel from all main streams of Judaism; Whereas a bill...